PORT ANGELES — History will come alive on Lincoln Street as Port Angeles’ newly formed historic district is celebrated this coming Saturday.
Vintage cars, including one of the fire department’s first trucks, will roll down the street between Second and Fourth streets, paying tribute to the buildings that were once the center of the town’s civic and cultural life.
The Civic Historic District celebration will run from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Joining the celebration of the district — which includes the original Clallam County Courthouse, Museum at the Carnegie and between them, the building that once housed Port Angeles’ council chambers, fire hall and jail — will be community leaders from the city’s past and present.
Former Fire Chief Clay Wolverton, played by current Chief Dan McKeen, and Jessie Webster, played by Kathy Monds, will address the crowd from the courthouse steps.
They will be joined by Cherie Kidd, Port Angeles City Council member; Mike Doherty, a Clallam County commissioner; Port Angeles Mayor Dan Di Guilio; and U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, who represents the 6th Congressional District that includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Robert Sommers, depicting President Teddy Roosevelt, will read a proclamation.
Depicting history
“We’re all doing vintage,” Kidd said.
“This is our history,” she added.
“Let’s let it come alive.”
Kidd, who is the main organizer of the celebration, submitted the application to the state Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to form the district, which was approved in March.
The courthouse has already been designated a historic site.
But neither the former fire hall nor the Carnegie could make it on that list on their own since their interiors have been altered.
The historical district designation overcame that obstacle.
The designation also preserves the fire hall building, which until recently was on the city’s surplus list.
Kidd said she promoted the formation of the district because it is its history that makes the city unique.
And that history, she said, needs to be acknowledged and preserved.
‘Make us special’
“Every town can have big-box stores,” Kidd said.
“But it’s these buildings that make us special.”
Monds, who is the Clallam County Historical Society director, agreed.
She hopes the event brings that history out into the open.
“The city’s history and the county’s history really belong to the people who live here,” Monds said.
“So I hope they become more aware” of it.
Webster, whom Monds will portray, is part of that history.
Webster was a member of the family that published the Port Angeles Evening News, predecessor to today’s Peninsula Daily News.
She spearheaded the effort to establish the town’s first library, which is now the museum, and helped establish the city’s first parks.
Also at Saturday’s event, the Port Angeles High School band and dance team will perform.
The buildings that will make up the district will be open to the public.
Tours will be provided.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, so let’s come and enjoy it,” Kidd said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
