Points N.E. Historical Society Browns Point Dash Point N.E. Tacoma Located in Browns Point Lighthouse Park

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1 1 Fall 2008 Points N.E. Historical Society Browns Point Dash Point N.E. Tacoma Located in Browns Point Lighthouse Park Mailing Address: Telephone: (253) Suite 180, PMB #135 Website: Town Center NE Browns Point, WA H A P P Y JOIN US H O L I D A Y S FOR TEA Art work by Margot Andersen

2 2 Proposed History Series to Present Speakers, Films, Book Discussions A new series of historical presentations is being proposed to enhance a major objective of PNEHS which is preserving, promoting, and celebrating local history. Beginning with the Jan. 29 presentation at our 2009 Annual Meeting ( 7 p.m. at St Matthews) of a historical dramatization of early explorer Charles Wilkes who was responsible for naming many places on Puget Sound. This proposed series hopefully will continue with talks, films, oral histories and book club type reading seminars on a regular basis according to our president Jim Harnish. We have the charge, not only to preserve history, but of presenting insights into the past through public presentations. Topics such as Native American history, historical biographies of local explorers like Vancouver and Wilkes or local personalities like Jerry Meeker or Oscar Brown, our first BP light keeper or insights of local residents or relatives of early families could be the focus of afternoon or evening presentations. If you are interested in helping to brainstorm such a series or have suggestions for possible speakers or topics, contact Jim Harnish or jimharnish@comcast.net Jim Hartnish 19th Century Explorer to Speak at Annual Mtg. Admiral Charles Wilkes who in the 1840 s explored our area and named many of the places here, will give a live talk at the PNEHS Annual Meeting on January 29 at 7 pm at St Matthews Church in Browns Point. Actually this will be Wilkes portrayed by Clint Cannon in costume, a retired professor and docent at Ft Nisqually museum. Cannon is a local lecturer who has made these first person reenactments under titles such as The Man who Promoted Himself to Captain and Reflections and Reminiscences of Admiral Wilkes. Wilkes sailed into our area, landing at Fort Nisqually, then located near DuPont. Wilkes mission was to map the area for navigational charts. He organized the first Fourth of July celebration in the Far West. Also, thanks to him, we have place names: Commencement Bay, Gig Harbor, Quartermaster Harbor, Maury Island and Anderson Island. His chart of Commencement Bay marks Browns Point as Harris Point. You may remember an extensive exhibit of the Wilkes Expedition mounted by the Washington State History Museum many years ago. Be sure to attend this informative and entertaining presentation on January 29. The meeting is open to everyone. It will include a short PNEHS business meeting with door prizes and homemade cookies and beverages. Jim Harnish Friends of Julia s Gulch held kickoff Nov 15 for trail from Cliff House to Hylebos Waterway Residents interested in green spaces in NE Tacoma attended Green Tacoma Day, this past Saturday, Nov 15. The Steering Committee for Green Tacoma Partnership used Julia s Gulch as a kick off for letting citizens learned about the Tacoma Green Spaces Initiative. We were fortunate to have this event in our backyard said Heather and Don Halabisky who have taken responsibility for organizing a Friends of Julia s Gulch group. Eventually they hope to expand the area under their stewardship to include the whole steep slope north of the Port and maybe even build a trail from the Cliff House to the end of Hylebos Waterway. The Port has also acquired the Storie Pit parcel (50 acres) which is adjacent to Julia s Gulch. If you are also interested in this project see more on or contact Don and Heather Halabisky: halabcoles@nventure.com. Dr. James & Carol Hazelrigg Host & Hostess for our Holiday Tea Photo by Mavis Stears The Membership Renewal Letters have been sent. Renew today and support PNEHS

3 3 President s Message: Cottage Restoration Continues The Lightkeepers Cottage restoration project, which last year focused on restoring windows and chimney, took another step last month with the painting of the outside of the cottage and the Boathouse. Not only did this spruce up the looks of the buildings, it also restored the historically correct green trim color to these 1903 structures built by the former U.S. Lighthouse Service which are now on the National Historic Registry. The old crews quarters ( now our present History Research Center) will retain the historically correct grey trim because it was built in the 1950 s under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard whose colors were traditionally white with grey trim. The painting of the cottage was done by Metro Parks people (specifically Dexter Grevious) but work on the Boathouse and History Center was done under the direction of Bob Robinson, PNEHS Maintenance Chair and volunteers including Margot and Norm Andersen, Art and Pam Ladley, Jim Harnish, Laverne Stone, Craig and Karen Schiedemayer. Other major projects to be completed in the months ahead include restoring historic molding and wainscoating inside the cottage to better replicate the original, replacing doors on boathouse and cottage, other structural upgrades and installing items to better insure safety and security including a monitored alarm system and outside lighting. Funding for these projects were made possible by grants from the Washington Lighthouse Environmental Programs for $3000, which is funded by the sale of the special Lighthouse license plate (see: http ttp://dol/wa/gov/vehicleregistrtation/splighthouse.html), Pierce County Historic Preservation Grant for $6500 and a Group Health employee grant for $250 (through Patti Hurlbut, former PNEHS President and Board Member). Molding materials for the interior of the cottage will be supplied by Madera Fine Decorative Furnishings, a local firm owned by Dash Point resident Carlos Taylor-Swanson. The buildings roofs also need attention but will have to wait for funding from Metro Parks which has responsibility for major projects. A future project will be to organize a community fundraiser and work party to replace the fence around the Cottage. Anyone with some interest and skills in organizing or carpentry, please contact Jim Harnish, 253, or Bob Robinson, James Harnish Robin Paterson, visiting author of Mosquito Fleet of South Puget Sound during the Salmon Bake. Bob Robinson, our busy Maintainance Chairman, after moving the Surf Boat and Interpretive Display to the Thea Foss Seaport museum for the winter. Susan Hazelrigg Volz, Salmon Bake Volunteer in the cottage PNEHS Annual Gathering January 29, p.m. St Matthews Church, Browns Pt. Admiral Wilkes portrayer, door prizes, refreshments

4 4 Dash Point School Museum Update - Jill Barkley The Old Dash Point School building foundation has been reinforced and repaired following an unfortunate leak of water under the building which caused structural damage last year. The Principal s office walls have been patched and painted and school displays are up on our new bulletin boards. Many thanks to Bob Robinson and Kathleen Martin for making it easy! The storage room shelves have been dusted and collections are now being added. What a great location for scrapbooks lovingly preserved, early Dash Point school records, old photos, maps, original property deeds, newspaper clipping, etc. In time, most of the Dash Point history will be back home. The Research Center at the Browns Point Lighthouse will gain space, enabling PNEHS to continue the wonderful historical displays of our communities. Mavis Stears deserves much credit for responding to so many community requests with historical information and displays. The Northpoint Cooperative Nursery School Board has a place for their history collection as well. What fun it is to see the pre-school children enjoying the large classrooms and learning experiences from their teachers. Many of the children are descendents of our community s past generations. If interested in contributing, cataloguing or viewing, please contact me for an appointment. An open house will be arranged in the near future From The Starting Point, September 2008 newsletter of the Northpoint Cooperative Preschool: Show me the Money! The Washington State Heritage Capital Projects Fund Grant Last newsletter, we mentioned that our wonderful school had received a grant and that several co-op members worked hard to secure that money. We would also like to thank Jill Barkley of the Points Northeast Historical Society, who initially approached our school and encouraged us to apply. She met with Kris Allen (past co-op president) several times, drafted parts of the grant that dealt with the building s history, proofed all the paperwork, and was generally instrumental in the whole process. Kris says that without Jill s help she would have found it overwhelming and Jill really helped making it seem manageable. Thank you, Jill and PNEHS. Janet Smith, Long-time Dash Point Resident In October, one of our longest residents Janet Smith passed away. She was born and raised here and lived in her parent s home on Arthur Street. She was a teacher for over 30 years after teaching Social Studies and math. She remembered the names of everyone of her first year of teaching students which made her very proud and her students will remember her no nonsense approach to learning. Janet was one of the first classmates in the Old Dash Point School building when it was newly completed in Janet was there when the first Marine View Church was just a portable and when the first building became a mission of United Presbyterian Church. Her favorite memories included beach activities growing up in Dash Point, especially the HUGE log that washed ashore and provided a place for friends to gather and jump off into the frigid waters with glee. She loved tending to her yard,eating her homegrown berries in the summer, planting flowers and taking care of her cats throughout the years. Janet was fiercely independent as well as quiet, kind and unassuming. She will be missed. Jill Barkley Left: The crew of the Sea Scout sailing vessel Verite and Sally Slater at the Salmon Bake. Right: Our visiting authors of Lighthouse Books, Ted and Sharlene Nelson at the Salmon Bake. Their books are available in our Sales Center located in the Cottage Music Room. Photos by Kathleen Monahan

5 5 A Tip of the Light Keeper s Cap to Our cottage docents : Adeline and Frank Ehle, Carol Moorehead, Baraba Ryan, Midi Mees, Rosalie and Mike Gallagher, Norm and Margot Andersen, Jim and Pat Harnish, Sue Wenski, Ruth Clapp, Nancy Pawlicki, Marilyn Beale, Laverne Stone, Brenda McElfresh, Pam Beckman, Kathleen Monahan. Our visiting authors at the Salmon Bake Robin Paterson and Ted and Sharlene Nelson. Our honored Host and Hostess for the Annual Christmas Tea Jim and Carol Hazelrigg. Our painting crew under the supervision of Bob Robinson: Margot and Norm Andersen, Pam and Art Ladley, Laverne Stone, Karen and Craig Schiedermayer, Jim Harnish, Metro Parks for the improvements to the Browns Point Playfield ( a.k.a. the ballpark and the curly slide park) and to Metro Parks for painting our cottage. It looks so pretty! Our Salmon Bake volunteers who guided more than 400 visitors through the Light Station buildings. Thank goodness not all of them rang the fog bell,: Shelley Angelo, Mari Hagen, Susie Volz, Sue Turner, Karen Sullivan, Norm and Margot Andersen, Marie Monahan, Kathleen Monahan, Jerry Monahan, Julie Lord, Rosie and Mike Gallagher, Teresa and Elizabeth Gallagher, Bob Robinson, Laverne and Ron Stone, Brenda McElfresh, Nancy Pawlicki, Sue Wenski, Dolores Colocurcio, Cathy Hale, Nancie Russ, Julie Leonard, Jim Olson, Bill Peterson, Mavis Stears, Jim and Pat Harnish, Art and Pam Ladley, Patti Hurlbut, Adeline and Frank Ehle, Ruth Clapp. Our volunteers who hosted the surf boat at the Tall Ships Festival and the Maritime Fest: Pat and Jim Harnish, Art and Pam Ladley, Margot and Norm Andersen, Bob and Mary Robinson, Sue Turner, Nancy Pawlicki, Neil and Karen Hanson. Our Docent workshop participants : Marilyn Beale, Amy Ecker, Dorothy Keuter, Brenda McElfresh, Midi Mees, Ron and Laverne Stone, Sue Wenski, Jim and Pat Harnish, Art and Pam Ladley, Kathleen Monahan, Norm and Margot Andersen, Linda Van Nest, Nancy Pawlicki, Mike and Rosalie Gallagher. Our Docent Workshop trainer, Mavis Stears. Jerry Meeker Middle School / Junior High on its 50th Anniversary celebration October 28, Go Wolverines/ Warriors! The County and City for building a sidewalk along Slayden Road after decades of pleas from PTA moms and dads and residents. Bob Robinson and the Browns Point Station Firemen for moving the surfboat to the Tall Ships and Maritime Fest locations. It went via pick up truck and trailer rather than rowed across the Bay. The BPIC for another successful and delicious Salmon Bake. We can t wait till 2010! We ll be there! Dick and Linda Collins on the centennial of their Tok A Lou home. It was the first wood frame home in B.Pt. Captain Dave Hibbard and the Crew of the Sea Scout Ship Verite who rowed across the Bay to visit us at the Salmon Bake. For more info on joining the fun, call Dave at Thanks to Sally Slater for arranging the visit. Margot Andersen for inventing the guest cards for Docents to hand to visitors to fill out to get information. The Endowment Committee for researching endowment programs: Norm Andersen, Linda Van Nest, Mavis Stears and Jim Harnish. Jean Peebles who won a week s stay in the Light Keepers Cottage in the BPIC Salmon Bake Raffle. Pat and Jim Harnish who did double duty at the Salmon Bake as chairs of the Serving Booth and as top volunteers for PNEHS Light Station tours. You deserve a rest! Board Member Shane Leek and wife Tanja for making 726 milkshakes (69 gallons) at their Salmon Bake booth. Also check out the new menu at Shane and Tanja s Browns Point Diner. They have the Dash Point Dock Dinner and the Browns Point Salmon Bake Dinner entrees. YUM! New volunteer Brenda McElfresh who has taken many photos for us. She recently won an award for a photo of her granddaughter Carly Bell and Brenda s husband s service dog down at the Lighthouse Park. Jim and Pat Harnish and Mavis & Larry Stears for representing PNEHS at the Washington Light Keepers Association (WLA) Annual meeting in Westport. Fay Ainsworth for articles and publicity in the BPIC Bulletin. Also for the two real estate flyer boxes we placed outside the Cottage and the History Center for self guided guides and rental info. Margot Andersen and Pat Harnish for chairing the Christmas Tea. Don t miss it. They have lots of fun planned. Julie Perhins, our Cottage Scheduler for her great idea of advertising the cottage rental on Craig s list.

6 6 Membership Matters - Norm Andersen, Membership Chair Endowment Fund New for 2009 is an endowment fund created by the PNEHS Board of Directors after the Endowment Committee researched many endowment funds throughout the Northwest. It is expected in a few years that the Endowment Fund will help sustain many of the ongoing and future restoration projects that PNEHS has on the drawing board. Only future interest and dividends, if needed, will be available to the Society with the principal ever growing. Life Memberships Also debuting in 2009 are life memberships. Life Memberships are being offered in two categories, Open and Senior. All income from life memberships goes into the newly created endowment fund. In addition, all memorials and donations not designated for a specific purpose will be put into the endowment fund. We invite all non members to become members in the society and to all current members to renew to help preserve and further the history of the Points Northeast Historical Society. Please go to our website : for additional information. PNEHS ended 2008 with 259 members, an increase of 48 from Thank you to one and all for all your continued support of PNEHS. Local residents make up a majority of the membership but members are scattered all over the country from California to New York. A sampling of new and renewed members include Doug and Heidi Andersen from University Place, Virginia and William Hyatt from NE Tacoma, Diana and Robert Molinari from New York, Lois Grone from Browns Point, Madeline West from Tacoma, The Seabury School, The Cliffhouse,the Gallagher family from Dash Point, Ted and Marge Dietrich from California, Melinda and Mark Miller from Fox Island and the Perkins family from Browns Point. The support of all our members is greatly appreciated Patti Moves On Charter member, co-founder and past president of PNEHS Patti Hurlbut resigned from the Board of Directors this summer to focus on other projects. A past president said of Patti, I believe her greatest contribution and it was a great one, was getting the Cottage program going. She collected furniture even before we got possession of the cottage. Patti with her vivacious and friendly personality was able to work with Metro Parks, BPIC and neighbors to get the Light Keepers program in place. The President continued, She started the Christmas Teas and also the first garden walks which were a great success from the beginning. Her flower arrangements at every function we ve ever had have always been the most beautiful and creative. Patti has been chair of the Cottage Committee for many years. Her presence on the Board has been an anchor to our past and a visionary for the future. We will miss you, Patti. But we know that your heart is with us and your beloved cottage. Good luck in the future. Kathleen Monahan Painting Party: Margot Andersen, Art & Pam Ladley and Crew Chief Bob Robinson Our Mission: Points Northeast Historical Society It is the mission of the Points Northeast Historical Society to preserve, promote and celebrate our local history and to: 1. Collect and exhibit historical records, stories and artifacts of Browns Point, Dash Point and Northeast Tacoma. 2. Encourage the preservation and public access to historical sites and landmarks. 3. Educate children and adults to appreciate our local heritage. 4. Sponsor and participate in community events.

7 7 From the Desk of the Curator: Since my last report, The Mosquito Fleet exhibit was displayed at the Tall Ships Festival and the Maritime Fest besides being on exhibit in the History Center this Summer and Fall. The display was based on the book, Mosquito Fleet of South Puget Sound by Robin Paterson, a member and Jean Cammon Findlay. Thanks to Robin and Jean for all the material included and to Sally Slater for her assistance with the display layout. In tandem with the display was our Surf Boat at Tall Ships and Maritime Festivals. At the request of the Foss Waterway Seaport, our Surf Boat is currently on display at its facility. The new Dash Point School Principal s Office Museum also includes a storage closet which we have already put to good use. Dash Point School Records from the teens and the 20 s, scrapbooks and other items are being stored (in acid free boxes with acid free tissues between the pages) in this much needed storage space. The use of acid free containers is to ensure the long time preservation of these valuable pieces of history. See the Dash Point School report on page 4. During the Salmon Bake, we distributed request forms to past and present residents encouraging them to be interviewed about their memories of their life here. We are also looking for memorabilia, photos, clippings, diaries, scrapbooks, essays, documents etc. to increase our knowledge of community history. This form was included in your recent 2009 membership letter. Beginning in January 2009, we will begin making appointments with those of you who volunteer. Please consider responding. This Fall, two docent workshops were given by your Curator for all our experienced docents as well as new docents. Our dcents volunteer three hours on a Saturday guiding visitors through our historic buildings. Training included an update of new duties and a comprehensive history lesson. Another workshop will be scheduled in 2009 for new volunteers and others who missed the first workshops. This is really fun volunteer duty. Please consider volunteering. Many of you request historical information and we are so pleased to accommodate you. In September, we provided several large photographs for the Dash Point Ladies Luncheon and in October, we provided materials from our Meeker School file for its 50th Anniversary celebration. These are examples of how we are here to serve you. We are YOUR Historical Society. Mavis Stears PNEHS Board of Directors 2008 President Jim Harnish (253) Co-Vice Presidents Art and Pam Ladley (253) Secretary/ Newsletter Editor Kathleen Monahan (253) Curator/ History Committee Chair Mavis Stears (253) Cottage Scheduler Julie Perkins (253) BPIC Liaison Fay Ainsworth (253) Docent Schedulers Mike and Rosalie Gallagher (253) Garden Club Liaison Pam Ladley (253) Cottage Greeter Nancy Pawlicki (253) Maintenance Committee Chair Robert Robinson (253) Membership Norm and Margot Andersen (253) Board Members Pat Harnish (253) Shane Leek (253) Karen Sullivan (253) Sue Turner (253) Linda Van Nest (253) Dash Point School Jill Barkley (253) PNEHS Answering Phone (253) For membership information, leave a message at ( 253) This newsletter is published by Points Northeast Historical Society Editor: Kathleen Monahan Docent Training: Curator Mavis Stears, Amy Ecker, Midi Mees, Brenda MacElfresh, Dorothy Keuter, Marilyn Beale & Jim Harnish. Seated: N.ancy Pawlicki photo by Kathleen Monahan

8 8 Winter Discounts Winter discounts on the Browns Point Lightkeeper s Cottage rentals are available this off season, now through April for $500 per week. Also available is a last minute rate of 50% off regular weekly rates or $250 when making reservations less than two weeks prior to stay. Shorter stays can be arranged. Call or bplighthouse@hotmail.com. Also, current members (after one year as paid members) are eligible for this last minute 50% discount anytime in New Life Members, in addition can receive one FREE last minute reservation during this off season and 10% off any regular cottage rental once in year. See accompanying article Membership Matters on page 6. The historic Lightkeepers Cottage, built in 1903 and beautifully restored, offers a glimpse into the past while providing all the necessary modern amenities. Fully furnished, it sleeps six, has a modern kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. The Cottage is located within the public Browns Point Lighthouse Park and offers stunning views of shipping activity, Vashon Island, sunsets, the the Olympic Mountains and more. While the Lighthouse at Browns Point is fully automatic, there are some light duties for renters who are known as the Lighthouse Keepers. Opportunities for Volunteers Being a volunteer with Points Northeast Historical Society is fun and rewarding, We are dedicated to PRE- SERVING PROMOTING AND CELEBRATING OUR AREA S HISTORY. Opportunities are open for you to spend a few hours helping to preserve and actually discover some of what happened in this area in the past by interviewing oldtimers or cataloguing and filing documents in the History Research Center. Or if you have writing, photography or creative visual skills, you could help with the newsletter, historical displays or posters for events, Or if you have online skills for web design and maintenance or for creating powerpoint projects Or if you are a handy person, we always have things that need fixing or painting, If you can help in any of these areas please write or call Jim Harnish at jimharnish@comcast.net or Visit Our sales table and display at the Meeker Holiday Bazaar : Saturday November 22 at Meeker Middle School 10 am to 4 p.m. Pick up your holiday gifts there! Points Northeast Historical Society Suite 180 PMB Town Center NE Browns Point, WA Have a cup of Holiday Cheer with Host & Hostess Dr. Jim & Carol Hazelrigg At the Holiday Tea December 14th 1 4 p.m.