Lake Whatcom

Pictured above is a view showing what is likely the spot known early on as "Hildebrand Landing." If so, that is located in the area now called "Sudden Valley" flanking the west side of the middle basin of Lake Whatcom.

The lake has just one island, 3-acre Reveille Island. This, according to the Medical Examiner's record, is the cite of the tragic drowning of the two Hildebrand siblings in 1910.

From a newspaper clipping published June 6, 1910, the story unfolds like this: The Hildebrand family, well-known in Bellingham, WA for their many years active there, gathered for a fall reunion at "Hildebrand Landing." After a Friday evening feast, four members of the family, Irvin (13), Alma (21), Leta, and a fourth sibling embarked in a canoe. They got to "horsing around" and overturned the canoe.

Apparently Alma — a powerful swimmer — now swimming close to her young brother, saw him sink beneath the surface and immediately dove to rescue him. Neither surfaced and thus began a 24-hour search for their bodies, their father Charles circling the area all night long in a row boat.

The newspaper accounts it thusly:

"After a diligent search in the waters of Lake Whatcom for more than twenty-four hours, the bodies of Alma and Irvin Hildebrand, who were drowned near Reveille Island last Friday evening, were recovered at 9:30 yesterday morning.

A large party of friends worked all day Saturday without success and the bereaved father, Charles W. Hildebrand, rowed constantly about the spot where the bodies were found, all night Saturday without results.

Early yesterday morning, the Launch Comet, Captain Otley, sailed up the lake with a large party of friends and relatives aboard. Thomas Nugent and Frank Wilson secured a rowboat and rigged up grappling irons, which consisted of large fish hooks. The bottom of the lake was dragged and a skirt belonging to Mrs. Leta Gesdahl, a sister of the Hildebrand children was picked up. Mrs. Gedahl, who was in the canoe when it overturned, unfastened her skirt, which tried to drag her down, as she clung to the overturned canoe for her life.

As soon as the skirt was pulled up from the bottom, Nugent and Wilson began to drag the lake further out, and the hooks caught in Irvin Hildebrand's coat. The body was pulled slowly to the surface and was received by friends on shore. The body of Alma was found in the same place as her brother. When the hooks were caught in her clothing and the men pulled on the rope, she seemed to have gripped something at the bottom of the lake and was holding fast. By hard tugging the death grip was broken and the body came easily to the surface.

It is the opinion of Mrs. Gesdahl, a sister of Alma and Irvin, that the latter was taken with cramps and Alma came to his assistance. When last seen by Mrs. Gedahl, who was clinging to the overturned canoe, Alma was swimming but a few feet behind Irvin. The unexpected cold plunge may have given Irvin the cramps, which would cause temporary paralysis and cause him to sink. Alma, swimming in the rear, probably saw the head of her brother disappear and she probably dived beneath the surface to rescue him and was caught in his death grip which caused the death of both. It is evident that Alma went beneath the water to catch her brother, as she was a powerful swimmer and would have called for assistance had she reached him while at the surface. She frequently swam hundreds of feet at a time and seemed tireless in the water.

Albert Hildebrand, of Medford, Oregon arrived yesterday morning, followed by Clarence Hildebrand of Spokane. Lloyd Hildebrand, along with Clarence were hard at work dragging the lake when the bodies of their younger sister and brother were recovered. All the Hildebrand boys are very well known in this city. During the last two years Albert and Clarence have left the city to engage in business for themselves.

Al Gesdahl, husband of Mrs. Gesdahl, took the initiative in recovering the bodies. Under his supervision, the boats were arranged for and Sheriff Van Zandt and Police Chief Hi Cade greatly assisted. Gesdahl says the sheriff and chief of police made his work very much easier. Gesdahl is of the very same opion as his wife about the drowning."

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