In this episode we discuss the early history of Bellingham’s historic Hotel Leo, aka the Leopold Hotel. From its earliest days as the Byron House through its take-over and expansion under beer baron Leopold Schmidt. And since it’s spooky season, we include stories about some “potential ghosts” that might be wandering the halls, including Leo himself, as well as a mysterious count building hydroplanes on Lake Whatcom at the dawn of World War 1.

CONTENT WARNING: TOPICS OF DEATH AND SUICIDE. Listen with care.

The hotel has a long history so this is Part 1! Tune in next time for Part 2 when we talk about the roaring 1920s and beyond… Show notes and more at ⁠⁠⁠https://bellinghistory.com/the-podcast

In this episode we get into the history of the professional beauty industry in Bellingham, Washington, focusing on hair, mostly… and also mostly women’s hair. We take a look at who was doing hair for a living, and how they were doing it, why they were doing it, and how the profession evolved from the wild west days through the progressive era. We have combed the archives for hair-raising stories to share with you from the bygone days of beauty culture here on Bellingham Bay.

Content warning for mentions of domestic violence and suicide as well as really painful sounding hair styles and swear words.

Show notes and more at ⁠⁠⁠https://bellinghistory.com/the-podcast

In this episode we explore the history of Bellingham’s beloved Terminal Building, also known as Tony’s Coffee and many other names. The oldest building in the Fairhaven Historic District suffered a tragic fire in December of 2023 that included a loss of life. We take a look at the 130+ years of the history of the building including the saloon years, the Busy Corner store, and beloved coffee shop. Show notes and more at ⁠⁠https://bellinghistory.com/the-podcast