By HARRIET MUHRLEIN

At the end of World War II the ferry system on Puget Sound was owned and operated by the Black Ball Line (Puget Sound Navigation Company). The ferry workers desperately desired raises, the company wanted to raise fares to cover the costs. It was a time of turmoil.

The ferry system today has been busy holding meetings in the communities served by the system. Increased costs of operations, aging equipment, impacts of traffic, a reservation system and other issues have been discussed.

Judy Odell was reminded of a song that she, sister Louise, and friend Shirley Morrison harmonized on and recorded. The mothers wrote the song and Shirley’s mother played piano for them. The tune was “Bye, bye, Blackbird.” The recording was sent to the governor.

Bye, bye Blackball

We told Peabody to go to Hell.

We’ll get by just as well.

Bye, bye Blackball!

We aren’t going to pamper him –

Even if we have to swim.

Bye, bye Blackball!

We can’t afford to pay your

Awful rates, sir –

So go ahead and tie up

Your old crates, sir!

Kingston, first to see the light

From now on its –

Fight, fight, fight

Blackball—Bye, Bye!!

The Kingston Historical Society still has limited numbers of the books “The Little City by the Sea” and “From Cherry Blossoms to Strawberries” for sale. They can be purchased at the Clever shop or the Chamber of Commerce in Kingston. The society’s next meeting will be held 10 a.m. Jan. 27 in the Community Center.

Start 2010 by reviewing your old photos and stories and share them with us as Judy did. Call Harriet Muhrlein, 297-2448 or Jack Minert, 297-3420.