I discovered Woodstock Farm when a client of mine hoped to do her family's spring photo shoot at somewhere farm-like with spring flowers. Having been snowed out of the Skagit Valley tulip festival, I was looking for a local place that would fit the bill. I knew the Bellingham Parks Department had purchased this property and it was open to the public, but had never ventured to check it out until recently. I am so thankful for that prompting from my client (not to mention the snow) because I discovered one of my new favorite places in Bellingham! The farm sits on one of the most scenic pieces of property in the area and the house (known as the Gates-Lee Home after the farm's founding family) is a treasure to behold.I was fortunate to cross paths with Terry Wahl, a parks department employee on the day of that first visit because he gave me exactly what I was hoping for... permission to use the property for photo shoots! Of course I told Terry I would be happy to share my photos for parks department use : ) After we got that business out of the way, I spent some time wandering the property with my camera, excitedly taking photos to share with my client to show her what I'd found.
Terry had mentioned the house was unlocked while he was there working, so I got to wander around its mostly empty rooms. I had so much fun discovering all of the little old school details from the door knocker to the faucets to the door knobs to the light fixtures. Everywhere you look there is something interesting to look at!
I was really captivated by the filtered light in this bathroom...
I think my favorite thing I found in the house were these old magazine covers pasted to the wall inside what was young Gladys Gates' closet.
I was really intrigued by this tiny little shower room... I opened the door expecting to find yet another closet and was surprised to find a shower and sink!
More light fixtures...!
Hey that's me!
I found this photo on the parks department website for the farm. It doesn't include a date but I know the home was originally built in1912 and the addition was finished in 1923. Here is what the house looks like today!
A note to anyone who is interested in checking out Woodstock Farm for themselves... there is no public parking available at the site and there are private residences on the property. Access to the farm is by way of trail with parking at the North Chuckanut Trailhead.
2 comments:
Very perceptive! I grew up in the Gates-Lee House and just loved your pictures. The closet magazine covers were put up by my sister Margie Lee. My room was the end room with the mirrored sink. It was called the canopy Room because of my Canopy Bed
Georgie Lee Bailey
I love your photos. The light is wonderful. I was born and raised at Woodstock and put up the magazine covers on the closet wall. I read all the fashion magazines. I wanted to be a fashion illustrator and I drew and drew. I'm still drawing....
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