In 1902 Ole Dahl (at age 7) and his family embarked on their long journey from Norway to America in hopes of living the “American Dream.” Speaking very little if any English, and only bringing what they could carry and what they were wearing, they landed in Newfoundland. For a year or so they made their way thru Canada, eventually arriving in North Dakota where they stayed with relatives for another year. They eventually settled into the a little community called “Central Valley” (which is just east of Silverdale) in 1905. Ole’s mother Anna formed a group of women called the “Ladies Aid” which eventually formed the Central Valley Church. It was dedicated in 1910 and eventually became the Silverdale Lutheran Church. All the services were spoken in Norwegian until the end of WWII. Ole being the craftsman that he was actually built his own fiddle and joined a small group of other musicians. They played for the weekend dances at the Central Valley Community Center, and it was there that he met his eventual wife Thea. They were married in 1916 and had two sons, Olaf and Harold. 

Ole was a contractor by trade and built the Bainbridge Island High school, the Port Townsend High School, and several large homes in Seabeck. Due to the rough terrain and lack of good roads, he often spent weeks at a time at the jobsite to alleviate the transportation issues. He was very “crafty” and could build anything.

In 1932 Ole opened the Dahl’s Cabinet Shop. This shop was located on the current site of the Silverdale Landing Building & Yacht Club Broiler Restaurant. Back in those days the majority of all the lumber came by barge, being near the water allowed for easier access to the materials. In 1937, Ole moved his family to Silverdale to be closer to work. This house is the only original home left on Silverdale Way and is located across the street from the Jenne Wright Building (which was formerly Silverdale Elementary School).

In 1946 Ole, Olaf, and Roy Peterson started Dahl & Peterson Lumber Company. This was a full service millwork, glass, paint, and cabinet shop. This building was located on the current site of the Oxford Suites Building, and they paid $7,000.00 for the property. People told Ole; “you’re moving so far out of town that people will never find you way out there!” Ole had several contractors that had “material books” under the counter. They would simply come by the lumber yard, load up what they needed for their day’s work, and then write it down in the book. At the end of the month, Ole would tally up what the contractors wrote down, and sent out their invoice. Now that’s called trust!