Sham S. Misri
(From: Seattle, Washington)
Since the weather is supposed to be super nice this weekend
my son Sandeep and his wife Suprigya were suggesting to me to go to Bremerton. My
son, Sandeep was in fact proposing to me about taking a ferry ride!
“I’ve never been to or Bremerton Island and I don't know much
about it,” I said. “ Anyway, whatever you guys suggest for the visit I will
have no objection. It looks to me like an Island that may have better food
options but there may be more to see and do in Bremerton!
Saturday, 5th June,
2010.
It was a nice sunny Saturday and we planned to leave early
our home at Redmond, Washington. We boarded our van and proceeded towards
Bremerton, out destination. It took us nearly thirty minutes to reach down town
Seattle, the point where from we had to take the ferry. The Settle-Bremerton route departs from the
Washington State Terminal located on the Seattle central water front.
Bremerton is surrounded by miles of shoreline and waterfront
and perfect for picnics and relaxing strolls. I was told that there are other
ways from the south via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and from the north the Hood
Canal Bridge or Kingston and Bainbridge Island ferries.
There was a long queue waiting for their turn to board the
ferry. We also lined up in the queue and waited up for our turn. During this
period of halt, I took some video clips and some snap shots. The Bremerton
Ferry is an automobile and passenger service that is operated and owned by the
Washington State Department of Transportation. This service is known for being
the third largest automobile and passenger ferry fleet in the world. It is also
the largest fleet in the United States.
When our turn came our van full of passengers also boarded
the ferry. Bremerton is connected to downtown Seattle by a 55-minute ferry
route, which carries both vehicles and walk-on passengers. It is a seventeen
(17) mile sailing from Seattle to Bremerton. When we reached the Island there
was lot of fun.
Bremerton has several museums, many within walking distance
of the ferries. They Include the
Historical Museum, the Puget Sound Naval Museum; Children are Puppet Museum,
historic ship, and the famous Amy Burnett Pyrex Museum.
During the First World War the city had increased their man
power that worked on the construction of a submarine. The development of this
city brought new families from around the United States to live. The first
economic activity was the lumber and timber industry.
The city of Bremerton located in Washington is known for its
unique variety of arts and entertainment. The most popular and most visited
types of entertainment in this city are Admiral Theatre Bremerton, Bremerton
Community Theatre and Bremerton Symphony. Other attractions and recreations
available for people of all ages are the (Basketball, Cycling, Disc golf, Pickle
ball, Swimming, Ping Pong, etc) , Dance and swimming lessons , City parks:
Blueberry Park, Bachmann Park, Bataan Park, Evergreen Rotary Park, Haddon Park,
Lake Park, Lions Park, Smith Playfield, etc.
The Bremerton Naval Base is known for being the third
largest Navy organization in the United States. This U.S Navy organization was
created in the year 2004. The Bremerton Naval base features: Four nuclear
shipyards, two nuclear weapon facilities, and largest fuel depot.
Bremerton has a variety of schools. These schools are
categorized as: Public, private and colleges. Bremerton is a city in Kitsap
County, Washington, United States. The population is not more.
There is an interesting story about Bremerton. Around 1890 a
U.S. Navy commission wanted to establish a shipyard here. Soon after in the
year 1891, William Bremer, a German, had immigrated and settled in Seattle. He
had started his own business here. William Bremer had a vision. He understood
that a large number of workers would be employed in the shipyard. Thus Bremer,
his business partner and brother-in-law, purchased the undeveloped land near
Point Turner. Earlier, a Lieutenant had purchased nearly 190 acres of water
front territory which was owned by the Bremer family. Later on, Bremer arranged
for the sale of 190 acres to the Navy at $50 per acre. This land became part of
the initial footprint of the Puget Sound Navy Yard. Then William Bremer
established a town very close to the Navy naval station. The area came to be
called as Bremerton.
Bremerton was officially incorporated on October 15, 1901
with a mayor. Progress in the new city soon faced a major crisis. There were
reports from commanders that the Bremerton waterfront was common with
prostitution, opium houses and frequent strong-armed robberies of sailors.
Politics were probably also at play. Local newspapers reported that the city
had no plan to expand the shipyard. A dispute ensued between Mayor who wanted
to shutter all saloons in Bremerton, and three members of the city council, who
attempted to block his efforts. Mayor eventually won and the council voted to
cancel all liquor licenses.
Manette was linked to Bremerton by the Manette Bridge, a
1,573-foot bridge constructed in June 1930. Prior to this time, the trip could
only be made by ferry or a long trip around Dyes Inlet through Chico,
Silverdale and Tracy- ton on mostly unimproved roads. This wooden bridge was
replaced with the present concrete bridge in 1949. At the shipyard, the
250-foot tall Hammerhead Crane was completed in April 1933. One of the nation's
largest, it is capable of lifting 250 tons and continues to dominate the
Bremerton skyline.
At the peak of World War II, the Bremerton area was home to
an estimated 80,000 residents due to the heavy workload of shipbuilding, repair
and maintenance required for the Pacific war effort. Most of the relocation was
temporary, though, and only 27,678 citizens were left in the city by 1950.
During the 1940s, presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman both
visited Bremerton. Roosevelt made a campaign stop at the Puget Sound Naval
Shipyard on August 12, 1944, giving a national radio address. During the course
of his 35-minute speech, it is believed the president suffered an angina
attack, experiencing severe chest and shoulder pain. President Truman took a
two-day tour of Washington State in 1948.
In 2000, Bremerton
saw the opening of the waterfront multimodal bus/ferry terminal and a
hotel/conference centre complex in 2004.
The popular Blackberry Festival is held annually during
Labour Day weekend on the waterfront boardwalk to celebrate everything
Blackberry. Local residents, shopkeepers and growers bring their Blackberry ice
creams, pastries, pies, jams, jellies, candies, and even ciders and wines to
this annual event. Free entertainment includes music by local musicians and
entertainers performing throughout the three day festival. Bremerton climate
has warm dry summers and wet semi-mild winters.
Historical populations: During Census 1910 the population
was 2,993: which went up in 1950 to
27,678: and in 1990 to 38,142
U.S. Census of 2000
showed there were 37,259 people, 15,096 households, and 8,468 families residing
in the city. The population density was 1,644.2 people per square mile. There
were 16,631 housing units at an average density of 733.9 per square mile. The
racial makeup of the city was 74.97% White, 7.50% African American, 1.95%
Native American, 5.53% Asian, 0.93% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races,
and 6.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or of any race were 6.59% of the
population.
There were 15,096 households out of which 30.2% had children
under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living
together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were
non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had
someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household
size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under
the age of 18; 15.5% from 18 to 24; 30.3% from 25 to 44; 17.2% from 45 to 64; and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older.
For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and
over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,950,
and the median income for a family was $36,358. Males had a median income of
$28,320 versus $23,523 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$16,724. About 16.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of that age 65 or
over. Because of the military base Bremerton's demographics are extremely
diverse.
Bremerton has produced many notable men like; Nathan Adrian,
American swimmer and Olympic gold medallist. Dan Attoe, painter and
sculptor; Jill Banner, American film
actress; Norm Dicks, Fifteen-term U.S. Congressman, was born and raised in
Bremerton; Howard Duff, the actor; Brent David Fraser, actor; Bill Gates Senior,
father of the Microsoft billionaire, was born in Bremerton and began his law
career with the local firm of Merrill Wallace. The elder Gates' father operated
a furniture store and ice cream parlour in downtown Bremerton.
After spending the day we returned home late in the
evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment