J. J. Donovan

rdf:langString J. J. Donovan

rdf:langString John Joseph Donovan

rdf:langString John Joseph Donovan

rdf:langString Bellingham, Washington, US

rdf:langString Rumney, New Hampshire, US

rdf:langString Donovan's signature.svg

rdf:langString Worcester Polytechnic Institute

rdf:langString A Washington State pioneer and one of the key founders and developers of Bellingham, Washington who played a key role in the merger of Fairhaven and Whatcom, Washington. He was an active citizen, businessman, and political figure on city, county, and state levels. He established, developed, and directed lumber mills, coal mines, and small railroads.

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rdf:langString Councilman

rdf:langString president of the Washington State Chamber of commerce

rdf:langString vice president of the First National Bank of Bellingham

rdf:langString president of the Bellingham Chamber of commerce

rdf:langString co-founder and vice president of the Bloedel Donovan Lumber Mills

rdf:langString American Historical Association

rdf:langString American Society of Civil Engineers

rdf:langString Knights of Columbus

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rdf:langString Navy League of the United States

rdf:langString Rainier Club, and other

rdf:langString Republican

rdf:langString Clara Isabel Nichols

rdf:langString John Joseph Donovan (September 8, 1858 – January 9, 1937) was a Washington State pioneer and the president of the state Chamber of Commerce, as well as one of the key founders of the City Council of Bellingham, Washington. During his life, Donovan actively participated in political, industrial, and commercial activity on city, county, and state levels. Several historic landmarks exist in Bellingham honoring J. J. Donovan, including his house, which was added to the National Historic Register, and a bronze statue installed in Fairhaven, Washington. One of Donovan's influential achievements as councilman was the merger of Fairhaven and Whatcom, the two towns that formed the city of Bellingham. He played a key role in organizing the city's sewage system and building its first hospital, and served as the vice president of the First National Bank of Bellingham. He designed and built the first ocean dock on the bay and developed the first hydraulic power plant in Whatcom County. On the state level, he actively lobbied the building of trunk highways. As an industrial businessman, Donovan founded, developed, or directed a number of companies, including railroads, lumber mills, and coal mines. Under his supervision as the general superintendent and chief engineer of the Bellingham Bay & British Columbia Railroad, the railroad line to Spokane was extended. Later, Donovan also connected Bellingham with Canada by railroad. He contributed to the lumber and coal mining businesses of the state by establishing the Blue Canyon Coal Mining Company and co-founding the Bloedel Donovan Lumber Mills company, which operated a number of sawmills and shingle mills across the state and employed 600 men. In politics, Donovan was a strong Republican and actively opposed KKK activities in the state of Washington.

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rdf:langString Bronze statue in Fairhaven, Washington

rdf:langString Donovan House in Bellingham, Washington