On the 26th of July, I visited Sunrise Rotary. My friend, Rod Koon, from The Transportation Club of Tacoma was speaking about his Images of America book “Port of Tacoma.” He began his talk with an image from an 1885 map. It was interesting to note that just a little under a hundred and fifty years ago Tacoma was already hard at work developing our waters and adjacent roads and railroads that would carry us into the future.
Every page in the book is filled with interesting comments and photographs. My parents and I moved to Tacoma from Nevada, Missouri in 1947, when I was two years old. I grew up traveling with my dad to the dump in the port area, and I still remember the sparks and cinders at night burning sawdust and pieces of limbs from trees in the tepee like conical ovens along the roads and waters. I also remember seeing logs all tied together and floating across Puget Sound. I thought they would go on forever, but trade is what keeps us successful . . . and life is about change.
Just a few weeks ago I photographed a ship bringing four huge new container cranes to the Port of Tacoma. The cranes are 295 feet tall and easily handle the latest container ships in service today. The ship was waiting to unload and was at anchor just off Point Ruston, where people were thrilled to watch the nearby ship.
I recommend the book “Port of Tacoma.” Nearly every page has something that will have you shaking your head and smiling . . . and remembering. It’s an easy read and one you’ll enjoy sharing. I saw a number of copies at Ace Hardware just a few days ago. Buy a copy and take it on a picnic. Keep it in your glove compartment with your maps.
Ovens? Peculiar word to describe e wigwam burned