The restored Admiral Totem Pole was unveiled by a a group of dignitaries and school children at a special ceremony at the Log House Museum in West Seattle on June 6.
A crowd of well over 1000 people gathered on 61st Ave. S.W, on Friday June 6 to witness the unveiling of the restored Admiral totem pole, which stood for decades on Admiral Way S.W. It was taken down due to wear and tear in 2006 and then restored for its unveiling at the Log House Museum in a special ceremony.
TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE UNVEILING CLICK HERE
Brad Chrisman is responsible for the time-lapse video.
In attendance at the event were notable dignitaries and hundreds of school children from Schimitz Park Elementary, Lafayette Elementary and Alki Elementary schools.
Executive Director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Clay Eals was the master of ceremonies for the brief event which included quite literally one minute speeches from King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. On hand were the board of trustees, Tia Hallberg, Ron Arant, Kerry Korsgaard, Alan Peterson, Dora-Faye Hendricks, Dave Montoure, Peder Nelson, Bonnie Gromlich, Inez Lindsey, and Nancy Sorenson.
Among the other dignitaries on hand were the grandson of, J.E. "Daddy" Standley, the first proprietor of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop who installed the first Admiral Totem pole 75 years ago, Joe James, family members of the people who carved the the pole in 1966, wife and daughter of carver Michael Morgan, Diane Morgan, and Martha Morgan and the sons of carver Robert Fleischman: Kim and Kyle Fleischman.
The first organizers of the pole's 1966 dedication Dick Barnecut and Ken Lowthian.
Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools Jose Banda.
Native American Education Services Manager for SPS Gail Morris.
Principal of Alki Elementary Shannon Stanton, Principal of Schmitz Park Elementary Gerrit Kischner.
Acting Superintendent of Seattle Parks Christopher Williams.
Executive Dir. of 4 Culture Jim Kelly.
Sandy Walsh representing the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (also of the pioneer Denny family and Bonnie Ward.
King County Councilmember Joe McDermott.
Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.
Duwamish tribal chair Cecile Hansen plus Ken Workman and Blake Shelafore.
Board member (and former resident of the home that houses the museum) Marcy Johnsen.
Workman and Shelafore who trace their family back through their Native American roots to those who lived here in the beginning performed a blessing and song for the pole before it was unveiled.
The event was followed by the opening of a new exhibit at the museum dedicated to totem poles in our area, curated by the SWSHS museum manage Sarah Baylinson.
