June 5, 2015
The Totem Pole Restoration is Complete
This year the Totem Pole at Burner Point at The Resort at Port Ludlow is celebrating its 20th anniversary and a recent restoration has restored the totem pole to its original glory. The restoration was completed in large part to the community of Port Ludlow and the Totem Pole Fund.
The totem pole stands 40 feet high and overlooks Port Ludlow Bay. It was carved by artist David Boxley, a Tsimshian carver from Metlakatla, Alaska, in 1995. The lumber for the totem pole came from a 720-year-old, western red cedar which blew over just south of the Hoh Rain Forest.
Boxley completed the restoration that lasted from May 4th through May 8th. Wood for new wings and a paint job refreshed the 20 year old community icon. Pacific Western Timbers, who originally provided the wood used to carve the totem pole, donated the lumber to replace the old wings.
We would be remiss without giving a big thanks to our wonderful community and those involved with Totem Pole Fund which supported the project to completion – especially Dorothy Kimble, Barbara Adams, Bonnie Lambton, Sally Hirschman, and Claudia Avicola.
Curious about what the different figures on the totem pole represent? The six figures – the eagle, the bear, the two men with locked arms, the lumberman, the beaver, and the six interlocking figures, represent the history of Port Ludlow.
The top figure is an eagle which is reflective of the area before human habitation.
The bear, the second figure, portrays the ancestors of the local S’Klallam tribe.
The two men with locked arms, on the third figure, are Andrew Jackson Pope and Frederic Talbot who owned the sawmill in Port Ludlow that was in operation from 1852 to 1935.
The fourth figure, the lumberman, portrays the era of the Port Ludlow sawmill.
The beaver is representative of the building phase of Pope Resources, now Westharbor Homes.
The base of the totem pole has the six interlocking figures which represents the people and community of Port Ludlow.
To honor the restoration of the Totem Pole a potlatch celebration will be held on July 4th.
To attend the potlatch celebration please call the Fireside Restaurant at 360-437-7412 to make your reservation.
Written by: Kaitlin Chester
