Jamestown S’Klallam – Page 6

The new Railroad Bridge trestle

The new trestle on the Railroad Bridge has been completed, opened, and dedicated. After nearly a year since the old trestle was damaged in flooding, I can humbly say it was well worth the wait. Thank you, Jamestown S’Klallam!

The Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, which owns the property, led the $1.53 million replacement project and solicited grant funding to contribute to the work. The new steel span has fewer piers in the Dungeness River and was designed to help restore the river’s salmon habitat. Railings are high on the new deck but there are plans for an observation section.

S’Klallam tribal elders performed a blessing ceremony last week at the formal opening of the bridge. Cedar boughs were blessed and used as a ceremonial “ribbon” to cut and visitors at the ceremony brushed the sides of the bridge with boughs as they traversed. We are blessed to have this beautiful span which is also a link in the Olympic Discovery Trail.

The new span

Last winter floodwaters and accompanying debris on the Dungeness River undermined and collapsed part of the Railroad Bridge. The historic trestle survived without damage but the western portion of the span required replacement. A new prefabricated deck has recently been placed on new foundations. This is the portion on the right, above, that does not have tall vertical timbers above the deck.

Here’s a view from the other side, looking westward along the side of the bridge. A fence at the west end of the trestle makes it hard to get a good shot of the new deck.

This property belongs to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. The Tribe has partnered with a variety of entities to rebuild the bridge. The good news is that the new portion of the bridge was engineered to reduce the number of pilings in the river and removed old ones that had been treated with creosote. This improves salmon habitat and allow a less impeded river flow.

Railroad Bridge visit

I visited the Railroad Bridge recently to check out the progress on the new west end of the span. I’ll show you what it looks like on Wednesday.

Bridge work

Early this year floodwaters of the Dungeness River caused pileups of water and logs that undermined part of the railroad bridge across the Dungeness River at Railroad Bridge Park. The historic trestle was not damaged but the west side of the bridge partly collapsed.

Rebuilding began earlier this month. The old section which had been supported with creosote beams has been removed and will be replaced with fewer supports. The new design will have fewer impediments to water flow and salmon migration. A coalition of many groups, led by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, which owns the bridge and Railroad Bridge Park, will pay for the design, demolition, and reconstruction.

Timing of the work has been tricky as crews try to complete work without impeding salmon runs. Click here for more information about the project.

Blyn again

Yesterday I showed you some of the Jamestown S’Klallam buildings on the north side of Highway 101. Here’s a building on the other side, the South Campus. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about the tribe. In addition to the Seven Cedars Casino nearby, they have a number of local businesses including a medical clinic (open to the general community), deli and gas station, and construction and excavating companies.

This totem pole is located near the Community Center. I didn’t see that there was an information plaque on it until I downloaded this photo so I can’t tell you anything about it.

Blyn

There’s a gem of a little library located in Blyn, the tribal center of the Jamestown S’Klallam nation. The focus is on Native American culture and history and there is a wonderful selection of volumes if this is where your interests take you. Some volumes are for use only in the library but most are available for check out if you are local. I was thrilled to find two coffee table sized volumes of Edward S. Curtis photographs that are worth a return visit to linger over.

The library is one of a collection of buildings that serve both the tribe and the broader community. The Jamestown S’Klallam host lectures and community events in this community center.

These totems create a beautiful gateway. In the distance is Sequim Bay.

The new totem pole

Today I thought I’d give you a closer look at the new totem pole donated by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe to the City of Sequim for our new Civic Center plaza. Carved by the tribe’s master carver, Dale Faulstich, it was blessed last month at the dedication of the City Hall.

This shot shows the first figure at the bottom of the pole. In Salish culture totem poles are used for many reasons. They can commemorate family and community history and convey the folklore of religious and cultural beliefs.

This is the middle section of the new pole. This pole depicts a story of brothers who became the Sun and Moon and the maidens they married. In the story they slay the Chief Above to bring light to the land.

This is the top of the pole. Old growth Western Red Cedars are carefully harvested to create totem poles. The trees are typically 500 to 900 years old, taken from the Hoh Rain Forest on the western Olympic Peninsula.