Steilacoom Installs New Memorial Signage

The Peter Puget Memorial Project is very happy to see the new signage installation erected at 2 Steilacoom City Parks of Pioneer Orchard Park and Saltars Point Park. These new Memorials honor the Voyage of Discovery, Captain George Vancouver and Lt Peter Puget's exploration of the southern waters of Puget Sound in May 1792.

Historic Waters is at Pioneer Orchard Park

Crossroads of Discovery is at Saltars Point Park.

There are so many people to thank on this project. Mayor of Steilacoom, Ron Lucas gave the go ahead from the first meeting back in Nov 2014. City Council Member-Nancy Henderson, Native Indian Artist-Carol Geidel, Jenny Roholt-Graphic Designer, WinsorFireform in Tumwater WA. who constructed the permanent signage and the Steilacoom Parks Department for the final installation. I am very grateful for everyone's participation, enthusiasm and dedication to documenting Steilacoom's history.  A special thank you for Marine artists John Horton and Steve Mayo for permission to use their beautiful artwork  depicting the Voyage of Discovery.                                                                                                               

Steilacoom Historical Museum Association

The Peter Puget Memorial Project is excited to report The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association (SHMA) revealed its new, beautiful, outdoor historical signages this month. This includes a special new tribute to Lt Peter Puget's Exploration of the South Sound which was part of Captain Vancouver's Voyage of Discovery in May 1792. From its vantage point of the outside deck one has sweeping western views of Carr Inlet, Balch Passage, Fox, McNeil, and Anderson Islands. Steve Mayo, a Bellingham, WA artist, who is famous for his Voyage of Discovery paintings, created this watercolor in 1979 which depicts the HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham anchored off Restoration Point, Bainbridge Island with Puget's small boats exploring. If you have never been to the museum or Steilacoom, make it a must place to see this summer. You'll be happy you did.  www.steilacoomhistorical.org
I'd like to thank Skip Dreps and the Burien NW Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America-NWPVA for their support in managing our fund raising monies. The monies the Puget Project collected were donated to SHMA for their Puget Memorial.

The Highs and Lows of Vancouver Notch

Hello Friends and Supporters of Vancouver Notch,

As you know my Vancouver Notch proposal was officially named by the Washington Board on Geographic Names 1 Dec 2015. The proposal then went to the US Board on Geographic Names for consideration. A special survey was performed by an outside surveying company to examine the coordinates of my original proposal which were determined by the WA Board on Geographic Names.  The surveyor determined that the Vancouver Notch coordinates were actually deeper within the Puyallup River Gap. 

The new coordinates were based on Puyallup Point and an unnamed summit above the South Puyallup River north of Round Pass. The center point between these two geographic peaks create the new coordinates of 46.824 N, -121.917 W. 

Unfortunately, the new coordinates place the feature on the western boundary line of a federally designated wilderness area of Mt. Rainier National Forest. see purple line on map.

Since New Names in Wilderness Areas are not allowed under both WA Board and US Board policies, my proposal was officially denied by both Boards as of January 3, 2017.

I learned so much in my journey to officially name a feature, met many amazing people, traveled deep into the site of the original coordinates at the confluence of the Mowich and Puyallup Rivers and continue to have great respect for Captain George Vancouver for recognizing the importance of the "abrupt division” in the southern foothills of Mt. Rainier. I thank Richard Blumenthal for introducing me to the Naming of Geographic Features and for Caleb Mackey at the WA Committee Geographic Names for assisting me in walking my proposal through the process.

I, along with many others will always refer to the “abrupt division” in our beautiful view of Mt Rainier and her foothills as, Vancouver Notch. Google continues to map it with the old coordinates. At least it is on one map-Google Earth, which is not a bad consolation prize.

A Long Lost Wooden Chest: Did It Belong to Captain Peter Puget?

Exciting News:

I have recently heard from a lady from Derbyshire England who states about 40 years ago a relative purchased at auction an old wooden chest with the Name Commissioner Puget engraved in brass on the top lid. She has recently inherited it and was interested if perhaps this chest could have belonged to Peter Puget. She found my blog and has sent some pictures. 

The chest is made of mahogany and is dated as 18th Century. The brass lid hinges have been replaced, but all the other hinges appear to be original. The wooden feet are also original.

Historically, Captain Peter Puget was Commissioner of the British Navy in India stationed in Madras and developed the new Naval Base in Trincomalee(Ceylon) from 1810-1817.

If this chest did belong to Captain/Admiral Puget it would be perhaps the only artifact that remains from his life as a Naval Officer and particularly from his service as Naval Commissioner in India.

I am still in conversation with her regarding the family's plans  for this chest. Finding and identifying this rare chest is certainly an exciting new entry into Puget's life.

The photos are not the best quality.

Lid

Side handle

Commissioner Puget Lid Plaque

front view

Washington State Department of Natural Resources Board Meets in Olympia

December 1, 2015
Vancouver Notch

I first submitted the proposal to the Wa State Geographic Naming Commission in April, 2015 for the first consideration in May 2015. Read other posting in this blog.
In October 2015, it was approved for final consideration by the Commission.
 On Dec 1, 2015 Caleb Maki, as part of their Naming Commission, presented to the Board,  Vancouver Notch for final approval. The Board unanimously approved the name, Vancouver Notch as part of the Washington State Geographic Names. This enables the name to be used by cartographers in all future Wa State Maps.

Todd Matthews, Editor of the Tacoma Daily Index has written numerous articles as the Proposal has moved through the various stages. He arranged for us to view the privately maintained property owned by the Hancock Forest Management. see his latest article:

To read his most recent article update see link

http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/blog/vancouver-notch-dnr-approves-proposal-to-name-mount-rainier-foothills-feature/2429999/

Vancouver Notch Naming Approved

Todd Matthews, an enthusiastic Editor of the Tacoma Daily Index and Barbara Reid have been busy lately pulling together the final pieces to present to the The Washington State Committee on Geographic Names that met in Olympia on October 23, 2015. The Committee approved the Proposal to Officially name Vancouver Notch.

Read the recent articles that he wrote on our on site adventure into the Notch with Hancock Forest Manager, Heather Watson on October 21,2015.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of the proposed Vancouver Notch, click on the following links:

§  Vancouver Notch: In Mount Rainier’s foothills, Barbara Reid completes one famous explorer’s journey(Tacoma Daily Index, October 21, 2015)

§  Vancouver Notch: Committee to consider proposal to name Mount Rainier foothills feature (Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 19, 2015)

§  Tacoma Daily Index Top Stories — August 2015 (Tacoma Daily Index, Sept. 1, 2015)

§  Vancouver Notch: Mount Rainier foothills could soon honor the late explorer (Tacoma Daily Index, July 31, 2015)

Todd Mathews -- Vancouver Notch: Committee approves proposal to name Mount Rainier foothills feature (Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 26, 2015)

http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/blog/vancouver-notch-committee-approves-proposal-to-name-mount-rainier-foothills-feature/2429702/

Craig Hill of the Tacoma News Tribune presented his articles online but also in the Sunday Section Sound Life.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/outdoors/article39241458.html

Steilacoom and Saltars Point Park

The Town of Steilacoom and their Parks Department is finalizing the rebuilding of the Saltars Point Park which has been a lengthy project. There is a new Train Trestle over the BNSF Railroad tracks, which will give access to the lower section of the park, an upper level parking lot, lighting, and an upper park with a bench for viewing Ketron, Anderson, Eagle and McNeil Islands. They are creating space for the Lt. Peter Puget Memorial Reader Board which will discuss the exploration routes of Lt Peter Puget and Captain George Vancouver who surveyed these waters in May, 1792 as part of the 4 year Voyage of Discovery.

Our design team had just finished another meeting, so we were excited to see their progress and test drive our template with the newly installed platform. The Eagle Boy Scouts had planted new plants, people were enjoying the view and walking their dogs. Hira Barbara Reid, Director of the Puget Memorial Project was very happy to see all this progress.

We ventured over the new trestle just in time for an Amtrak train to wiz past us, and then down to the beach and pavilion. We enjoyed a nice bite to eat. What a wonderful day.

Up Date on Steilacoom Projects

The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association prepared a grant for funding for their Informative Signage Project. This included The Peter Puget Memorial Project signage and other projects they are involved in.

The City signage at Pioneer Park and Saltars Point Park is moving along with the design team. Recently we went to Winsor Fireform in Tumwater and met with the owner Brian Stockdale. They design and fabricate porcelain enamel metal signage. He was very helpful with design and editing tips and showed us numerous styles and options we can choose.

Winsor Fireform Click on this link to view.

Tacoma Daily Index Article

Todd Mathews, Editor of the Tacoma Daily Index interviewed me the other day regarding my proposal to officially name Vancouver Notch. He had received a press release from the Naming Commission of the DNR. He came to my home and we had the best time discussing this project. He also interviewed Richard Blumenthal, local historian and Caleb Maki, Secretary to the Naming Commission. Both of these men have been so helpful to me in learning about and understanding this lengthy process.

Vancouver Notch could soon honor the late explorer Vancouver

Todd has numerous links within his article to view the Proposal, The Press Release, Richard Blumenthal's Publishing of his many Historical Books, Todd's Awards. Again, I thank Linda Van Nest and Terry Rishel for their photos of Vancouver Notch.

Washington State Commission on Geographic Naming

                                                                 

The Washington State Committee on Geographic Names--DNR accepted my proposal for consideration to officially name Vancouver Notch. Between now and the next meeting in October 2015 the merits of my proposal will be researched and comments will be solicited from local historical societies/museums, county governments, state and federal land management and interested individuals and groups. At that time the proposal will be approved, denied or deferred. The approved proposal then will go forward to the WA State Board. All approved names will go to United States Board for Federal Consideration. The name will appear on all WA and US Maps. This process may take a year or more, but who is in a hurry. It has been 223 years since Captain Vancouver noted this Gap or Pass in his journal. It is such an integral part of our waterfront landscape it needs to have an official name. He named over 30 sites in WA and this formation should be named for him, as he was the first to describe it. This is really exciting historically as it opens a new chapter in The Voyage of Discovery and shines a new light on the ever changing Tacoma Waterfront.

photo by b.reid

If you would like to support my proposal, you may send an email noting subject as: Vancouver Notch to caleb.maki@dnr.wa.gov Caleb is Executive Secretary, Washington Committee on Geographic Names, WA State Department of Natural Resources(DNR)
One or 2 sentences is fine. Please use Barbara Reid as my name. Place your name, title, phone number at the end of the comment. These will be placed in my proposal and will be available online and will be a part of the public record.

The Proposed Name of Vancouver Notch

Today, April 13, 2015, marks my Application to submit The Proposed Name of Vancouver Notch to the WA State Commission on Geographic Names. They meet twice a year in May and October. Linda Van Nest, resident of Tacoma's North East Brown's Point area took several wonderful photos  of this unique geological formation which was described by Captain George Vancouver in his journal/log as the HMS Discovery was anchored near Restoration Point from 19-30 May 1792.

The meeting will be May 15, 2015 at 10 AM in Olympia, 223 years after Captain described the formation as a, "conspicuous, abrupt division" in the southern slope of Mt Rainier.

photos by linda van nest

Steilacoom's Lt Peter Puget Memorial Project

Steilacoom is building a a large community support team to create possibly three historical reader boards along significant sites overlooking Balch Passage, Ketron Island and Carr Inlet. Mayor Ron Lucas, Nancy Henderson, City counsel and French Wetmore, President of the Steilacoom History Museum are the front runners on the project with Barbara Reid as a historical consultant. Steilacoom has four possible sites to choose from:
1, The Museum Patio over looking Carr Inlet
2. Pioneer Park overlooking Balch Passage
3. Saltars Point overlooking Ketron Island and Balch Passage
4. Sunnyside Park on the water overlooking Ketron to Fox Island.

Site locations will be decided, artistic design team and writing teams have been decided and many future meetings await us. This is very exciting. Nancy Covert has posted an article about the project in the Suburban Times Paper for Pierce County. Thank you Nancy Covert for your interest and support. The Suburban Times

For me, Barbara Reid, it is extremely exciting to have the towns of Steilacoom and Allyn wanting to create Memorials to Honor Lt Peter Puget's Exploration Party and interestingly, both locations had the rare exchange with not only the Puget Party plying their waters but Captain Vancouver also surveyed both areas and camped. Thank you all for helping bring my vision into reality. Most important is to Honor, Memorialize and to Celebrate these historic explorers and their accomplishments in May 1792.

Case Inlet and Allyn, WA.

On March 2, 2015 I presented the historical facts of Captain Vancouver and Lt Puget's separate explorations of Case Inlet to the Port of Allyn Commissioners and some local residents. Everyone was excited and found their newly discovered history was important and impressive. Allyn, like Steilacoom, are small communities filled with Pioneer history, but not aware of their British history which took place in May 1792 with the Voyage of Discovery when Lt Peter Puget, Joseph Whidbey, Archibald Menzies and Lt. Thomas Manby and 16 oarsmen, rowed throughout the southern waters in search of the NW Passage. Puget and his party explored Case Inlet and camped at Sherwood Creek for breakfast on May 24,1792. On a separate exploration by Captain Vancouver and Lt. Joseph Baker in the Captain's yawl, they explored Case Inlet on May 28, 1792 and dined for their main meal at 4 PM in the area of Allyn. They retraced their route down Case Inlet and later that evening joined the second vessel of their party, headed by Lt. James Johnstone. On May 29, 1792 the two vessels returned to the HMS Discovery which was anchored near Restoration Point, Bainbridge Island. Late that night Captain Vancouver de-briefed Lt Puget and Mr. Menzies. It was at this time Captain Vancouver officially named the southern waters, Puget's Sound in honor of his dedicated Lieutenant.

I found the Port of Allyn to be an ideal location for a memorial, with its dock, covered pavilion, toilets, ample parking and picnic tables.

As I ventured down the road, to view Sherwood Creek, I serendipitously discovered a small park
near the mouth of the creek. This is where Lt Puget reports they camped for breakfast and seined for salmon. This site already has historical reader boards and a new Puget Memorial would enhance the park's role in the Cascadia Marine Trail. The signs are made of powder coated metal. The site while small has parking, picnic tables, toilet and beach access.

The possibility of creating Memorials in Allyn is delightful. The setting could not be more perfect, the community is excited and I am jumping up and down with enthusiasm. To think that it took me 2 years to connect the dots on this site. I almost missed it. We can't let this opportunity slip through any more lost time. We can make this happen. What do you think, Allyn? Joyce Bosley writes for the North Bay Review and is posting an article this month.North Bay Review.

2015: Phase 2 of the Lt Peter Puget Memorial Project

Phase 1: The projects at Blake Island and Olympia Port Plaza are considered long term projects.
Phase 2: Beginning January 2015, we will be helping the town of Steilacoom create 3 Memorial reader boards  to document their rich history in the Balch Passage area.
Anderson Island has dedicated their Jacob's Point Park which overlooks Oro Bay. They will have a marker to dedicate Puget's party camping in the area.
I realized the community of Allyn in Case Inlet is also a very important historical site that can perhaps create a memorial of their own. I am in communication with them and informing them Puget explored Case Inlet but Vancouver did too and dined one afternoon.There is a dock and Pavilion that could be the site for a small memorial.
We were delighted to learn that the Thurston County Historical Commission had placed a historical reader board at Mud Bay, Eld Inlet. Having communities identify possible sites and creating their own memorials is the future focus of our Project.
At the end of May 2015 we are closing the fund raising for the project, so get your donation in as soon as you can.

Peter Puget Haiku

In my recent cruise with Too Tall Tom, he began instructing me in the art of writing Japanese Haiku Poetry with particular references to cruising. From modern day cruising we slipped easily into the Exploration of Peter Puget and the Southern Waters and the Voyage of Discovery. Too Tall Tom was crew for me when we replicated Puget's Route.

The first line is 5 syllables.
The second line is 7.
The third line is 5.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four years to explore
Voyage of Discovery
Peter Puget's Sound
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Row, Row, Row your boat.
Hungry, Thirsty, Hot and Cold
The Men of the Oar.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Master Whidbey sees
Deception Pass is the Key
To Whidbey's Island.

Artwork by Steve Mayo

My Puget Memorial Dream Grows

Shatoosh, Pashmina and I cruised to Gig Harbor this weekend.. I met Hans Schumacher and his wonderful family cruising on a Mac Greggor 25 named Trapiche.  They introduced themselves and stated they had seen The Lt Peter Puget Memorial Project write-up in April 48 North and had also read Carol MacKinnon's Article in May.

They had 3 days off in May so took our suggestions to heart and headed out to do Puget's Route for 3 days. Congratulations to you. They had the history books on board and read them along the way. This is part of my dream coming true. Replication and learning history along the route. Hans please share this with your MacGreggor groups.

This brings up a new question: What do we call ourselves when we follow in Puget's Wake?
Puget Wakers
Puget Routers
Puget Explorers
Puget Followers
What are your thoughts?

June 4, 1792; June 4, 1915; and June 4, 2014

What Do These Dates Have In Common?

June 4, 1792: It was King George's 54th birthday and Captain George Vancouver rowed ashore to celebrate it by taking Possession of all waters and land they had mapped and surveyed since April. He named these waters, Possession Sound. It is the home waters of Everett, WA.

June 4, 1915: The Marcus Whitman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution paid tribute by installing a bronze and stone Memorial to commemorate his landing. It is 99 years old.

June 4, 2014: I make my way to Everett today to see the memorial and to pay my tribute to Captain Vancouver and his Voyage of Discovery. The Memorial is located high on a bluff overlooking the Port of Everett in a small, but beautiful park, aptly named Grand Avenue Park. The Memorial is located at Grand Avenue and 18th Street. Many people were being walked by their dogs in  the small park, but no one I spoke to knew nothing of this great event, no one had ever stopped to read the plaque. Everyone got a brief history lesson and departed, pleased to know about it. I had a pocket full of Lt Peter Puget Memorial cards to pass out.

The Park has other noted Memorials, A bronze Bust for Senator Scoop Jackson, who lived across the street in a beautiful home. A mosaic Compass Rose and a tribute to Becky Fauver.

I ventured down to the Port and celebrated by having  a lovely lunch at Anthony's Home Port Restaurant.
What a wonderful day and I am so happy I took the time to honor these explorers on this famous day in Washington's History.

Carol MacKinnon Honors Lt. Peter Puget

Carol is an avid sailor and historian who seems to love The Voyage of Discovery 1792, as much as I do. Richard Hazelton, the editor of 48 North has introduced us recently as the May issue of 48 North has Carol's article on Retracing Puget's Route. She does a wonderful job of weaving Puget's history with her own journey and challenges Puget Sound boaters to get out on the Sound this May and rediscover his famous route for themselves. Great work Carol.

Please go to link to read her article:
48 North

Captain Vancouver Memorial Stone in Possession Sound is Found

The other day, my boating/ history buff side-kick, Too Tall Tom came to my rescue.
I have been looking for this monument for quite a while. See March 2014 posting.

He had located Captain Vancouver's Memorial Stone in Everett, WA. which commemorated the day he landed and took possession of all waters and land he had surveyed in April and May 1792. On King George III's birthday, June 4, 1792, Captain Vancouver, Lt. Broughton rowed ashore with several of the officers at 1 PM and in keeping with royal traditional, planted the British flag, fired off muskets from the Discovery. The men were served the best meal he could provide, an extra portion of grog and finally a day of rest for all the men, especially for the men of the oar.

He named all the waters north of 39 degrees, 20 minutes N, the Gulph(Gulf) of Georgia and the land southward, to 45 degrees N, New Georgia. This sound was named Possession Sound.


The Marcus Whitman Chapter of the DAR dedicated this monument.
It is located in the Grand Avenue Park, 1800 Grand Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
N 47° 59.633 W 122° 12.764

Erected June 4, 1915

Too Tall found it on a site: www.waymarking,com

I will have to get north and see it for myself. Thanks Too Tall for  finding this 99 year old monument. I wonder if they will re-dedicate it next June for its 100th Anniversary.

Steilacoom History Museum, WA

Looking west through Balch Passage
Puget and his party transited from Pitt Passage thru  Balch
and arrived Ketron Island

 The sun was out in all its glory as Barbara Reid spoke to the Steilacoom History Museum yesterday. I was back on the "Friend Raising" trail to gather interested supporters for the Lt Peter Puget Memorial Project. Steilacoom and I have been in 48 year love relationship. It is a small town located on the eastern shore of Puget Sound south of the Tacoma Narrows. It overlooks Balch Passage, Anderson, Eagle, McNeil, Fox and Ketron Islands. You have breath taking views, ferry rides to Anderson and Ketron Islands, kayaking, fishing, bike riding and the list goes on and on. It is historic, beautifully maintained and a fun place to live and visit.

Friend Raising

It is filled with The Voyage of Discovery adventures as The Puget Expedition and the Vancouver Expedition plied these waters in May of 1792. I am calling Steilacoom, The Crossroads of the Voyage of Discovery now that I have had time to savor the historical tidbits that are continually being placed in my simmering and thickening soup that I am cooking. The Puget party crossed from Pitt Passage to Balch Passage to Ketron Island to get a noon sight and bearings up the Narrows for Mr. Whidbey. Lt Manby tried to shoot a bear and his double-barreled gun exploded. The sun dripped day resulted in lightening and thunder storms which forced them into Oro Bay on Anderson Island where they spent the night. Trading with the Nisqually Indians in the evening provided them with salmon, raspberries and a bear skin. The Vancouver Expedition also crossed through this area and camped on Ketron Island. That evening Puget's expedition returned from their southern exploration and passed Ketron making their way back to the HMS Discovery. They see a camp fire on shore and believe it to be Indian. Vancouver fires muskets upon seeing boats pass in the darkness of night. Since there was no return of muskets firing, they, too thought the boats were Indian.

The Steilacoom group was excited to hear this history, are most supportive, have become new "Friends of the Puget Memorial Project" and are eager to look at other possibilities of embracing the Puget Expedition into their projects list. I look forward to seeing them again in the near future. What a wonderful group of people. Stop by and visit the town and their beautiful history museum. Tell them Puget sent you.

http://www.steilacoomhistorical.org/

http://www.townofsteilacoom.com/