Shelton-Mason County Journal - Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

Florence Waldrip was born in November 1893, in her Aunt Mary's house at the head of Oyster Bay. Her father, Joe Waldrip, owned the Olympia Oyster Company in partnership with W. H. Kneeland.

In an interview with the Journal in October 1976, Florence recalled her early life at Oyster Bay and New Kamilche.

For several years, Joe and his wife, Zora, raised their family on a houseboat in the middle of Oyster Bay.

"There were three children and no railing on the porch, so we had to learn to mind our folks," Florence told the Journal. "The house was constructed with two bedrooms, a kitchen in th...