Anna Cole letter to Celestia Colby 11 Sep 1892

Sunday

Anacortes, Washington, September 11, 1892.

My dear Mrs. Colby:

Here we are in Anacortes, a small place of about 2500 people. It is beautiful here, not the place but the surround ings. In the distance is snow crowned Mt. Baker, while nearer are low ranges of hills and mountains and the beautiful water, with the most glorious sunsets I ever saw.

Anacortes is on Fidelgo Island and all round us are many other islands.

We reached here Aug.

30, having left Tacoma the evening before, at six o'clock, on the Steamer Primere The steamer gets here at 3.30 in the morning, but bwe stayed on the boat and went on to Whatcom and came back to Anacortes in the morning, getting here at nine o'clock.

All in this small place were anxious to see the "new teacher" and I have been looked at, and introduced and talked about until I feel like the side show in a circus. The people are all very friendly and I think we shall like it here very much.

We have a beautiful new school building which

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cost $40000. It is not all used now but they hope to grow to it in time. There are seven teachers employed and of the seven four are from Michigan. I have charge of the primary work for my room work, then I am to teach the music and drawing in the whole build ing. I also, introduce the Synthetic Method in my room this year, and if I stay, in the whole school next year. I have $75. a month. The teachers are all very pleasant and my school room is grand. It has six south and 6 west windows, two large wardrobes, and near

my door is a porch and doors which b are to be used by none by my pupils. I have but 26 now.

We are keeping house now, and have the nicest rooms we have ever had. They are in a large three story building. On the first floor are offices and the second floor is occupied by three families the third floor is vacant. We have a sitting room, with two bedrooms off. and a fourth room which we use for kitchen and dining room. We have water closet, and electric lights, and the views are grand from all the windows. Both the families are

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very nice people and it is so nice not to be alone. We are but three blocks from the wharf, and we can see all the boats when they come in. I do wish you and Miss Colby could come and see us now for I know you would enjoy it so much.

I passed my examination getting 900 credits out of 1000. I am so releived to think it is over.

I am very much surprised at some of the things I have done since I came west. I will tell you a few of them and then you will be surprised. I played the piano in Sunday School while at