Margaret Nordstrom (also called Marguerite), an eight-year-old girl, was one of the youngest victims of the SS Valencia maritime disaster of January 22–24, 1906. She traveled with her parents, Henry and Mary Nordstrom, though her name did not appear on the official passenger list, as young children were often omitted.

The Valencia Disaster

 Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail1. The Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail2. The Voyage Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail3. The Boats Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail4. The McCarthy Boat Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail5. The Bunker Party Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail6. On the Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail7. The Rafts Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail8. The Turret Raft Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail9. The Rescue Ships Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail10. The Aftermath Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail11. The Survivors Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail12. The Lost 

The West Coast Trail

Shipwreck on the West Coast TrailPrologue Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail1: The West Coast Trail Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail2: When to Hike & Fees Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail3: Trailheads Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail4: Getting There Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail5: Considerations Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail6: Campsites Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail7: Shipwrecks Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail8: Routes Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail9: Sights & Highlights

The ship ran aground in heavy fog off Vancouver Island and broke apart in pounding surf. All women and children aboard perished. Margaret’s brief life in Alameda ended tragically as her family sought a new beginning in Seattle.

Background and Family

Margaret was the daughter of Henry and Mary Nordstrom. The family lived with the T. M. Edmunds family at 2930 Central Avenue in Alameda. Her father managed the Singer Sewing Machine Company agency at 1321 Park Street, where her mother assisted. Margaret attended Wilson Grammar School and became fast friends with the Edmunds’ daughter of similar age. Everyone in the household grew to love the cheerful little girl, who was often left to herself while her parents worked.

In January 1906, the family left Alameda hurriedly on Saturday morning. They had discussed taking the Valencia but were uncertain until the last moment. Mrs. Edmunds believed Margaret was aboard with her parents. Henry and his friend Frank Campbell planned to open a Domestic Sewing Machine Company agency in Seattle.

The Valencia Disaster

Valencia survivor Frank Connors from the Turret Raft confirmed that “Mrs. Nostrum [Nordstrom] and child drowned,” as reported in the Daily Colonist on January 26, 1906. This strongly indicates that Margaret and her mother were lost together. Frank Lehn’s account of people seen on deck before he left on the second raft (a heavily built lady, her daughter, and a little boy—possibly Ray Ogle) may also relate to the Nordstroms.

Like all children aboard, Margaret did not survive the chaotic evacuation and the ship’s final breakup.

Recovery and Memorial

Margaret Nordstrom and her parents were listed among the lost. Their bodies were never recovered.