Bill and Martha Lofall
 
 

William Arthur Lofall and Martha Joanna Paulson were married on February 5th, 1930. William and Martha had two boys: Glen and Dale Lofall, born in 1931 and 1934 respectively.   William "Bill" Lofall was born August 6, 1896 in Fleming, Colorado. In 1898, when Bill was two years old, the family left Colorado and travelled west in two covered wagons to Rockford, Washington, in Spokane County. The family lived in Rockford until Bill was about 12 years old. In 1908 the family moved to the Lofall area where he spent the rest of his life. Bill was a logger, commercial fisherman and quartermaster on a Washington State Ferry, however he spent the majority of his working life as a commercial fisherman. He owned several fishing boats including the Treo, the Albany and the Bounty.  Martha "Mert" Paulson Lofall was born February 22, 1907 in Poulsbo, Washington. Martha raised their two boys, ran the bait shop on the Lofall dock and managed things while Bill was off on extended fishing trips. Martha grew up in Vinland and attended high school at Poulsbo High (later became the North Kitsap High School).

Martha "Mert" and William "Bill" Lofall's portrait taken in about the 1950's(?).

 

 

Here is Martha with her older brother Ole and older sister Tilda. Martha and her family grew up in the Vinland area, which is just south of the Lofall area on Hood Canal.

Tilda, Ole and Martha Paulson

 
 

Bill Lofall on the Robert Louis Stevenson

Bill Lofall (22) sitting on the Robert Louis Stevenson. Bill crewed on this sailing schooner once in 1918. On this voyage, it took 51 days to sail from Port Gamble to Honolulu, due to lack of wind. The crew nearly went hungry and thirsty as the captain had unloaded many of the ship's stores at his home before departure. Towards the end of the trip, they had to eat only stale bread and rancid butter.    The Robert Louis Stevenson ran lumber from the Port Gamble Mill to Honolulu.

 
 

The Paulson kids had seasonal jobs picking cherries at Ole Hanson's orchard. This picture is of Martha at about 21 years old.

Martha picking cherries at Ole Hanson's in 1927

 
 

Bill Lofall's "convertable" logging truck

Bill Lofall's log truck. He was logging before he and Martha were married. Notice the size of the log and the fellow standing on it. The story about this truck is that the cab was crushed by a falling tree, so Bill cut it off and had a convertable. Must have been a bit wet during much of the year.

 

 

William picking up the Albany from a Lake Union shipyard after an overhaul. This picture was taken in Lake Union as he was heading for the locks. Notice his suit!

The Albany fresh after an overhaul at a Seattle shipyard

 
In the news....

Marine Vet's Salvaging Wins $2000, The Seattle Post-Intellegencer - September 6, 1949

Bulldozer, 230 FT. Down, Saved, The Seattle Times - September, 1949

REAL FISHING LUCK! - 'Cat' Saved From Canal - and Works, September, 1949

10 YEARS AGO TODAY - August 9, 1959

Illegal Purse Seine Size - William Lofall, Poulsbo
 
 
 
 

The Albany's deck loaded with fish in San Fransisco

When Bill and Martha were married, Bill was a commercial fisherman. Bill fished the waters from Alaska to California. Here is a photograph of the Albany with its deck loaded with pilchers caught off the California coast.

 
 
 

Glen and Dale Lofall in the late 30's

Martha and Bill had two boys, Glen and Dale. Glen was born in 1931 and Dale was born in 1934.

 
 

Glen, the oldest son with the family baby lamb and dog.

 
 

Dale, the little sailor man.

 

The halibut was caught in very shallow water just outside of Port Gamble bay. Bill (66) and Henry Lofall (80) his oldest brother, were fishing for cod. The boat in the background is the "Wee Will" built by his son Dale Lofall, who later gave the boat to his father, Bill. March 1962

Left to right: Bill, 92 pound halibut, Henry (Shorty) Lofall.

 
 

Right to left: Bill, Dale (back), Donald, Dean, Douglas, ?, Debby

Donny Lofall (grandson) gave his grandfather Bill a Rock Cod for his birthday. Donny, just left of Grampa Bill, was very proud of his gift.

 
 
 

Bill and Martha Lofall at their 50th wedding anniversary, 1980.