Port Townsend Real Estate : September 2009

Yesterday I was saddened to learn of the closing of a small local publication that seemed to me just started a short time ago. 

I remember when the owners started up the paper, a business journal, that covered the Olympic Peninsula, specifically Jefferson and Clallum Counties.    I applauded these two young women  for a great idea, and the courage to embark on such an arduous and somewhat risky venture.  That was in 2006 and I have read almost every issue since, and learned from them about new businesses in our area, trends and news, and lots of tips on running a small business, which is what a Realtor does!

The publishers stated it was with a great deal of thought and soul searching they were folding, while still in the black.  It seems they have felt the trend of less print advertising, and of course the economic uncertainties we are all facing. 

With a gracious thank you to all their customers who have advertised and contributed in the past, they said goodbye. 

The 10^th anniversary of the Port Townsend Film Festival is starting today, September 24 and will run through Sunday.  The person most responsible for the success of our festival, director Peter Simpson  passed away this year, and he will be sorely missed by the community, festival staff, and volunteers. 

 Described on the program as "a film lover's block party", Port Townsend is just the perfect venue for this celebration of great films and filmmakers.  The main stage is in our beloved Rose Theater, with movies also shown at the Uptown Theater,  The Pope Marine Center, and the Upstage.

 The films are chosen by 12 Port Townsend Film Festival reviewers who screened 255 films this year to pick the 60  plus films that will be shown this weekend, some documentary, features and short films.

This year our celebrity guest will be Cloris Leachman, the Oscar and Emmy winning actress known for character roles and a long run on the Mary Tyler Show.  There will be an evening with Cloris and she will be available for an exchange with the audience.

 There is something for everyone, including free outdoor movies on the street in front of the Rose.  On Friday night they will be showing one of my favorites as a kid, An American in Paris with Gene Kelly.  There is a beer garden with drinks and light meals, and of course the best popcorn ever is served at the Rose.

The weather is perfect and I promise this will be a great experience you won't foget, so hop on a ferry and come on over!

Cielo Mare

Lots of excitement and a sense of community pride was evident last Saturday at the Port Townsend Boat Haven. 

The occasion was the launching of the beautiful custom built 127 foot yacht, the Cielo Mare.  It was wheeled out of the huge 50 ft. tall Townsend Bay Marine's shop as interested townspeople looked on, and a private party inside the shop enjoyed a catered lunch and adult beverage.  The party was hosted by the happy owners, a CA couple who love fishing in Alaska and Mexico.  Everyone was anxious to see this incredible craft and celebrate the completion of the project, which involved the 80+ full time employees of Townsend Bay Marine and at least 45 local businesses from glass etchers ( for numerous bathrooms shower doors and some wall decor)  to providers of lumber, paint, and electrical.   This was a total Jefferson County effort. 

Over 3 years in the building, and a multi-million dollar project, there has been only one larger craft built in Port Townsend which was the 162 foot Avivva, built in 1993.  The custom boat building business has waned in recent years.

 The Cielo Mare has a crew of 4, and will have a trial run this week, then back into the shop for some  finishing touches.

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

This area has very interesting shipping lanes and waterways.  This photo was taken going from Port Townsend area to Kitsap Peninsula across the Hood Canal Bridge.  Sub is most likely on it's way to the Keyport Naval Base.  Traffic is held up with each passing for about 30 to 40 min. but does not happen that often and makes a good photo op!

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

My listing at 1234 Franklin Street in Port Townsend, Washington was built by one of Port Townsend's most interesting characters named Captain Henry Tibbals.

Capatain Tibbals was instrumental in the building of the Union Wharf, The Pioneer Hotel, built in 1858, and the Palace Hotel which is still an active hotel in operation today on Water Street.  (On tour this weekend in the Victorian Home Tour). 

Tibbals was also a county Representative and also  held many other public offices. He was also a sheriff, a deputy U.S. Marshall, and built a race track and 18 other buildings in Port Townsend. Captain Tibbals had a colorful and turbulent career ending in alcoholism and poverty and died in 1920 in the county poor house.

Captain Tibbals erected this modest Victorian house in 1890 and it is believed to have been for one of his daughters, along with 2 other houses next door, with his own larger 2 story home on the corner.

This historical listing is priced at $499,000 and is  Open this Saturday from 2 - 4 pm, the forecast is for sunshine. Come by and say hi.

 Port Townsend's annual Victorian Home Tour is coming up this weekend on September 19^th  and 20^th.    Port Townsend is one of 4 Victorian Seaports on the National Register, and has a wonderful collection of well preserved or re-habed homes, mostly from the late 1800's.  These lovely homes can be toured inside with self guided tour or with the aid of the homeowners and docents on hand, dressed in period costumes and all very knowledgeable about the history of Port Townsend.

The money raised goes to support the Jefferson Health Care Auxiliary and is also sponsored by the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce. 

 Return to my website:

 http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net

On tour this Saturday and Sunday:

(You can see all these properties on Saturday or Sunday or see part each day)

Horton Bendixen House  Circa 1889   1706 Clay Street

 Built as a spec house and moved to it's present location in 1905.

                                                                               Daniel Hill House Circa 1862  411 Fillmore

                                           Originally built as a simple farmhouse

Captain Thomas and Lizzie Grant House

731 Pierce Street

      Italian style Villa, typical of the local fashion

                                                                                   Chapel Bay  Circa 1850 821 Jefferson              

                                                                                           821 Jefferson Street

               This years tea house where tea and cookies are served.  The chapel is said to have been brought by barge from Bellingham in the 1800's and was used as the parish hall for St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Siebenbaum Building     1917

815 Washington Street

    Antique Auto Museum

                                                                                          First Presbyterian Church Circa 1876

                                                                                                       1111 Franklin Street

                                             Built in stages from 1875 to present

Clark Aldrich House   Circa 1889

1123 Van Ness

    Built as a rental house, an example of a simple home built during Port Townsend's "boom period" in the early 1890's.

                                         Lucinda Hastings House  Circa 1891

                                                                                        514 Franklin Street

                                           3642 square feet, with view of bay and

                                           and had 5 fireplaces.  Recently sold for

                                           over $900,000.

  Plus, the Palace Hotel on Water Street.  Built in 1889 for Captain Tibbals.  Also, the Commanding Officer's Quarters at Fort Worden.   Circa 1930's and furnished with period furnishings. 

Watch a video of storm surge downtown Port Townsend in February of 2007
My son shot this amateur footage the morning after a night of 70 mile per hour winds!

The storm destroyed a restaurant ironically named "The Surf"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjld4ulvyx4

Return to my website:

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

  Wooden boats may seem like a thing of the past, but here in the Pacific Northwest they are a passion for many, and thousands of people around the world.   In this Victorian seaport village  with so many shipwrights and marine trades, the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building is a perfect fit, located in the Port Hadlock waterfront, a few minutes drive from Port Townsend.  The style of boat building is characteristic of the area and enhanced by the generations of local craftsmen along with the abundance of natural resources.

 Founded in 1981 by Bob Prothero, a master shipwright from Seattle who had worked in the industry for 50 years and brought his knowledge and experience with him. 

 The school started at the Port Townsend Boat Haven, and as it grew moved to a larger campus in a light industrial area of Port Townsend, and finally moved to it's present location in the historic waterfront area of Port Hadlock, a former bustling wharf and shipping port at the turn of the century. 

  The school has become nationally accredited  as a school of technology and offers the Associate Degree of Occupational Studies and has graduated over 1000 students, many coming from all over the world.   It offers full courses in boat building as well as summer and community workshops

 The school has boats for sale, and it welcomes the donation of your wooden boat that may be in need of repair or restoration.  There is a possible tax deduction for such a donation.

This weekend we are saluting the wooden boats with our annual Wooden Boat Festival here in Port Townsend, and looks like we will have our usual sunny skys and glorious Indian Summer.  

 For more information go to www.nwboatschool.org

  Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building today in Port Hadlock, WA

 Inside Wooden Boat School Shop

 Wooden boats in the making.

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http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net/

 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival

Happening next weekend Sept 11, 12, & 13^th at the Point Hudson Marina.

Thousands of serious boaters of the Northwest look forward to this gathering of boating enthusiasts, shipwrights, exhibitors and entertainers   on the 2^nd weekend of September. 

2009 will mark the 33^rdfestival which keeps getting bigger and better every year.  This event just makes it a bit easier to say goodbye to summer and ease into Fall.  This year's theme is "Working Waterfront" a fitting title for this community's many boating related businesses. 

There will be around 200 wooden vessels in the marina, most of which are available for touring.  You can go aboard, linger awhile and see what they are like.  Exhibitors are on site with new innovative boating gear and products with tips and educational materials for your use and safety. 

Entertainment is ongoing with music in the beer gardens, delicious food, boat races and sail- bys in the harbor, and fun for the children:   treasure hunts, fish printing, children's theater, and sea stories. 

 There will also be an exhibit of wonderful photographs of sailing schooners and boats by Michael Berman in the Pope Marine Park  on water street.  www.michaelbermanbeautifulphotography.com

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Foundation Building

Cost for entry is $12.00 per day or $6.00 for seniors, children free.  Weekend pass is $24.00

For more information go to www.woodenboat.org

return to my website

http://www.porttownsendrealestatesearch.net

Point Hudson Marina and Resort

This beautiful little marina is located at the tip of Port Townsend's historic waterfront district.  It was the Coast Guard facility in the World War II era and beyond,  and now is under the control of  the Port of Port Townsend, and used for boaters, campers, and general recreation.  It also is home to The Wooden Boat Foundation and various retail  businesses, such as kayak builders, whale watching tours, sail makers, yacht sales and the marine trade.  It caters to boaters needs for repairs, maintenance and equipment.    Take a walk through this interesting area any day and you can see some interesting  boats in the slips, people dining, walking, beach combing and camping in motor homes.