By Pepper Fisher
CLALLAM BAY – The US Coast Guard is working to get the Slip Point Light Station in Clallam Bay added to the National Registry of Historic Places, and then turn the property over to Clallam County.
To that end, the Clallam County Commissioners, through the Parks Department, just submitted a letter of support for the listing, which is expected to be a big step toward acquiring the property.
The Slip Point Light Station sits on the 23-acre point of land that marks the eastern side of Clallam Bay. In the year 1905, the first light was simply a lantern hung on the front of the building housing the fog signal. In 1916, a short square tower was built on the side of the building, and a more high-powered Fresnel lens, visible from Canada, was added. It’s gone now.
Clallam County Parks director Don Crawford says the County has wanted to take possession of the property for 20 years, but Coast Guard hasn’t had the funds available to remove asbestos and lead paint from the structures, which is required by law. But, he says they have a new backer now that should make a difference.
“You know, the Coast Guard, they have the smallest budget of all the military services, even though they’re in the Department of Homeland Security. And so, you know they gotta prioritize ships and people above asbestos abatement. Now we’ve gotten representative Kilmer’s office involved, and brought some pressure to bear, and so it looks like in the next year or two they’ll make some way in the appropriations bills to cover those abatements so that they can finish the conveyance.”
In the last few decades, the old lights were replaced by a buoy. There’s a one-and-a-half story duplex on the property, which includes the old keeper’s house. The land is part of Clallam Bay Spit Community Beach County Park, so there is public access, and the property also was the location of a Native American settlement. We asked Crawford to describe how the park would be used if the County acquires it.
“There has been talk for 20 years about making sure that that residence has at least some tie to the Tribal history of the area, and possibly some maritime history of the area. So, I’ve heard people say that we use one side for a caretaker’s residence, and the other side as a museum. And so, I can’t imagine that we would do anything else but that. So, the whole property, if we’re going to convert it to a park, is going to need a lot of work.”
Crawford estimated the project could cost as much as a million dollars. Whatever happens, it may take a year or more to get the property transferred to the County. Crawford says the ultimate goal is to make it something that will benefit the community of Clallam Bay.
“I think everyone involved really wants to see this be a magnet for tourism in Clallam Bay. That’s a great little community, and we think this would be a great way to boost their tourism and get people to come and stay the night. So, you know, there’s a whole lot more in the works, but this is just the first step. And the folks out in Clallam Bay have been patient. And so we’re working as hard as we can to bring it to fruition.”