The first thing people ask when they pull up to the shop is about the sign. It says Freeman Welding Repairing in big painted letters, and it’s been there a lot longer than I have. Here’s a little Bellingham history, and why I’d never paint over it.
Clyde Freeman’s shop
Clyde Freeman came to Bellingham from South Dakota in 1939. He ran Freeman Welding and Repair for about 50 years, and the shop building here on Rural Ave went up in 1947.
Think about what Bellingham was like back then. The canneries were still running, the fishing fleet was big, and boats and gear took a beating. A good welder was worth his weight in gold. For decades, local fishermen brought their boats and gear to this shop to get welded and fixed, and it became part of the fishing community here.
A working waterfront town
Bellingham has always been a fishing town. In the early 1900s, Fairhaven was home to the Pacific American Fisheries cannery, one of the biggest salmon canneries in the world. Squalicum Harbor is still home to a working fishing fleet today. The boats have changed and the gear has changed, but one thing hasn’t. Something on a fishing boat always needs fixing.
Why the sign stayed
When I took over the property, painting over that sign never crossed my mind. It fits. I weld, I’ve built two boats, one fiberglass and one aluminum, and I fix my own gear. Now the salmon come through the same doors fishermen used to haul their gear through.
It’s also a good reminder of who came before us. The fishing life around here was built by people like Clyde, who kept the fleet running so folks like me could go fishing.
Come see it for yourself
The shop is at 4462 Rural Ave in north Bellingham. We’re open by appointment, so text me at 360-927-1604 before you head over. Bring your questions about the salmon, or about the building. I’m happy to talk about either.
Got a Freeman Welding story?
If you or someone in your family ever brought a boat or a piece of gear to Freeman Welding, I’d love to hear about it. Old photos, receipts, a story your grandpa used to tell, all of it. Stop by the shop or send me a note through our contact page, and I’ll share the best ones here.
Austin