A Ferry Tale

What is the one thing that we, on Vashon Island, have in common? Ferries. Whether they are used for your daily commute or an occasional foray into the city, we rely heavily on our ferry system. It can be frustrating when the ferries are down, but thus far we have not had it as bad as islanders at the end of 1940’s. Prior to 1948 the ferries were run through a private company, the Puget Sound Navigation Company. The company was forced into a shutdown during a strike in 1947. During the period of the strike vashonites were forced to find their own solutions for getting off of the island. This resulted in them creating their own ferry system which became the first, and only, King County Ferry District.

During the ferry district’s first year in service, the captain of the Puget Sound Navigation Company attempted to land a ship at the dock to continue providing service to Vashon Island. As he attempted to dock he was met with 25 angry vashonites equipped with pool cues, ax handles, and other tools to push the ship away from the dock.. They successfully kept his ship from being able to tie up and the Puget Sound Navigation Company never provided another ship to Vashon. This ferry district was in place for three years, and it ran with relative success. It eventually was dissolved in 1951 when the State of Washington created their own ferry system, which is still the same system we use today. Ironically, they provided service to Vashon using ships they bought from the Puget Sound Navigation Company. 

For a more detailed account of the Vashon ferry debacle visit: https://historylink.org/File/3731

Sea Star Wasting Disease

One of the most talked about issues in the Puget Sound, and along all of the West Coast, is the phenomenon of sea star wasting disease. The current die off of sea stars was first recorded in 2013, and by the end of 2014 an estimated 80% of purple sea stars had died along the Oregon coast and into Washington. The actual cause of the disease is still largely speculation; However, the two likely causes are a sea star related densovirus and/or the warming ocean temperatures around the globe. Sea star wasting disease takes hold of it’s host and moves rapidly. The disease begins by causing lesions and tissue decay of the sea star’s ectoderm. This eventually leads the arms separating from the main body of the sea star. This process can takes only a few days to occur, meaning that the number of sea stars rapidly decrease when exposed to it.

It should be noted that similar die offs have occurred in the past. Though none of them were as lethal as this one has been, This shows that there is potential for the sea stars to make a rapid comeback. Furthermore, In the past few years there has been a notable amount of juvenile sea stars appearing which is a good sign for the future.

For more information about sea star wasting disease you can visit these links:

• https://marine.ucsc.edu/data-products/sea-star-wasting/

• https://www.oregonocean.info/index.php/sea-star-wasting-disease

Our Neighbor to the North

Interesting Fact:

President Bill Clinton held the first official Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting on Blake Island.

Now a beautiful state park, Blake Island originally was home to a campsite for the Suquamish Tribe. Furthermore, it is believed to be the birthplace of Chief Sealth, for whom the city of Seattle is named. The island was not recorded by European settlers until 1792, and it was not officially named until 1841 after an officer in the United States Exploring Expedition. Eventually, it was renamed Trimble Island after a millionaire who bought the island in 1917. That millionaire, William Trimble, built his estate there and lived with his family until 1929 when the family moved back to Seattle following the death of his wife. Interestingly, the Trimble family allowed a campfire girls camp to use the island starting in 1920. The name of that camp was Camp Sealth, which now resides on Vashon! The island was eventually purchased by Washington State in 1959 and was turned into the state park that we know today.

For more information about the island visit: https://www.historylink.org/File/5491