Wednesday, November 10, 2010 • The Whidbey Examiner
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UPEVILLE CO
M/V CHETZEMOKA
CHETZEMOKA Ferries: A look back 1851 Col. Isaac Ebey is the first to file a claim in Central Whidbey. Ebey’s Landing becomes a stopping point for travelers. Port Townsend becomes a settlement. 1853 Coupeville is settled; Washington Territory is established. 1857 Chief Chetzemoka in Port Townsend preserves peace between settlers and tribes. On Central Whidbey, pioneer Isaac Ebey is beheaded during an attack by northern Indians. 1860 On Jan. 24, the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington grants Capt. Thomas Coupe the exclusive right to carry paying passengers, freight and livestock on a steam ferry between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend for 10 years. Maria, a 20-foot sailing sloop commissioned by Capt. Coupe and built by Thomas Smithfield of Port Townsend, begins serving the route in July. After Maria is in service for a year, the Island County commissioners set fare at 50 cents per person; $1 to transport a hog. Isaac Ebey’s brother Winfield Ebey builds the Ebey Inn (now known as the Ferry House), a modest hotel and tavern for travelers, to provide income for Isaac’s three orphaned children. The inn continued to operate until the early 1900s.
See Ferries, page 9
Chetzemoka arrives at Whidbey By Toni Grove Examiner Staff Writer
D
ependability. That’s what many in the Coupeville community are looking forward to when the 64-vehicle Chetzemoka – the first of the Kwa-di Tabil class ferries to come out of Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle – makes its inaugural sailing this Sunday between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. “I think the best part is that we will have more reliable service,” Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard said. She pointed out that the new boat should perform well in rough weather – a quality that should reduce the frequency of weather-related cancellations on the notoriously stormy route. Conard said she hopes improved reliability will encourage more people to visit Coupeville. Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson agreed the addition of the first new ferry in Washington since 1999 will benefit communities on both ends of the route. Improving the predictability of the ferry route will help the regional economy, she said. “I think it’s going to have a positive impact,” Johnson said. Todd Pacific Shipyards subcontracted with Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland to build the superstructure for the Chetzemoka and her two sister ships, the Salish and the Kennewick. Matt Nichols, managing director for business development at Nichols Brothers, said the superstructure for the second vessel, the Salish, is complete and has been delivered to Todd. The superstructure for the Kennewick is about 30 percent complete. “It’s kept 150 workers pretty busy for the last year
and a half, Nichols said. “It’s been a great job.” The Kwa-di Tabil class ferries have the same vehicle capacity as the 80-year-old Steel Electric vessels that were pulled from service in 2007 after it was discovered that hull corrosion was worse than previously thought. At first, the route had passenger-only ferry service. Later, Washington State Ferries leased the 50-car Steilacoom II from Pierce County in order to restore vehicle ferry service. Initially, legislators had wanted to build three small ferries modeled after the Steilacoom II. But when it became clear that design wasn’t a good fit for the stormy Admiralty Inlet crossing, local business leaders pushed for larger ferries that would better Chetzemoka’s superstructure was built at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland. match the route. Mary Alice Sterling, past president of the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, described how dogged determination in the Coupeville business community helped push for quick action on replacement of the ferries with new ones based on the Island Home, which serves Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. “We formed a partnership with the Chamber, and The Whidbey Examiner helped with it,” Sterling said of a team effort that pulled together members of the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce and the businesses
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The Whidbey Examiner • Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Chetzemoka honored for promoting peace
Photo: Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Archive
Ferry; from page 7 that make up Coupeville’s historic downtown waterfront area. “We even got the Navy involved,” Sterling said, noting that Navy officials were strong advocates of dependable travel on the route because of the large volume of military personnel traffic
Born in 1808 at the village of Kah Tai near Port Townsend, Chetzemoka, or Cheech-Ma-Ham, was 40 years old when the first white settlers arrived. The son of S’Klallam Chief Lach-Ka Nam, Chetzemoka was recognized as chief in 1854 by the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who held him responsible for the “good behavior” of this people. At Point No Point in 1855, Chief Chetzemoka signed a treaty giving up all S’Klallam land for a reservation to be shared with another tribe. Such treaties, pushed by Gov. Isaac Stevens and largely misunderstood by the Indians, provoked the Indian Wars of 1855-56. During the wars, a number of S’Klallam held a secret meeting to decide whether or not to kill the whites in Port Townsend. The S’Klallam deliberated for nine days, during which CheechMa-Ham sent a daily signal of “danger.” On the 10th day, the S’Klallam had given up, and Chetzemoka’s message from Signal Rock was “danger is passed.” Chetzemoka was considered a hero by the settlers in Port Townsend, and a bronze plaque honoring him was eventually placed at Signal Rock. In Port Townsend, a waterfront park that looks across Admiralty Inlet to Whidbey Island also bears his name. Chetzemoka died in 1888 and was buried at Laurel Grove, the white pioneers’ cemetery in Port Townsend.
traveling between the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor and other Navy bases on the Olympic Peninsula. Sterling explained they built momentum by going down to Olympia on several occasions to meet directly with legislators to talk about the issue. The goal was to keep the issue on the
Welcome, Chetzemoka!
We would like to thank everyone involved in helping to restore reliable ferry service to Central Whidbey. Mayor Nancy Conard & Council Members Diane Binder, Bob Clay, Ann Dannhauer, Molly Hughes & Tom Tack
Celebrate the arrival of the
CHETZEMOKA! Art by: Emily Ritchie
with our ...... COMMEMORATIVE CUPS and special...... CHETZEMOKA MOCHA! Keystone Café • 360-678-5396 - Across from the Keystone Ferry
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 • The Whidbey Examiner
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Ferries: A look back from page 7
Photo here
Ferry celebration set
1888 1889 1910 1911
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Gov. Chris Gregoire will be on hand at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 to help celebrate the arrival of the Chetzemoka at Keystone Harbor. The Northwest Regional Navy Band will perform, and light refreshments will be available. Also performing will be student musicians from Coupeville High School. The public is welcome. The Chetzemoka sails at 11:20 a.m. for Port Townsend, where a S’Klallam tribal blessing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
front burner, Sterling said. right in the middle. The historic in everyone’s mind that the ferry They also did their home- waterfront town is a big draw for has two terminals, not just Port work. The group collected data people, she said. Townsend.” on tax revenues and the eco“It’s cute, the island’s beautiRichards said she’s glad she nomic impact of ferry traffic on ful and it’s a great place to spend had the opportunity to work with the community, which helped the night and to shop,” she said. Sterling, Mayor Nancy Conard, illustrate the importance of the “It does affect us not to have a Coupeville Town Councilman marine highway link. Bob Clay and others to do Sterling pointed out what they could for both that traffic coming from Coupeville and Whidbey Canada and Northwest Island. Washington travels across While visiting her Deception Pass Bridge mother on Martha’s Vineand down Whidbey Island yard, Richards said she en route to and from the had the opportunity to Olympic Peninsula. She ride the Island Home, the used an example of visiboat the Chetzemoka was tors to the Skagit Valley modeled after. She said Tulip Festival deciding to she remembers thinking Steven J. Pickens collection head over to Olympic Nato herself, “This is a nice This undated map shows the original Keystone tertional Park. boat.” minal at what is now Admirals Cove, as well as the Others, she said, drive Richards said, “I’m present Keystone Harbor before it was dredged. up from the south, travel happy we got a boat that around the peninsula and then reliable ferry.” will serve us well.” across on the ferry to Whidbey Sarah Richards, past presiLocal residents, business Island before heading north or dent of the Central Whidbey leaders, elected officials, represouth. Still others come across Chamber of Commerce, said sentatives from Todd Shipyards on the Mukilteo/Clinton route the group worked hard to be an and Nichols Brothers and many and spend time on Whidbey be- effective lobby for small busi- others will take part in the offifore heading to Port Townsend. nesses on Whidbey Island. cial christening celebration set On all of these routes, Coupe“We wrote letters and editori- for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. ville and Central Whidbey are als,” she said. “We tried to keep Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, who as chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee played an instrumental role in As soon as getting the Chetzemoka built, said she is looking forward to we get to Whidbey, the celebration. I’m headed straight to “I’m very excited about it,” she said. “Anytime we have a new Lavender Wind Farm! boat in the fleet it’s exciting.” Haugen also touched on the need for dependable transportation between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. At times, Gifts, treats, she said, “It’s been a nightmare.” body products The second of the Kwa-di & more, all made Tabil ferries – the Salish – is with lavender from our farm. slated for delivery in the spring of 2011. Originally intended to team up with the Chetzemoka www.lavenderwind.com 2530 Darst Road, Coupeville I 360.678.0919 See Ferry, page 10
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S’Klallam Chief Chetzemoka dies. using the Fox Island. The Chetzemoka begins ferry service on the Clinton/Mukilteo route. Washington Territory becomes a state. 1948 State constructs terminal at Keystone Harbor, a Coupeville is incorporated as a town. small harbor about 1.5 miles east of the earlier Island Transportation ferry terminal at the old Keystone Sand and Company begins Gravel site. Olympic Ferries builds ferry service the harbor’s first terminal. between points on 1951 Washington begins state Whidbey Island. ferry service, taking over the Keystone Sand American facilities and all but & Gravel of one route from Black Ball Lines, Coupeville, via the newly created Washington founded in 1913, Toll Bridge Authority. takes its name The ferries are T h after the 1909 e first C needed until ser ved th hetzemoka Alaska-Yukon e Clinton a network of ro u te from Pacific Exposition to the e 1948 bridges can be arly 70s Seattle, where . built across Island County Puget Sound. promoted 1952 The Whidbey as the “Keystone of all-wood, Puget Sound.” Vessels serving the island 32-car, 300 used a dock at the company’s gravel pit, passenger n o ti which was at the site of the lake north c ns colle J. Picke ferry Steven of Keystone Avenue in the Admirals Cove Defiance debuts with neighborhood. ft, and oka, le at m e summer-only service on z t e on Whidbey I is Whidbey’s first car ferry, Ch dendr ch in o d the Port Townsend route o h a R operating between Mukilteo and Clinton. ia Be with Olympic Ferries, Inc. olumb ometime in C Capt. Fred Jones, owner of the 58-foot n, s Clinto 60s. 1959 State rejects idea Salmonero, a race-winning fish tender, establishes the 19 of building cross-sound a barge car ferry between Whidbey Island and bridges, putting more emphasis on Port Townsend. state ferry routes. The Washington ferry Puget Sound Navigation system goes on to Company buys out all the become the nation’s minor steamship companies largest. servicing Island County, 1969 Olympic Ferries establishing its own routes buys the San Diego, and schedules. and in 1970 it replaces Deception Pass Bridge Defiance on the Port completed in July, Townsend-Whidbey ending Whidbey Island’s route. Steven J. Picke ns collection dependence on water 1972 Chetzemoka’s as the sole route for last season, operating as transportation. the Sunday ferry on the Vashon route. The last 1974 State takes over PT/Keystone steamer route from Olympic Ferries; the run to serve is no longer profitable. The 55-car Whidbey Olympic (1938) is the first state ferry Island, on the route, followed by the 48-car Atalanta, Rhododendron (1947). ends 1977 The original Chetzemoka sinks passenger and , ystone e K about nine miles off the Olympic t a freight service. ce y Defian 2; Fort Case Peninsula coast near La Push after the n o ti c 6 Black Ball colle ca. 19 ock at Moser hull sprung a leak while under tow to randon d . B 0 y 4 debuts the 19 Arm ne, ca. California. wooden, diesel-electric Keysto 1979 State builds new Chetzemoka June 17 on the Port terminal at Keystone Harbor, about 150 feet Townsend/Edmonds run. Built in west of former terminal. This terminal is Alameda, Calif. and formerly known still in use. as the Golden Poppy, the vessel could do 13 knots and carry 1,000 1982 New passengers and 75 cars. ferry terminal in Port The 97-foot Beeline, a converted Townsend opens steamer from the PT/Keystone in June. The old route, is acquired by the Navy to Quincy Street operate between Indian Island Dock remains in and Port Hadlock during World place. War II. The PT/Keystone route was essentially abandoned in 1983 The The Ferr y Inn), built House (Ebey Whidbey 1943 in part due to Puget Sound Klickitat is the first Examiner in 1860, photo ser ved tr Harbor Defense precautions. of the Steel Electrics av from Por elers arriving to be substantially rebuilt and moves to the t Townse Olympic Ferries, Inc. (Port nd. PT/Keystone route, where it remains until Townsend’s H.J. Carroll and A.C. pulled from service in 2007. Grady and Captain Oscar Lee,) restores Port Townsend/Whidbey ferry service See Timeline, page 10
We’re proud of our role in building Whidbey Island’s new ferry,
Chetzemoka.
NICHOLS BROTHERS BOAT BUILDERS PO Box 580 • 5400 Cameron Road Freeland, Whidbey Island, WA 360-331-5500 X311 sales@nicholsboats.com www.nicholsboats.com
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The Whidbey Examiner • Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Hauling cars between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island on a barge pulled by the fish-trap tender Salmonero, 1921.
Jefferson County Historical Society photo
Artwork by Oliana Stange, 4th grade, Coupeville Elementary School
We
Chetzemoka!
On behalf of the entire Whidbey Island community, we would like to extend our appreciation to the business leaders, elected officials, shipyard workers and many others whose vision and hard work brought our new ferry to our shore.
Examiner The Whidbey
Whidbey Island’s only locally owned, independent newspaper
6 NW Coveland St., Coupeville • 360-678-8060 www.whidbeyexaminer.com
Ferry; from page 8
during the high volume summer season, Washington State Ferries announced last week it may send the Salish to the San Juan Islands route instead – a boat shuffle aimed at saving the ferry system over $10 million. That proposal has prompted local business leaders and elected officials to begin girding for another lobbying campaign to ensure the Salish joins the Port Townsend route as planned. Nichols said he appreciated Haugen’s dogged effort in pushing to make the new ferry contract a reality. Haugen works hard for the 10th District, he said. “I give Mary Margaret a lot of credit,” Nichols said. A
Timeline, from page 9
2002 State starts feasibility study to relocate Keystone Terminal outside Keystone Harbor. 2006 Whidbey Island and Port Townsend area residents protest the state’s plans to enlarge terminals at Keystone and PT to handle larger ferries, so the route can have one 130-car boat instead of two smaller ferries. 2007 Hull corrosion is found and fixed on the Klickitat. But after a stern-tube crack is found on the Illahee, the Coast Guard orders inspection of all Steel Electrics. Due to hull integrity concerns, on Nov. 20 the state pulls all four Steel Electric ferries from revenue service.
2008 After months of only passenger-ferry service, Gov. Gregoire says the state will build ferries of a 64-car design based on the Island Home. State awards a bid to Todd Pacific Shipyards for the first of the Kwa-di Tabil class of ferry. 2009 The four Steel Electrics are towed from Bainbridge Island to Mexico to be scrapped. 2010 Chetzemoka makes its first appearance in Port Townsend and Keystone on Sept. 25. Timeline developed by The Port Townsend Leader, with contributions by The Whidbey Examiner. To read a more complete version, visit whidbeyexaminer.com.
Happy Sailing, Chetzemoka! Thank you from your Island County Commissioners: John Dean Helen Price Johnson Angie Homola
On behalf of the entire Central Whidbey business community, we would like to thank our elected officials, local business leaders, WSF staff and the workers who built the Chetzemoka.
23 NW Front St., Coupeville • 360-678-5434 CentralWhidbeyChamber.com
Welcome, Chetzemoka!
District 10 is represented by Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, and Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island