PORT ANGELES — On June 19, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln ordered a reservation for military uses and a lighthouse on Ediz Hook, establishing Port Angeles as a town site.
And 150 years later, it’s time to celebrate the history of the town, said Port Angeles Mayor Cherie Kidd on Saturday at a sesquicentennial celebration.
“We’re here to celebrate the courageous, colorful characters who founded this city,” Kidd said.
Some 150 people had come by 2 p.m. to the Port Angeles Civic Historic District on Lincoln Street for a free open house and ice-cream social that began at noon and continued until 4 p.m.
The historic district, which is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, includes the art deco building at 215 S. Lincoln St. — which served as the city’s first permanent fire station, jail and City Council chambers – and its neighbors, the Clallam County Courthouse, with its historic steps leading up from Lincoln Street, and the Museum at the Carnegie at 207 S. Lincoln St., as well as Veterans Park.
Dressed in a cream lace mid-calf length dress, matching hat and cream boots, Kidd welcomed all comers to the event, where several other volunteers wore similar costumes.
“It’s a scandalously short dress,” Kidd said, laughing about the change in standards.
The dress is a family heirloom from a somewhat later era, she said.
Ed Bedford, owner of Northwest Soda Works of Port Angeles, donated a special anniversary edition of his gourmet root beer and sponsored the ice-cream social.
About 150 of the Port Angeles-brewed Bedford’s Gourmet Sodas root beer floats were served.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty told tales of the early history of the city, including how the city became the county seat, and led tours of the old portion of the county courthouse.
“We call him Mister History,” Kidd said. “He knows all the fun historical stories.”
Initially the county seat was at Dungeness, Doherty said, but two other communities quickly eclipsed the town: Port Crescent, a thriving logging community on Crescent Bay, and Port Angeles.
After a countywide vote to determine which community was the best choice for county seat, Port Angeles won, but the city leaders in Dungeness refused to turn over the county records and documents, Doherty said.
Port Angeles city leaders organized a 25-member armed recovery party, and staged a raid on Dungeness.
Not a shot was fired, and the records were delivered to Port Angeles triumphantly, he said.
Tours of the Carnegie were also offered Saturday.
The actual anniversary of the founding of the city will be celebrated at noon Tuesday.
In 1791, the area, which had been long settled by the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, was named Puerto de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles — Port of Our Lady of the Angels — by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza.
That name was shortened to Port Angeles when Lincoln signed the order 150 years ago establishing a post office with the Port Angeles name.
On Tuesday, special hand-canceled envelopes will be on sale for $1 each at the Museum at the Carnegie at 207 S. Lincoln St. — which will be an official post office from noon to 2 p.m.
After Port Angeles Postmaster Lisa Jones opens the office at the Carnegie at noon, a postal employee will hand-cancel pre-printed envelopes with either a special sesquicentennial stamp or a graphic noting Lincoln’s action, Kidd said.
Four members of the Peninsula Long Rifle Association dressed as frontiersmen will provide a musket salute as a U.S. flag with 50 stars is lowered and one with 35 stars is raised, Kidd said.
Commander Norm Goodin of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1024 and Girl Scouts will raise and lower the flag, she said.
Ruby and Friends will sing.
Inside the Carnegie, Chester Masters with the Strait Stamp Society will display Port Angeles philatelic covers and historic stamps, Kidd said.
Kidd urged school field trips to the Tuesday celebrations.
Each schoolchild who attends will receive a free stamped envelope, she said.
After Tuesday, the special envelopes will be available at the Port Angeles post office at 424 E. First St. for the next 30 days and will cost $2 each, Kidd said.
JACE The Real Estate Co. distributed free tree seedlings to the public during the festivities on Saturday and will do so again on Tuesday, said owner Eileen Schmitz, who founded the firm with her late husband, Jace Schmitz, who died earlier this year.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
