Join us! Be part of rehabilitating the Japonski Island Boathouse as a maritime heritage center.
The 2010 Annual Meeting of the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society on February 22nd, 2010 featured a panel (and audience members) sharing their experiences in the longline fishery. Eric Jordan was the panel host, and panelist Linda Behnken introduced the basics of this historic fishery.
Longlining, which is laying a fishing line on the ocean bottom, is the method by which fishermen target black cod (sablefish), halibut, and other bottom-dwelling fish.
In the 1960s longliners had to fish long and hard to make a living. In the 1980s black cod and halibut became the major fisheries they are today but with unlimited participation, and short seasons, which led to losses of vessels and lives. The limits of IFQs (individual Fishing Quotas) were implemented in 1994.
This was an interesting conversation with this unique subculture of Sitka – the individualistic, competitive, skillful, adventurous and self-reliant men and women of the longline fishery.
Fuel distributor Delta Western has been working with the SMHS to lease the tip of the boathouse property, between the boathouse and the city work float, to attach a marine fuel dock. The sublease of the tip of the Boathouse property (which the SMHS leases from the City and Borough of Sitka – which received this land in a deal initiated by the SMHS) to Delta Western was signed by the City of Sitka, the SMHS and Delta Western. The fuel dock will have underground storage tanks, to be refilled from bulk storage elsewhere in Sitka. The Assembly voted in late 2008 to rezone this area Waterfront, to reflect the need for more services for Sitka's maritime sector.
The sublease will bring in a minimum of $50,000 and a cap of $75,000 a year to the SMHS, which will go toward hiring our first staff, a director.
Part of the project will be a public kayak storage/launching float, operated by the SMHS. This will be a place for individuals to store their boats on the water, as well as for kayak outfitter-guides to store gear and launch tours.
Not only will the fuel dock provide operating funds, which are the biggest challenge for nonprofits today, but in giving the SMHS stability makes the Boathouse much more attractive to major private donors.
Update: due to the recession, Delta Western held off on construction, but is now (April 2010) once again moving ahead, and has purchased their bulk tanks to be installed near the ferry terminal. They aim to be selling marine fuel in Sitka in 2011.
Alaska's Rasmuson Foundation has awarded the SMHS $25,000 to match our National Scenic Byways grant, to allow the project for complete design documents to move forward! Northwind Architects is on schedule to deliver complete, ready-to-bid design documents for the rehabilitation in April 2010.
The Design is for rehabilitation of the Japonski Island Boathouse as a maritime heritage center. It includes a new roof, with the addition of rigid insulation; repairing the boat cradle, and replacing the winch and railway tracks; carefully removing siding, adding infiltration barrier and any necessary structural upgrades, and repairing/replacing siding, doors, windows as needed; new utilities, wiring, plumbing, heating; and adding a small addition for a disabled-accessible bathroom and entry.
One exciting bit is taking advantage of laying the new railway tracks to install heat exchange tubing in the beach, for a ground-source heat pump, the first in Sitka!
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society continued a delicious tradition with a grilled black cod lunch on Alaska Day, Sunday, October 18th. A success! We also had a great time at WhaleFest, in early November, where our booth featured the concept design by NorthWind Architects.
In December of 2007 the National Scenic Byways program announced a grant to the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society for architectural design of the Japonski Island Boathouse rehabilitation. This is an exciting award, a big boost toward completion. The grant is awarded to projects that enhance the experience of National Scenic Byways travelers. The Alaska Marine Highway, also known as the Alaska state ferry system, is designated an All-American Road, the highest category of Scenic Byway.
The design will:
– preserve the historical character of the building
- bring it up to current standards for safety, efficiency and comfort
– add a lobby addition (with restroom and handicapped-accessible entrance) and other features for the public
– bring the shop and boat haul-out up to modern standards
The grant funds were finally released in early September 2008, and a request for proposals advertised. In January of 2009 the SMHS selected Northwind Architects of Juneau to do the work. This firm is abundantly qualified with experience in Alaska building and renovating public buildings, and with special expertise in historic preservation architecture.
As of February 2009, Northwind has been working on a beefed up Schematic Design, which includes evaluation of needed structural engineering and any hazardous materials clean up, plus a detailed drawing of the building as it is. From this work, which includes a construction cost estimate, the SMHS determined the scope of the architecture and engineering work.
The annual meeting of the SMHS in February had the theme of Sitka Boatbuilding. This year, as in the past, we had a panel, this year featuring Nancy Yaw Davis, Fred Hope, and Roy Bailey, with panel host Eric Jordan telling about their memories of Sheldon Jackson School and boat building in Sitka.
The meeting was also the opportunity to show an intriguing film of Sheldon Jackson School from the 1930s through 1940 made by then-superintendent Les Yaw. The film, a window into SJS and Sitka history, was transferred to dvd by Les Yaw’s son Charles Yaw and has narration, added years later, by Les Yaw.
Standout bits are the scenes of teenage boys hard at work with hand tools, giving a grin to the camera; the sawmill, put together by SJ staff and students, which would not pass a single OSHA requirement; and appearances by Peter Simpson and Andrew Hope, important Native leaders in the fight for land claims.
Charles Yaw has generously allowed reproduction of the 27-minute film on dvd, and it is available at the Sitka Historical Society Museum (which also has Les Yaw’s book 60 Years in Sitka, an ideal complement) or through the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society by calling 747-3448 or emailing heritage @ sitkamaritime.org, or ordering by mail. Copies of the dvd are $10 unless you are in it. One dollar of each sale goes to a fund for reprinting Les Yaw’s books.
Building the Sheldon Jackson School seiner SJS in 1936-37. Pictured left to right: Joe Ozawa, John James, David Howard, Peter Sing, Les Yaw, and Peter Simpson. Photo Sheldon Jackson College collection.
The second annual Sitka Sound Ocean Adventure Race was again an unqualified success, with real-life maritime thrills and chills, with participants giving their all over the 13 and 23-mile courses. Once again the SMHS hosted the after-race reception, bringing adventurous boaters and lovers of maritime heritage together for great food (including salmon provided by the Northern Regional Aquaculture Association), coffee and visiting.
The reception at the Japonski Island Boathouse featured a display of a Davis Boat with information about the Davis family of Metlakatla – a Tsimpshean family who mass produced rowboats from the turn of the century into the 1950s. See the current newsletter for more about Davis Boats.
A panel of fishermen, and fishermen in the audience, told about the people, culture and history of salmon trolling in southeastern Alaska, from the 1950s through 2008. The evening was moderated and introduced by Eric Jordan.
Trolling has brought independent and adventurous people to settle in Alaska for many years, in large numbers in the 1970s. The people, and the fishery, have shaped our community. A standing-room-only crowd shared the stories of the characters, places, boats and a great deal of humor.
The event also featured an exhibit of photographs by Matt Donohoe. Another time, another life captured in glorious Kodachrome: floats and boats, fishermen, kids and old timers of Port Alexander, Tenakee, Sitka and the fishing grounds, thirty years ago.
Supported by a grant from the Alaska Humanities Forum.
As part of ArtiGras and Spring Art Festival, the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society held a maritime art show and silent auction in a special section of the community art show at Harrigan Hall the weekend of March 14-16.
Many wonderful Sitka artists were featured. Art included maritime themed pieces as well as authentic boat portholes (round boat windows) embellished by artists, including Laura Kaltenstein, Tommy Joseph, Deb Sellers, Keith Gibson, Norm Campbell, Rebecca Poulson, Galen Needham, Jan Steinbright, and more. This was a huge success, not only an interesting show – but a fundraising success, thanks to the phenomenal generosity of our artists and patrons.
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society's annual meeting theme was Seining Stories, featuring a panel of fishermen and buyers who shared stories of seining then and now, the thrill and hard work, great skippers and hilarious mishaps, and most of all the huge changes this fishery has seen since the 1940s. Eric Jordan hosted the panel.
Left, Eric Jordan tells a story involving closing of the seine, and right, Herb Didrickson recalls the way it used to be done, while panelists, fisherman Karen Johnson and longtime fish buyer Harold Thompson, listen. Photos by James Poulson.
Beta Sigma Phi, together with the Fishermen's Eye Art Gallery, held a benefit art auction on Saturday March 17th at the Westmark Sitka. Sitka City Administrator John Stein was host and auctioneer. Turn out was great, with wonderful generosity, some good deals, and many beautiful and unique pieces, including several by the late Dale DeArmond going to good homes. And, it was fun. All around a great showing, resulting in $7,500 for the boathouse project!
The Sitka Film Society showed the classic film Captains Courageous as a matinee on Saturday, September 29th 2007 at the Coliseum Theater downtown.
The SMHS brought Ketchikan sailmaker Louis Bartos to town the weekend of November 16th for a historical talk on his research on the sails of the Vasa.
On Saturday November 17th Louis presented a hands-on workshop on knots every mariner should know. These presentations were generously supported by a grant from the Alaska Humanities Forum.
Participants tie knots in Louis Bartos’ (standing in left photo) workshop in November. Photos by James Poulson.
The SMHS can always use your help with events, setting up, making cookies, and any special skills you might have with numbers, paperwork, websites, or newsletters. Also, work on the boathouse building will continue, to replace siding removed for the foundation project, repair doors and windows, and put remaining items into storage. To volunteer, call 747-3448.
The inaugural Sitka Sound Ocean Adventure Race, a long distance competition for human-powered craft, was held in Sitka on June 16th of 2007. It was a success in every way, thanks to the enthusiasm and competence of the organizing committee and competitors.
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society hosted the post-race picnic, preparing salmon and halibut donated by the Northern Southeast Region Aquaculture Association.
A highlight of the reception was the opportunity to view the Willits Brothers Canoe paddled to Sitka by Jack and Sasha Calvin, immortalized in the July 1932 National Geographic Magazine.
In October 2005, the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society was awarded a Save America's Treasures matching grant for $325,000. The project was one of only 32 historic properties and 29 collections selected nationwide for the awards by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Park Service, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The SMHS is now seeking the rest of the funds needed. The total for complete rehabilitation is estimated at 1.4 million dollars, which is being raised through application to charitable foundations, government, and a plan for local and regional fund raising.
Volunteers and a contractor completely replaced and repaired the foundation under both wings of the building, and cleaned and archived the remaining contents of the building and put them into a storage trailer. This was an incredible amount of work, thank you thank you to the more than 30 volunteers who made it enjoyable and a success. A federal Historic Preservation Fund grant and Alaska Association for Historic Preservation grants were matched with volunteer labor.
Left, volunteers scraping the building in April 2005, part of the repair and cleaning project. Photo by James Poulson. Right, the building in October 2006, after repairs and painting, and replacement of the foundation under the wings, bringing them level for the first time in at least 40 years. Both the 2005 and 2006 projects were funded with grants from the federal Historic Preservation Fund, matched with donations of materials, volunteer hours, and grants from the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation.
Left photo: Replacing section of inadequate joists in workshop side. Center: installing new joists, summer 2006. Right: New foundation under the west wing of the building, October 2006.
Alaska Day, October 18th, commemorates the date Alaska was transferred from Russian to United States possession in a ceremony in Sitka in 1867. The theme for 2006 was the Frontier Fishing Fleet. The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society held a grilled marinated black cod tips and rice sale at the Crescent Harbor shelter on October 18th, held an open house at the boathouse, and presented a talk and slide show on the history of commercial fishing in Sitka, including early fisheries, the various plants and types of boats. Thank you to all who attended, bought fish, and became members!
On the Fourth of July the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society hosted our first open house at the boathouse, after our fourth annual rowing/kayaking race in the channel. (Yes, that is a cat on the deck of the kayak in the foreground, and there is a dog in the red kayak on the right.)
Left: volunteer cataloging and sorting workshop contents, from what seems to have been the catchall bench, in 2006. Right: a memo posted in the building, 27 December, 1944: �Subj: Government Property; unauthorized possession of� with respectful embellishment.
The annual meeting topic in 2006 was Remembering the Shore Boats. During World War II and until a bridge was built in 1972, transportation between Sitka and Japonski Island was by shore boat. After the war the Navy and Army installations were transferred to the Alaska Native Service, part of the federal Department of the Interior, and reused as a tuberculosis sanitarium and a boarding school for Alaska Natives. The sanitarium became a large hospital. Other federal agencies operated on the island, including the Federal Aviation Administration. The complex of federal government facilities, housing and services was named Mt. Edgecumbe, and even had its own post office for a time. It was nearly self-contained, though some children came to Sitka for school, and people had to shop for groceries in Sitka. The Japonski Island Marine Ways building was used for maintenance and repairs to the shore boats.
The annual meeting of the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society featured a small panel of former residents of �the Island,� another common name for Mt. Edgecumbe, sharing their memories of the shore boats and life in Mt. Edgecumbe. We had wonderful participation from the audience as well, since a panel can't but be a few representatives of an entire community over many decades. That community is now vanished - nearly all the housing and other service buildings have been demolished over the years, and the federal presence is nearly gone. The hospital is now run by the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, and the boarding school is now run by the State of Alaska. The meeting highlighted the need to write down the history of Mt. Edgecumbe. Only three of the dozens of shore boat pilots survive. The 60th anniversary of Mt. Edgecumbe High School, founded as a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, will be in February 2007. The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is working with other groups in Sitka toward conducting interviews to record the history of Mt. Edgecumbe, as well as boat building, fishing and canneries.
To become a member of the SMHS, and receive our (mostly) quarterly newsletter which is also available online from the home page of this site - send a check for $30 for a basic membership ($10 seniors and students, $40 whole crew, or join at the $50 or $100 level, or any amount you are comfortable with) with your name and address and email address, and whether you would like to receive the newsletter by email! to
Sitka Maritime Heritage Society (or SMHS)
P. O.
Box 2153
Sitka, Alaska, 99835
email heritage (at) sitkamaritime.org
