PORT TOWNSEND — For longtime Jefferson County Historical Society members such as JoAnn Bussa, naming a new 64-car ferry destined for the Port Townsend-Keystone route the Chetzemoka would be a personal victory.
It would honor the memory of Steven Levin, a beloved historical society friend, volunteer and history buff who on his deathbed late last year asked that the new ferry be christened with the name of the S’Klallam chief who signed the 1855 Point No Point Treaty.
“This whole idea was inspired by this gentleman,” said Bussa, looking over a life ring from the original Chetzemoka ferry that Levin bequeathed to the historical society, along with $50,000.
The Washington Transportation Commission will consider naming the ferry when it meets Oct. 20-21 in Olympia.
Bussa will represent Port Townsend at the meeting, to answer questions about the idea that has received widespread support, including from Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam.
Kessler — who represents the 24th District, which covers Jefferson and Clallam counties and a third of Grays Harbor County and who is state House majority leader — wrote a Sept. 11 letter of support of the name to the Transportation Commission.
The original Black Ball ferry Chetzemoka plied the waters between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island from 1938 to 1947, and was used elsewhere around the ferry system before it was taken out of commission in 1973.
Levin was a well-known collector and former Theatre Historical Society of America president and magazine editor who donated the ticket booth now used at the historic Rose Theatre in downtown Port Townsend.
Levin was also a longtime volunteer at the Port Townsend visitor center and for the Port Townsend Main Street Program.
The Chetzemoka name would honor the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, now based at the village of Blyn.
Chetzemoka, a chief known as a peaceful man and a wise diplomat, was believed to be about 80 when he was buried in 1888 at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend.
The city’s Chetzemoka Park overlooking Admiralty Inlet and the ferry route to Whidbey Island, was dedicated in his name in 1904.
The tribe was originally settled in 1851 in Port Townsend by Chetzemoka’s older brother, S’Hai-ak, who was granted permission for the settlement after non-native settlers arrived.
Granted permission
Les Prince, the great-great grandson of Chetzemoka, who Bussa approached about christening the ferry in the chief’s name, has granted his permission to the historical society and the tribe to act on his behalf in support of using his great-great grandfather’s name.
“As a direct descendant to Chetzemoka, I am in favor in naming the new ferry after my great-great grandfather,” Prince wrote in an Aug. 20 letter to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council, a copy of which was sent to the historical society.
The historical society board of trustees passed a resolution on Sept. 9 stating: “The name Chetzemoka honors the natives of the region and their seafaring skills and traditions and also continues the pound name of the historic ferry that served Port Townsend.”
Petition
The historical society also is circulating a petition of support.
Also supporting the Chetzemoka ferry name are the Jefferson County commissioners, the city of Port Townsend, Port Townsend Main Street Program, the Jefferson County Ferries Advisory Committee, according to the petition.
That petition can be found at the Jefferson County Historical Society Museum, 540 Water St. in Port Townsend; Port Townsend Library, 1220 Lawrence St. in uptown Port Townsend; Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave. in Port Hadlock; Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101 in Quilcene; Brinnon Community Center, 306144 Highway 101 in Brinnon; Jefferson County Historical Society Research Center, 13692 Airport Cutoff Road south of Port Townsend; and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center at 1033 Old Blyn Highway in Blyn in Clallam County.
Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval last week said of the proposal: “I’m definitely in support of it.”
Bussa and Bill Tennent, historical society director, said society members are excited by the prospect of pushing the name through for the new ferry expected to be on the Port Townsend-Keystone water route by next summer.
Letters, e-mails
Reema Griffith, Transportation Commission executive director, said that the commission has received many e-mails and letters supporting naming the ferry Chetzemoka.
“There is quite a writing campaign going on,” she said.
“It’s been great to see the community is rallying around it. This is the first kind of push we’ve seen from a community.”
Those interested can voicing their support of the ferry name Chetzemoka by writing Griffith at P.O. Box 47308, Olympia, WA 98504-7308, e-mailing her at transc@wstc.wa.gov or phoning her at 360-705-7070.
While the state commission routinely names highways, it rarely gets a chance to name a ferry. Griffith said it will use the same process of hearing and reading all support and correspondence from the public before making a decision.
Robere LeHuquet, a Port Townsend retiree and historical society volunteer who is working with Bussa on the name request, pushed to clear vegetation from Chetzemoka’s grave at historic Laurel Grove Cemetery to give the marker better visibility.
LeHuquet also refers interested people to visit www.evergreenfleet.com/mvchetzemoka.html and evergreenfleet.com/newkeystoneferries.html for historic information about the original Chetzmoka ferry.
“There seems to be a groundswell of support. I think it’s the number one name before them,” LeHuquet said.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
