Here we look southeast across the mill pond to the last mill on the spit. The 1909 power house, repeated in the "now" scene, is the last large artifact of what was once a cosmopolitan community with nearly a thousand workers speaking all sorts of languages, including Spanish, Japanese, Scandinavian dialects and Salish.

Built in 1888 on the ashes of the first, the second mill was called "The Great Mill." It was by several accounts then the largest lumber mill in the world. When it, too, was destroyed by fire, this smaller mill took its place until 1922, when production exceeded demand and the lack of a railroad connection shut down both the mill and its unique community.

Probably the two best ways to plumb this place are to read Andrew Price Jr.'s book, "Port Blakely: The Community Captain Renton Built," and to talk with island historian Jerry Elfendahl. Fortunately, both were advisers for filmmaker Lucy Ostrander's delightful new video, "Port Blakely: Memories of a Mill Town."

The video was produced for IslandWood, which describes itself as "a 255-acre natural habitat" on the island. This nonprofit outdoor education center has Ostrander's film. Call 206-855-4300 for information about visits and showings.

Paul Dorpat specializes in historical photography and has published several books on early Seattle.