By Merrick Parnell
Fairhaven, a historical district, and once thriving city is tucked away in Northwest Washington, just south of downtown Bellingham. Its old brick buildings inhabited by charming and unique loft apartments, bars, restaurants and boutiques, line the cobblestone streets that slope down to the waterfront. One of these unique brick and mortars is the Fairhaven Smoke Shop.
Fairhaven Smoke occupies one of the oldest buildings in the historic downtown; the Mason Block. The Mason Block building was built in 1890 by real estate tycoon Allen C. Mason of Tacoma. The building cost $50,000 to construct, equivalent to nearly $1.2 million in today’s money.
The Mason Block Building in 1890 Photo courtesy of sycamoresquare.com
Present day Mason Block. Photo courtesy of Johnson Team Real Estate
The smoke shop has been there since 1985. The current owner Michael Waters is just the second proprietor of the establishment, which used to be a flower shop.
The shop transports its customers back to the days of yesteryear. Beautiful stained dark wooden humidors displaying cigars lines one side of the brick room, while shelves lined with jars full of bulk pipe tobacco are on the opposite wall. There are also additional display cases featuring hand made pipes. The window looking out on to the street has displays of old smoking industry relics such as cigarette tins and lighters. On the outside hangs a classic wooden sign.
An inside look of the nostalgic store Photo courtesy of fairhavensmokes.com
“Fairhaven Smoke serves customers from college students to old pipe smokers,” said Waters.
“Nostalgia sells…. especially in a tight economy,” said Waters referring to the vintage interior. “A business that isn’t afraid to invest in atmosphere and a pleasurable experience for their customers set themselves apart from competition.”
Tobacco has played a large role in American history. “Crops like tobacco supported the first American colonies and also helped secure loans needed to fight the Revolutionary War,” said Waters
In local Bellingham history, the tobacco industry has early roots. The article “Cigar Makers: Sweet Smell of Success” appearing in the Bellingham Business Journal states that in downtown Bellingham, there was a cigar store on every block on Holly Street from Railroad Avenue to D Street. Fairhaven had six, in the early 1900’s where smoking was permitted in theaters, restaurants, stores and offices.
Bellingham also had a cigar making industry with several factories. In 1890 John Gruelich, founded the first small factory on State Street. His company, La Paloma Cigars, became popular in Whatcom County’s saloons. Several others emerged in the early 1900’s. In 1906 Bellingham’s cigar makers were rolling 40,000 cigars a month, supplying a demand in which 4 out of 5 men smoked.
The Cascade Club in 1890 was located in the space that now is the Le Chat Noir restaurant. Photo courtesy of http://www.sycamoresquare.com/Historycascade.htm
Before Fairhaven Smoke, The Cascade, a men’s social club was up stairs in the Mason Block. They sold drinks and cigars to patrons. “The Cascade Club was one of the most impressive establishments of its kind known in any city of the west. The membership consisted of 100 of Fairhaven’s most prominent business leaders,” a website on the Mason Block Building stated. Mark Twain and William Taft are said to have visited the Cascade Club.
Sources
Waters, M. (November 20, 2011). Interview by M Parnell [Personal Interview]. Fairhaven smoke.
Jewell, J. (2005). Cigar makers: the sweet smell of success. Bellingham Business Journal, Retrieved from http://bbjtoday.com/blog/cigar-makers-the-sweet-smell-of-success/844
Sycamore square history. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sycamoresquare.com/historysummary.htm
The Bellingham Clipper 