Port Ludlow - Washington Ghost Town

PORT LUDLOW

NAME: Port Ludlow
COUNTY: Jefferson
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 3
CLIMATE: Cool winter and summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: Current residents.
REMAINS: Some original buildings and docks.

The early lumber barons of the Pacific Northwest included one Cyrus Walker, a young friend and associate of Captain William Talbot, the founder and developer of Port Gamble. There was a small sawmill already operating in Port Ludlow. The Talbot interests acquired the mill in 1878 and immediately replaced it with a much larger one capable of producing 1000 feet of lumber a day with Cyrus Walker as manager and part owner. In 1885, Walker married Emily Talbot, daughter of the captain. Shortly thereafter, Walker laid plans to build a fabulous mansion at Port Ludlow, which he named Admiralty Hall. The new home was almost a block long, built of the material so readily available, red cedar and fir. During the fifty years Walker was a power in the Puget Sound lumber industry, three generations of Chinese cooks held forth over the enormous kitchen range at Admiralty Hall. When the source of trees was exhausted, the mills were dismantled and many of the houses were barged over to Port Gamble. One night, the colossal mansion caught fire and burned to the ground. Remains of deep-water docks and a few other relics tell of what was once the lumber capitol of the world. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

The early lumber barons of the Pacific Northwest included one Cyrus Walker, a young friend and associate of Captain William Talbot, the founder and developer of Port Gamble. There was a small sawmill already operating in Port Ludlow. The Talbot interests acquired the mill in 1878 and immediately replaced it with a much larger one capable of producing 1000 feet of lumber a day with Cyrus Walker as manager and part owner. In 1885, Walker married Emily Talbot, daughter of the captain. Shortly thereafter, Walker laid plans to build a fabulous mansion at Port Ludlow, which he named Admiralty Hall. The new home was almost a block long, built of the material so readily available, red cedar and fir. During the fifty years Walker was a power in the Puget Sound lumber industry, three generations of Chinese cooks held forth over the enormous kitchen range at Admiralty Hall. When the source of trees was exhausted, the mills were dismantled and many of the houses were barged over to Port Gamble. One night, the colossal mansion caught fire and burned to the ground. Remains of deep-water docks and a few other relics tell of what was once the lumber capitol of the world. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

BACK