POULSBO — Many good ideas have been hatched over a morning cup of coffee in the Trolls’ Den at the Sons of Norway. But little did the hardy souls concerned over the loss of Poulsbo artifacts to the Kitsap County Historical Museum realize what they were proposing one morning in 1991 when they decided to do something to stem the tide of artifacts south.
The ringleader was Mr. “K” — Rangvald Kvelstad — who enlisted the help of fellow coffee drinkers Jeff Tolman, Earl Hansen, Vince Prouty, Mabel Raab, Sharon Lofgren, Muriel Williams and Archie Lien, to name a few. On Nov. 14, 1991, the state granted a certificate of incorporation to the Poulsbo Historical Museum with the stated purpose: To retain the heritage of the North Kitsap area.
A name change to Poulsbo Historical Society was granted in 1996. Perhaps the enormity of building and operating a museum weighed heavily on the board of directors. The need for a space of their own was still paramount as they undertook the collection of oral interviews from old-timers, gathered all shapes and conditions of artifacts, held History Chat days for the sharing of local history, and scoured the town for storage for the growing collection.
Hopes of building a museum were high at the turn of the 21st century when a deal was struck with the city for a building lot on Jensen Way. A full inventory of the collection followed and a strategic plan for the building and operation of a museum was developed.
In 2006, the Historical Society collaborated with the City of Poulsbo to open the Martinson Cabin Museum in Nelson Park. The cabin, a restoration/rebuild project of the Bight of Poulsbo led by Bill Austin, was fitted with displays provided by the historical society, their first attempt at operating a museum. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and welcomes about 400 visitors a year.
Hopes for a “real” museum were still high, but with the economic drop in 2008, money for building was scarce. It was soon apparent that it could be years before a museum could be built. The movement was energized in 2009 when the combined efforts of Donna Jean Bruce, the late Dale Rudolph and Mayor Becky Erickson, along with the approval of the City Council, resulted in the combined lease and sale of space in the new city hall in exchange for the Jensen Way property.
In February 2010, the Poulsbo Historical Society opened its heritage museum and research library on the second floor of City Hall. That museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. In 2015, 2,200 people from Poulsbo and abroad learned about Poulsbo’s history in the small museum.
Building on past successes, the historical society took another leap forward in fall 2015 with the opening of its third venue in 10 years — The Poulsbo Maritime Museum and Visitors Center, a collaboration between the Poulsbo Historical Society, the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association. The newest museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. In its first two months, it welcomed more than 1,200 visitors. A boatyard and restoration center is slated for completion at the site.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Poulsbo Historical Society continues in its mission to record, preserve and exhibit the history and culture of Poulsbo and the North Kitsap area. It offers museum and civic displays, and maintains a research library and archive of photos, artifacts and historical documents. It sponsors educational events, tours, and programs for local residents and tourists. It works closely with the city on planning decisions, providing historical context when requested, and helps businesses and home owners track the history of their properties. The Historical Society meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the City Council chambers, where it showcases speakers on historical topics. The presentations are open to the public.
“There are great plans in store for making Poulsbo’s history more available,” historian Judy Driscoll reported. “Operating three museum venues requires the help of many volunteers. You don’t have to be a long-time resident to volunteer. The society always welcomes help. The Poulsbo Historical Society exists for you, is run by volunteers in your community and preserves the history of your community for your descendants. Therefore, you are cordially invited to help The Poulsbo Historical Society celebrate its 25th anniversary at the annual ‘Gone Fishin’ ‘ Dinner Auction on March 19 at the Sons of Norway Hall on Front Street.”
You can help immediately by offering goods or services in the form of a donation for the silent or live auctions. Those donations are needed now in order to plan the auction. Then, come to the birthday celebration and auction on March 19. The evening starts with the silent auction at 4:30 p.m., followed by a baked codfish dinner prepared with a historic Poulsbo recipe, dessert dash, a chance to win an iPad, and a live auction of various goods and services.
Tickets are available at both downtown museums and must be purchased in advance. Call 360-440-7354 to order by phone.
TIMELINE
Nov. 14, 1991: Poulsbo Historical Museum is incorporated.
1996: Name changed to Poulsbo Historical Society.
2006: Martinson Cabin Museum opens at Viking Avenue and Lindvog Way.
2009: “The Spirit of Poulsbo,” a 400-page history, is published.
February 2010: Poulsbo Historical Museum and Research Center opens on the second floor of Poulsbo City Hall.
Aug. 19, 2013: “Poulsbo,” a photo history, is published by Arcadia Publishing.
Sept. 12, 2015: Poulsbo Maritime Heritage Museum opens on Front Street.
