4 June 2013 Tuesday
Shatoosh, Pashmina and Hira Barbara Reid have departed the historic anchorage of the HMS Discovery at Blake Island and headed north following in their wake up into Possession Sound. Both the HMS Chatham and the Discovery are piloting, surveying and map mapping. Mr Whidbey is exploring the island that becomes Whidbey Island. Alot is happening, the Chatham runs aground in Port Susan,and gets off without damage, but today is a day of rest for all the men.
4 June 1792- Edmond Meany quotes Captain George Vancouver," all the men were served as good a dinner as we were able to provide for them, with double allowance of grog to drink the King's health, it being the anniversary of HIS Majesty's birth; on which auspicious day, I had long since designated to take formal possession of all the countries we had lately been employed in exploring, in the name of, and for HIS Britannic Majesty, his heirs and successors.
To execute this purpose, accompanied by Mr.Broughton and some of the officers, I went on shore about one o'clock, pursuing the usual formalities which are generally observed on such occasions, and under the discharge of a royal salute from the vessels, took possession accordingly of the coast, from that part of New Albion, in the latitude of 39 degrees 20 minutes north, and longitude 236 degrees 26 minutes east, to the entrance of this inlet of the sea, said to be supposed straits of Juan de Fuca; as likewise all coast islands,etc.within the said straits, as well as on the northern as on the southern shores; together with those situated in the southern quarters; which interior sea I have honored with the name of the Gulf of Georgia, and the continent binding the said gulf, and extending southward to the 45th degree of north latitude, with that of New Georgia; in honor of His present Majesty. This branch of Admiralty Inlet obtained the name of Possession Sound; its western arm, after Vice Admiral Sir Alan Gardner, is distinguished by the name of Port Gardner and its smaller eastern one by that of Port Susan.( his wife)."
King George III was born in 1738 and reigned 60 years.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Blake Island St. Park Commissioners
30 May 2013
Today was a milestone, as the WA State Park Commissioners from Olympia arrived by boat to take a look at site possibilities for the Puget Memorial. Shatoosh and Hira arrived the day before to be ready for discussions and examining options.
We, collectively narrowed 5 possible sites to 2 and focused on them, comparing the pros and cons. The first one is at the Entrance Head Sign and is in a prime location for easy viewing and gets lots of traffic. The trail is flat and stable for persons with disabilities. The HMS Discovery Anchorage has limited viewing due to the marina and breakwater. Restoration Point is directly across the harbor entrance.This existing signage would be removed and placed at another location.
The second one in near the corner of Tillicum Village and is equally visited by the Argosy Tours guests. This would need coordination with another company and leveling out the trail. It requires more work however the Anchorage site is easier to view. The site has native Indian totems and brings us closer to the time period of Puget and evokes feelings of antiquity.
It is exciting to work with these talented, bright people who recognize the importance of Puget's role in the historic exploration of the southern waters. It is a laborious task that we are embarking upon, and our target date of installation and dedication will have to be delayed. We remain focused and determined to see this through.
Today was a milestone, as the WA State Park Commissioners from Olympia arrived by boat to take a look at site possibilities for the Puget Memorial. Shatoosh and Hira arrived the day before to be ready for discussions and examining options.
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| l to r. David Roe, Paul Ruppert, Nikki Fields, Michael Hankinson, Ryan Karlson, Ed Girard. |
We, collectively narrowed 5 possible sites to 2 and focused on them, comparing the pros and cons. The first one is at the Entrance Head Sign and is in a prime location for easy viewing and gets lots of traffic. The trail is flat and stable for persons with disabilities. The HMS Discovery Anchorage has limited viewing due to the marina and breakwater. Restoration Point is directly across the harbor entrance.This existing signage would be removed and placed at another location.
The second one in near the corner of Tillicum Village and is equally visited by the Argosy Tours guests. This would need coordination with another company and leveling out the trail. It requires more work however the Anchorage site is easier to view. The site has native Indian totems and brings us closer to the time period of Puget and evokes feelings of antiquity.
It is exciting to work with these talented, bright people who recognize the importance of Puget's role in the historic exploration of the southern waters. It is a laborious task that we are embarking upon, and our target date of installation and dedication will have to be delayed. We remain focused and determined to see this through.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Anderson Island and the Puget Memorial Project
I received an exciting email from Dave Jacobson on Anderson Island. He is a Park Commissioner on the island and he ran across our Memorial blog. The Park Commissioners invited me over yesterday to see their new project, Jacobs Point Park, and to talk about their newly discovered information of Peter Puget's encampment on Anderson Island - 22 May 1792 and how that might impact their project.
Anderson Island has always been known for their well documented history through several authors over the centuries of in-habitation since the mid 1800's. Dave is also the President of the Historical Society and his parents owned property on the island long ago. As he mentioned to a friend, we are just now discovering our island people date back to 1792 with the Puget Exploration Party. The 5 Commissioners are very excited to have discovered this information at this particular time. TheCommissioners are Dave Jacobson, Bill Spears, Rick Anderson, Chuck Hinds and Carol Pascal. They are well into developing an 85 acre park with 2.5 miles of trails and picnic/viewing sites(5) on the Jacobs Peninsula which extends into Oro Bay. Oro Bay is where the Puget party took refuge from a SE storm and were forced to spend the night. Indians came in 3 canoes and brought them salmon, berries and traded bear skins with the explorers.
We hiked the newly created trail to Jacobs Point and looked out over Oro Bay to the bay's southern shoreline and land spit where we believe the explorers camped based on the Journals of Peter Puget and Archibald Menzies which were edited by Richard Blumenthal.(With Vancouver in Inland Washington Waters) Afterwards Dave and his wife, Lynn took me to their home and we had a wonderful lunch.
I am really excited about Jacobs Point Park and the Commissioner's plan to add the "Puget" component to their signage as well as, to their island history. This is a perfect example of my dream. Share the information of the Puget Exploration of the Sound and let each Puget Sounder bring him to life in their own life and the life of their community/organization/or project. Let us all Honor, Memorialize, and Celebrate Peter Puget and his Exploration Party. Thank you Anderson Island for stepping up to the plate, becoming a friend of ours so, we all can make our projects memorable and project them into the lives of the next generation. We don't want to loose Peter Puget again, now that we have re-discovered him. It is interesting that King George III named the 1791-1795 voyage, the Voyage of Discovery. 221 years later, we are still discovering these explorers again and finding new and wonderful places and ways to honor them. Anderson Island could have an annual party/ picnic to honor the Puget Party on 22 May of each year. What a magical process!
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| Arriving Anderson Island on the MV Christine Anderson, a Pierce County Ferry 17 May 2013 |
Anderson Island has always been known for their well documented history through several authors over the centuries of in-habitation since the mid 1800's. Dave is also the President of the Historical Society and his parents owned property on the island long ago. As he mentioned to a friend, we are just now discovering our island people date back to 1792 with the Puget Exploration Party. The 5 Commissioners are very excited to have discovered this information at this particular time. TheCommissioners are Dave Jacobson, Bill Spears, Rick Anderson, Chuck Hinds and Carol Pascal. They are well into developing an 85 acre park with 2.5 miles of trails and picnic/viewing sites(5) on the Jacobs Peninsula which extends into Oro Bay. Oro Bay is where the Puget party took refuge from a SE storm and were forced to spend the night. Indians came in 3 canoes and brought them salmon, berries and traded bear skins with the explorers.
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| click to enlarge |
We hiked the newly created trail to Jacobs Point and looked out over Oro Bay to the bay's southern shoreline and land spit where we believe the explorers camped based on the Journals of Peter Puget and Archibald Menzies which were edited by Richard Blumenthal.(With Vancouver in Inland Washington Waters) Afterwards Dave and his wife, Lynn took me to their home and we had a wonderful lunch.
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| An Amazing Group of Commissioners & Supporters. |
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| Oro Bay from Jacobs Point |
I am really excited about Jacobs Point Park and the Commissioner's plan to add the "Puget" component to their signage as well as, to their island history. This is a perfect example of my dream. Share the information of the Puget Exploration of the Sound and let each Puget Sounder bring him to life in their own life and the life of their community/organization/or project. Let us all Honor, Memorialize, and Celebrate Peter Puget and his Exploration Party. Thank you Anderson Island for stepping up to the plate, becoming a friend of ours so, we all can make our projects memorable and project them into the lives of the next generation. We don't want to loose Peter Puget again, now that we have re-discovered him. It is interesting that King George III named the 1791-1795 voyage, the Voyage of Discovery. 221 years later, we are still discovering these explorers again and finding new and wonderful places and ways to honor them. Anderson Island could have an annual party/ picnic to honor the Puget Party on 22 May of each year. What a magical process!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Coins and Coining
Skip Dreps took me to the Burien Office of the NW PVA to meet his long time friend, Ernie Butler, Executive Director and to pick up a coin so that I could take it and "coin" Robin Twyman, the British Consul who is supporting our Puget Memorial Project.
The NW Chapter of the PVA is a Puget Memorial Project Endorser. It was an honor to finally meet Ernie. He is a fantastic man, a paraylyzed veteran and a fellow Viet Nam Veteran who changes lives every day.
"Coining" has become quite the tradition in the military. It was an honor to "coin" Robin and introduce him to this long time tradition. This was Robin's first coin and my first time in coining someone. A great day for both of us.
To read more about the PVA click here
NWPVA
The NW Chapter of the PVA is a Puget Memorial Project Endorser. It was an honor to finally meet Ernie. He is a fantastic man, a paraylyzed veteran and a fellow Viet Nam Veteran who changes lives every day.
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| Front View |
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| Rear View |
"Coining" has become quite the tradition in the military. It was an honor to "coin" Robin and introduce him to this long time tradition. This was Robin's first coin and my first time in coining someone. A great day for both of us.
To read more about the PVA click here
NWPVA
Monday, May 13, 2013
New Friends of the Project
May is a busy month for the Puget Memorial Project as numerous connections, meetings are taking place and new friendships are being formed.
On 6 May 2013 I had the Great Opportunity to meet with Robin Twyman, Consul (Business and Government Affairs) UK Government Office, Seattle, WA. The meeting took place on the 41st floor overlooking the western views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain range. If that wasn't enough it was the sunniest and warmest day of the year. I briefed Consul Twyman on our Memorial Project, its importance in our joint histories, its way to honor our shared heroes and its path to secure remembrance for future generations. He stated, "I am very interested in this project which celebrates Britain's long and prosperous relationship with Puget Sound and I want to be kept informed of its progress." Consul Twyman accepted my invitation to join us at the Dedication Day.
On 8 May 2013 I spoke at the Monthly Meeting of the Tacoma Waterfront Assn. The venue was at the prestigious Tacoma Museum of Glass.
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The talk was well received by many and I ran into an old friend who I knew and worked with in the 70-80's.
The Tacoma Waterfront Assn is made up of many businesses who promote activities along the Tacoma shoreline. They have recently obtained permission to have a seaplane dock on the Foss Waterway which will allow commercial and private sea planes to land. The TWA has become a great friend of the Puget Memorial Project.
On 11 May 2013 another friend of the Project re-opened their doors to the public after a year and a half renovation: The Foss Waterway Seaport Museum. I visited it and the new Glass Frontage is spectacular. I'm told at night it is spectacular.
I spent an hour poking my nose around and ran into some TWA folks I knew. Joseph Govednik who is in charge of Exhibitions has done a beautiful job with the set-up. The old warehouse is huge and capable of expansion. I visualized Peter Puget Exploration as being next year's new exhibit. This Museum is accessible by boat and within walking distance to the Museum of Glass. You should make it a destination.
On 6 May 2013 I had the Great Opportunity to meet with Robin Twyman, Consul (Business and Government Affairs) UK Government Office, Seattle, WA. The meeting took place on the 41st floor overlooking the western views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain range. If that wasn't enough it was the sunniest and warmest day of the year. I briefed Consul Twyman on our Memorial Project, its importance in our joint histories, its way to honor our shared heroes and its path to secure remembrance for future generations. He stated, "I am very interested in this project which celebrates Britain's long and prosperous relationship with Puget Sound and I want to be kept informed of its progress." Consul Twyman accepted my invitation to join us at the Dedication Day.
On 8 May 2013 I spoke at the Monthly Meeting of the Tacoma Waterfront Assn. The venue was at the prestigious Tacoma Museum of Glass.
.JPG)
The talk was well received by many and I ran into an old friend who I knew and worked with in the 70-80's.
The Tacoma Waterfront Assn is made up of many businesses who promote activities along the Tacoma shoreline. They have recently obtained permission to have a seaplane dock on the Foss Waterway which will allow commercial and private sea planes to land. The TWA has become a great friend of the Puget Memorial Project.
On 11 May 2013 another friend of the Project re-opened their doors to the public after a year and a half renovation: The Foss Waterway Seaport Museum. I visited it and the new Glass Frontage is spectacular. I'm told at night it is spectacular.
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| Seaport Museum |
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| Welcome |
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| Nice canoe |
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| Woody with Chris Craft in Tow |
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| Wow rear view of Chris Craft. |
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| Gas inboard |
I spent an hour poking my nose around and ran into some TWA folks I knew. Joseph Govednik who is in charge of Exhibitions has done a beautiful job with the set-up. The old warehouse is huge and capable of expansion. I visualized Peter Puget Exploration as being next year's new exhibit. This Museum is accessible by boat and within walking distance to the Museum of Glass. You should make it a destination.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Another Curtiss Memorial
A couple of days ago I was driving south on I-5 to go to Shatoosh, my Albin 25. As I passed Camp Murray, a Tacoma National Guard Armory, the sun was shining and was beaming on the Minuteman, one of Gareth Curtiss' Memorials. I have passed this stretch millions of time, but today was my first sighting of this historic statue. The light on the patina was stunning. On my return trip I stopped to take a closer look.
The statue must be 8 feet tall, and is breath taking. The attention to detail is most noteworthy. I can't wait to see what Gareth has in his creative head and heart and know deep within my own heart, that future generations will come by boat and by car to view our Memorials to Lt. Peter Puget and they will stand in the sun and honor the man for whom the Sound was named.
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| Maquette that Gareth gave me. |
The statue must be 8 feet tall, and is breath taking. The attention to detail is most noteworthy. I can't wait to see what Gareth has in his creative head and heart and know deep within my own heart, that future generations will come by boat and by car to view our Memorials to Lt. Peter Puget and they will stand in the sun and honor the man for whom the Sound was named.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Progress In The Making
Skip and I have been busy this past month. Skip is driving many miles from the Seattle area to the Capitol in Olympia daily to attend meetings, drum up support for the Project and to get endorsements. There are many spin off ideas that are being generated which are amazing.
The Association of Washington Generals and the NW Paralyzed Veterans of America have endorsed the Project, which is wonderful. Their generosity and support are greatly appreciated. See links to their web sites at the bottom of this blog.
I continue to promote the project along the waterfronts of Tacoma, Gig Harbor ad Olympia. The Tacoma Waterfront Assn has been most supportive and helpful, so much so, that I joined and I am attending their monthly meetings that are held in the beautiful Museum of Glass. In May I will be guest speaker, so I have been busy creating new flyers and power point programs. Museum of Glass
I met with Gareth who is the Project artist and by May we may be looking at new drawings and perhaps a maquette of one of the Memorials. I love being with Gareth as he is so creative. We stopped by one of his monuments at the Hawkes Prairie Inn at the entrance to Lacey. It is a soldier, wife and child.
The momentum is building and everyone who hears of the project is supportive and realize the importance of this project. Honoring Lt. Peter Puget and his exploration party is long overdue.
The Association of Washington Generals and the NW Paralyzed Veterans of America have endorsed the Project, which is wonderful. Their generosity and support are greatly appreciated. See links to their web sites at the bottom of this blog.
I continue to promote the project along the waterfronts of Tacoma, Gig Harbor ad Olympia. The Tacoma Waterfront Assn has been most supportive and helpful, so much so, that I joined and I am attending their monthly meetings that are held in the beautiful Museum of Glass. In May I will be guest speaker, so I have been busy creating new flyers and power point programs. Museum of Glass
I met with Gareth who is the Project artist and by May we may be looking at new drawings and perhaps a maquette of one of the Memorials. I love being with Gareth as he is so creative. We stopped by one of his monuments at the Hawkes Prairie Inn at the entrance to Lacey. It is a soldier, wife and child.
The momentum is building and everyone who hears of the project is supportive and realize the importance of this project. Honoring Lt. Peter Puget and his exploration party is long overdue.
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