Book shows history of Westport

Portland resident Jim Aalberg has published a history of Westport, Ore.

The book is called Westport, Oregon: Home of the Big Sticks and Gold Medal Salmon.

In the early 20th century, Westport boomed with a saw mill and dock where ships came to load lumber. Its history is tied with the history of Puget Island.

Besides milling lumber, Westport's founder, John West, began salting salmon in barrels and shipping them to markets as far away as England and Australia. In 1869, he opened a cannery near the mill; it was the first cannery on the Oregon shore. The cannery was later moved downstream to Hungry Harbor on the Washington shore.

Aalberg is the third great-grandson of John West. Aalberg has collected stories, interviews, documents and hundreds of photographs that track the town through its heyday of 900 residents and 24-hour operation of the mill.

Aalberg worked with the Clatsop County Historical Society to publish the book, and all profits will go to the society. The book can be purchased from them; the society may be reached at http://www.cumtux.org or (503) 325-2203.