A letter to the editor ran in this paper on March 19 headlined “Gorst just needs a little love,” submitted by Delilah Rene.

Gorst, like all of our local communities, has a colorful and interesting past, and it can be an exciting adventure to uncover these histories.

Sometimes, however, it’s too easy to walk away with only part of the story.

Ms. Rene’s letter notes that the town of Gorst is named after Vernon (sic) Gorst, and Vergne Centennial Gorst did indeed have an impressive career as ferry operator, inventor and pioneer in local and national aviation.

But he was not the only Gorst in the area.

John Gorst was born in 1839 in Woodstock, New Brunswick. After serving in the Union Army, he and wife Lorinda lived in Minnesota, where he worked for the Hudson Bay Co..

In 1888 they moved to Seattle, and shortly settled on 60 acres at the head of Sinclair Inlet.

They were soon joined by their daughters’ families.

For about five years, beginning in 1889, the north side of the Head of the Bay was known as Butler, after John Butler, whose family operated a “table board” restaurant.

After only four years in the area, the Butlers moved to Seattle to operate a hotel.

In 1895, John Gorst’s brother Samuel Gorst moved to the area, purchasing 160 acres from the Port Blakely Mill Co.

Here, on the north side of Gorst Creek, Samuel and his wife Mary raised 11 children, including Vergne, born their sixth child in 1876.

In the 1940s a post office was established at the Head of the Bay, and there was a controversy as to what it should be called. Some advocated for the historic name of Butler; others proposed Pleasant Valley, the school district established in 1904.

In the end, the name Gorst was chosen to honor the Samuel Gorst family.

Gorst was the last 1880s-era waterfront settlement to be officially named.

The above information can be found in “Kitsap County: A History,” published by the Kitsap County Historical Society.

This text combines official county records with historical publications, genealogies and oral histories to create a very rich profile of our region.

The third edition of this book is currently in production, and you can pre-order a copy by contacting the Society.

In addition to the Bremerton-based museum, we also have reference library and offer research and photographic reproduction services.

I’m delighted that Ms. Rene has learned a bit about Gorst, and only hope to have filled in a few blanks.

I encourage she and all readers to take advantage of the resources at hand, to learn about our region and experience the joy of new discovery in this place we call home.

SCOTT BARTLETT,

curator

Kitsap County Historical

Society Museum