Editor’s note: The information in this article was compiled by the Poulsbo Historical Society.

In the last half of the 1950s, a sense of normalcy swept over Poulsbo. Finally recovered from the World War, Poulsbo residents were able to focus inward on their families and the community.

a hot time in the old town

In 1957, downtown Poulsbo lost a landmark – the Johnson Building – to a fire. Built in 1909, the building was home to a café and a paint/hardware store. Its original tenant was Boyd’s Drugs.

New ferry hits the waters

Business and civic folk enjoyed the first cruise of the MV Evergreen, a brand-new Washington State Ferry, in November 1954.

The first planned sail was rescheduled because a test run revealed some electrical wiring had to be repaired.

The Wide World of Sports

Poulsbo born and bred athletes were causing quite the stir in 1959. Two brothers, Norman and Doug Rustad, helped lead St. Olaf’s (Northfield, Minn.) cross country team to its first conference championship.

Another athlete – this one with a truly Scandanavian heritage – made a name for himself playing ball for the New York Giants. In the off-season, Harlan Svare ran a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles.