Huntoon, Bert W., 1869-1947

Bert Huntoon was born in Sacramento, California, on February 6th, 1869, and at the age of 14 he moved with his family to Seattle. After completing a course in civil engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, Huntoon came back to Washington to begin his engineering career. He served as an assistant engineer to J.J. Donovan and in 1896 was elected Whatcom County civil engineer, a position in which he served for two terms. In 1899, he became an engineer for the Pacific American Fisheries in south Bellingham, and in 1923, he helped to establish the Mount Baker Development Company with the intention of constructing a luxury lodge at Austin Pass Meadows. Huntoon also played an integral role in the building of Chuckanut Drive in Bellingham, but he is perhaps most recognized for his role in the development of the Mount Baker Highway. In 1926, Huntoon and local legislators successfully lobbied for the Mount Baker Highway to be part of the developing Pacific Highway. He was also instrumental in creating Sehome Park, which overlooks the Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University) in Bellingham. As an amateur photographer, Huntoon took numerous pictures of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Chuckanut Drive, and other areas of western Washington State. He died in 1947 in Bellingham.

From the description of Bert W. Huntoon photographs, 1925-1938 [graphic]. 1925-1938. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 52469846

Bert Huntoon was born in Sacramento, California, on February 6, 1869, and at the age of 14 moved with his family to Seattle. After completing a course in civil engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, he came back to Washington to begin his engineering career. He served as an assistant engineer to J.J. Donovan and in 1896 was elected Whatcom County civil engineer, a position in which he served for two terms in Bellingham, Washington. He then became an engineer for the Pacific American Fisheries in south Bellingham in 1899.

In 1923, Huntoon established the Mount Baker Development Company, an organization formed with nine Whatcom County developers for the purpose of constructing a luxury lodge at Austin Pass Meadows. Huntoon served as general manager of the company. He also played an integral role in the building of Chuckanut Drive in Bellingham, but he is perhaps most recognized for his role in the development of the Mount Baker Highway. In 1926, Huntoon and local legislators successfully lobbied for the Mount Baker Highway to be part of the Pacific Highway which was being built along the west coast. Huntoon was also instrumental in creating Sehome Park, overlooking the Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University) in Bellingham. As an amateur photographer, Huntoon took numerous pictures of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Chuckanut Drive, and other areas of western Washington State. He died on January 2, 1947, in Bellingham.

From the guide to the Bert W. Huntoon Photographs, 1925-1938, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)