It's hard to miss the more than 35 totem poles that grace the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's campus in Blyn, in Sequim, Port Angeles and even Port Townsend. While not open to the public, I recently had the opportunity to tour the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's House of Myths Carving Shed, located in Jamestown, Washington. It's here that new totem poles are carved, and old ones are restored and refurbished.
On a Saturday morning, I tossed my camera in the car and headed for Forks. Specifically, the Forks Cemetery. The Michael Trebert Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution cleans veterans' headstones and grave markers throughout the summer.
I have passed the sign for the Marvin G. Shields gravesite many times on my trips up and down Highway 101 but never stopped. Today I finally made the turn down Cemetery Road to pay my respects to the only Seabee to receive the Medal of Honor. By plain dumb luck, I arrived just prior to the Memorial Day Service.
Every year, Port Townsend hosts a Victorian Festival. For the Friday kick off, the Jefferson County Historical Society waived admission fees (though my donation was happily accepted) for several of their historical buildings. Grabbing my camera and my sister, we toured the 1868 Rothschild House.
Driving down Highway 101, just west of Blyn and the 7 Cedars Hotel & Casino, you can see the top of the roof and chimneys of a lovely old brick house. Especially before all the trees start leafing. It looks neglected at best, and I wondered, whose house? Can I find it? A little bit of sleuthing and the answer is tied to a Sequim pioneer, builder and lover of birds.
Heading westward and homeward after leaving my sister's house, I decided to take the scenic route home. What with a warm(ish) and sunny(ish) day, I had tossed my camera in the backseat and thought I'd stop at the Worthington Mansion and Park in Quilcene. Built in 1892, it's the only remaining house of its age and style in rural Jefferson County.
What do you call a town with 10,000 people and more than 300 Victorian houses? Port Townsend!