‘Friday Harbor in Song:’ Music about our town

The Town of Friday Harbor celebrates its centennial Feb. 9. In the last 100 years, Friday Harbor has inspired artists, authors, journalists, musicians and poets. In this series, SanJuanJournal.com will feature Friday Harbor-related music. The series begins with the Battlefield Band's "Leaving Friday Harbor."

January 14, 2009 12:34 pm
An early 1900s street scene
An early 1900s street scene

The Town of Friday Harbor celebrates its centennial Feb. 9. On Feb. 2, 1909, residents voted 70-55 to incorporate Friday Harbor as a fourth-class town. On Feb. 8, the San Juan County Commission counted the ballots in a public session, then signed the incorporation document. The county auditor transmitted the document to the Secretary of State’s office and incorporation took effect the following day.

In the last 100 years, our seaside village has inspired artists, authors, journalists, musicians and poets.

SanJuanJournal.com brings the music to you in this “Friday Harbor in Song” series. The series begins with the Battlefield Band’s “Leaving Friday Harbor.”

“Leaving Friday Harbor” was written by John McCusker in 1999 and is taken from the album of the same name.

“This tune takes its name from the small port on San Juan Island which lies in the straits between the State of Washington Coast and Vancouver Island,” McCusker wrote. “We have had some great concerts there and it is a lovely place, with a lovely name and it deserves this lovely tune!”