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Photo credit: Molly Neely-Walker
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Roche Harbor (Images of America)
by
Richard Walker
An Interview with Richard Walker by RD Larson
RD LARSON: I have known you for a number of years and was pleased to see
that your book, Roche Harbor (Images of America), was recently published.
When did you first come to the island? And did you move here then or
later? Tell us a bit about how you are involved in the island through your
work and your interests.
RICHARD WALKER: I visited the area in 1996 and in 1999, and moved here
Nov. 13, 1999. When my daughter was a pre-teen here, I was involved in her
activities — softball and 4-H. I have been a member of the San Juan
Historical Society Board of Trustees since 2001, and am a former member of
the San Juan Lions Club although I will always be a Lion at heart.
LARSON: Did you become interested in history as a child or as an adult?
What is your favorite period of time to read about?
WALKER: As a child, I was interested in presidential history and each
individual elected to that position — his background, the personal
ambitions and national events that influenced him. I come from a family of
storytellers who were witness to historical events on the local and
national level, so that further piqued my interest in the events that have
shaped our lives.
LARSON: Who is your favorite historical author?
WALKER: I have a lot of favorites. I really enjoyed Edmund Morris's "The
Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" and "Theodore Rex," and Candice Millard's
"Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey / The River of Doubt." I am
currently enjoying — and learning a lot from — Doris Kearns
Goodwin's "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln."
LARSON: Many people who come to the islands as visitors naturally go out
to Roche Harbor as do the locals. How did you come up with the idea of a
picture history of Roche Harbor? And did you know that people see it as a
romantic and idyllic place?
WALKER: The first "Images of America" book I read was "Signal Hill," about
a Southern California oil town where I have roots. I reviewed another
"Images of America" book, "Shasta Nation," for a newspaper I write for as
a freelancer. And I helped put together the project that resulted in
"Friday Harbor," which was published in time for Friday Harbor's
Centennial. So when Rich Komen of Roche Harbor said he'd like a book on
the village, I felt it was a perfect subject for Arcadia Publishing Co.'s
"Images of America" series.
People do indeed see Roche Harbor as a romantic and idyllic place, it's
always been more than that. It's always been a community of people, from
the time it was the Coast Salish community of Whelaalk, to present day.
Ambitions played out here, careers were spent here, couples fell in love
and married here, children were born and went to school here. Cultural
teachings were passed on here, families entertained and played and
worshipped here, and people died here. It has always been a vibrant
community. We cannot forget that this is a sacred place as well, and we
should always respect that this has been home to thousands of people for
generations and that loved ones are buried here. I am particularly glad to
see more protections in place for Roche Harbor's cemetery and the
mausoleum.
LARSON: How did you decide what to write and how much?
WALKER: Writing this book was a challenge because there is little wiggle
room in the publisher's standards: No more than 18,000 words, 200 or so
photos, 70-word captions, 128 pages. Introductory text sets the tone for
each chapter, but much of the story is told with photos and captions.
LARSON: The history of Roche Harbor from Captain Roche to the Tarte family
has been one of growth and beauty. Do you feel the changes that have
occurred the last few years have been true to that ideal and in what way?
WALKER: While researching for this book, I learned that Roche Harbor has
constantly been in flux: Buildings moved from one site to another, new
buildings built in place of those that burned down, homes removed from one
area and new homes built elsewhere. The one common thread is "community":
From pre-contact to present day, people have always been drawn to this
place because of its abundance of resources and its natural beauty.
While Roche Harbor's economy changed — from resource-based community
to lime company town to resort town to year-round village — people
adapted to those changes and continued to be a part of the community. Some
people working at the resort today are grandchildren and
great-grandchildren of people who fished there before the settlement era
or worked for the lime company. For more on this, I recommend my column in
The Journal, www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/jsj/opinion/51138967.html.
LARSON: As a fiction writer, I think of Roche Harbor as a setting for a
story. I think lots of people do. I'm thinking of the marriages that
happen in the beautiful garden. Would you ever think of writing a fiction
story with a local setting?
WALKER: I'm not a fiction writer, although as a newspaper reporter I've
sometimes been accused of being one.
LARSON: Would you tell us about your plans for your next book?
WALKER: I have a couple of projects in the works; one project has been in
the works for years. Writing a book and reporting news involve entirely
different types of deadlines. The "Roche Harbor" book taught me to set
deadlines and stick to them, so I may actually accomplish another book
soon.
LARSON: Thank you for this interview. I am now going to write a review for
your very fine book. I want to recommend it to others. And again thank you
for taking time to do this.
WALKER: I am honored to have been interviewed by you.
