Does anyone have any info on the history of Eldridge Ave in Bellingham (which becomes Marine Dr once out of the city limits)?
Driving down this road gives me the feeling that it once was more important than it is now. It is fairly straight, and some stretches of double-slab concrete, and a few bridges that appear to be built by the state.
Does anyone know if this once was a state highway?
An 1889 map says "County Road" and "Road to Lummi", and a map from 1920 has Marine Dr labelled as Marietta Rd. There was also a trolley line up until the creek built in 1891. Don't see any evidence that it was under state maintenance though.
See here: https://www.cob.org/documents/gis/maps/1922-platmap.pdf (https://www.cob.org/documents/gis/maps/1922-platmap.pdf)
It was apparently paved by 1919, presumably by the county:
http://books.google.com/books?id=gwJJAQAAMAAJ&q=%22the+Laurel+Road%2C+the+Blaine-Ferndale+Road%2C+which+is+paved+as+far+as+Pleasant+Valley%2C+and+the+Whatcom-Marietta+Road%22