Previously untold tales and unseen photographs are now in the public realm thanks to Whidbey Island native Peggy Christine Darst.

Darst recently self-published a history book called “Step Back in time … is Reflections of San de Fuca, Coupeville, Oak Harbor,” covering local history from the perspective of the Irish, who settled North Whidbey several decades before the better-known Dutch community started to dominate.

The book lives up to its subtitle: “A photo journey of Whidbey Island and a saga of an Irish pioneer family.” Its 318 pages are stuffed with scores of family photos, as well as many others, dating back more than a century.

Darst is a sixth-generation Whidbey Islander, born in Coupeville, raised in San de Fuca and a graduate of Oak Harbor High School. She decided it was time to write down her family history. “There are a lot of things people just don’t know about San de Fuca and Oak Harbor, particularly,” she said. “My family history centers mainly on Oak Harbor, and if I didn’t do this, my kids’ generation wouldn’t have a clue.”

Darst was raised a Townsdin, the name many islanders are familiar with. She was born in 1955, has traveled the world extensively and is now a freelance writer back on her ancestral island.

Her great-great-grandfather was Capt. Edward Barrington, who purchased two of the first three land claims in Oak Harbor from Martin Taftston and Charles Sumner, which gave him control of the waterfront. He started the first store in the new town. For years, what is now Pioneer Way was named Barrington Drive, according to Darst.

Darst describes her book as “an Irish history of Whidbey Island, the true history of old Oak Harbor.” She is careful not to criticize any Dutch-centered histories that have been written, but she clearly feels the Irish haven’t been given their due through the years. “I tried not to make it too controversial,” she said with a laugh. Some of the information in her book she gleaned from other histories, which she appropriately cites.

Darst had no lack of raw material in fashioning her book, as the women in her family have carefully tucked away their pictures and papers, passing them through the generations. The book features 520 old photographs and clippings, but she has plenty more to work with. “I’m starting volume two,” she said.

Just a tiny sampling of the photos: Capt. Edward Barrington and wife Christina McCrohan on their wedding day, Sept. 13, 1865, and their first house in Oak Harbor; O’Leary family pictures; early Barrington Avenue, now Pioneer Way; the McCrohan Hotel, lost to fire; L.P. Byrne in his hotel’s saloon; aerial picture of Oak Harbor and Maylor Point prior to the Navy; Oak Harbor Hotel; steamer Wascoe in Deception Pass, and other steamers; Old Tom, an Indian who lived on the beach of what became Oak Harbor; the Dorcus Society of 1926 and 1948 at San de Fuca Hall; the Coupeville High School Class of 1913 at the Rock of Ages; and plentiful family photos of campouts, skits, school days and beach parties.

The history chronicles the lives of the Barrington clan and their relations with other early settlers of Whidbey Island. One of the tales concerns the building of the “Growler,” described as “the only ship ever built in Oak Harbor.” John Izett was the main builder of the 60-ton oak-and-fir schooner, which Barrington had built to replace his old ship, the Eclipse.

The book is replete with many historical Whidbey Island names and situations. In a number of cases, historical buildings still standing are pictured in a “then and now” format, alongside recent pictures taken by Darst. This device helps show how times have changed — and not changed — on Whidbey Island.

Roger Sherman, one of North Whidbey’s best known amateur historians, welcomes Darst’s addition to the island’s bookshelf of histories. “She’s preserved a lot of our history that hasn’t been in print before … it’s absolutely wonderful,” he said. “Every time a generation is saved it’s wonderful.” Some of the pictures in the book came from Sherman’s collection.

A few of Sherman’s favorite entries relate to the Benson Hotel in San de Fuca, the Armstrong dock in Coupeville, the “land boom” at San de Fuca and the story of the Growler, which he adds sank in the Queen Charlotte Islands, taking down about 13 people with it.

Sherman said Coupeville’s early history is better known than Oak Harbor’s because of the sea captains who founded what became the county seat. “Coupeville was a regular metropolitan area before Oak Harbor was,” he said. “She brings all of those people to life, there’s so much of San de Fuca and Oak Harbor history we didn’t have before.” His one regret is that the book does not contain an index.

The book is printed on quality paper which brightly shows off the old pictures, nicely processed on a computer by Darst’s husband, Michael Rattray. Because of the paper and limited number of copies, “it cost a lot to print,” Darst said. As a result, she has to charge $35 a copy, but for that much local history most long-time island families will probably think it’s a steal. Call 678-5970 or e-mail pctownsdin@coupeville.net to arrange for a copy.