I tend to think that "The Good Old Days" were when all the "neat" things happened on the Island. Gone are the Sylvan Dock, Store and Post Office along with the ferry City of Steilacoom. But, we do have some of the past still with us, such as the Fox Island Church (Sylvan), Tanglewood Island, and the Fox Island Fair.

Because of some events that happened this summer, I no doubt will look back on the summer of 1981 as a "neat" one. Not only was the weather great, but judging from the bounty from my garden It might be termed a bumper crop year. I don't think I've ever had so many ripe tomatoes so early in the year. The Fox Island Church, after several months of searching came up with Rev. John Westhaver from California via New Hampshire (or some such far off state). Rev. John endeared himself to me by coming up with the novel idea of having a worship service conducted in a boat. 139 people came by boat and car. There were 14 boats and 7 rowboats and/or canoes and the pastor preached from the cockpit of a large Boston Whaler with the musicians (2 French horns, 2 trumpets and a trombone) ensconced on the foredeck. My wife and I took the collection from the boat people by rowing around in our dinghy. This whole event reminded me of the "good old days" when the campers from Camp Ta Ha Do Wa used to come to church by rowboat and canoe. Good going Rev. Westhaver, and welcome to Fox Island along with your wife , Kathleen, your three children and dog!

Until 1953, just before Labor Day, a banner would appear on the ferry reminding Fox Islanders of our summer's-end Fair. Thank God this tradition has survived. The old Fair was quite a bit different, but just as much fun. There weren't booths like now except for the fish pond, and most of the fair centered around fruit, vegetable, preserves, pie and cake displays that were judged and then auctioned off. Instead of a Texas fifth, it was a bag of groceries that you bought raffle tickets for. Afterwards, Fox Island’s own musicians consisting of a piano, violin, banjo, saxophone and a drum played by a one-armed drummer, played for a dance (free for all). These annual festivities always provided pleasant memories for another year.