Dirty Dan Harris makes a comeback
Refinery funds statue for Village Green

by Christopher Key

 

Local playwright Joseph Lenz, author of the “musical tall tale” Mark Twain in Fairhaven, posed a question that became a running gag throughout the play: “Why did they call him Dirty Dan, anyway?” The question never gets answered, but there is no doubt that the man left his mark on Fairhaven.

According to legend, he jumped ship in Victoria, rowed a boat to Fairhaven, and was among the first settlers on Bellingham Bay. Eventually, he owned 207 acres and platted the town of Fairhaven in 1883. He also built the first hotel in town, The Northern.

Now, thanks to a grant from ConocoPhillips Refinery, the unclean one will be immortalized in Fairhaven Village Green.

The City of Bellingham purchased the field behind Village Books about five years ago using funds from the park department’s Greenway program. Nothing much happened until a group of about eight determined Fairhaven residents took matters into their own hands. They persuaded architect John Stewart to draw up plans for developing the green, which he did pro bono.

The Fairhaven Village Green Committee then challenged to city to put up $350,000 for development if the committee could raise $150,000. Bellingham agreed and the committee ended up raising $273,000, including pro bono architectural and engineering work..

Village Green is now under construction. Committee members cited the G. R. Plume Company and Cascade Joinery who are working on the new pergola at very low prices. Lewis Auto Glass made the committee a good deal on the glass cover for the pergola.

What the committee really wanted, however, was a statue of Fairhaven’s most famous pioneer.

Two sculptors were asked to submit proposals and the committee selected the work of local artist Robert McDermott. ConocoPhillips and its marine supply subsidiary Polar Tankers stepped up with a $50,000 check to pay for the bronze statue.

Work on Fairhaven Village Green should be complete by January, but Dirty Dan won’t be unveiled until at least April. Wouldn’t want all that winter rain to get him too clean.