Lummi Island Ferry

Lummi Island Ferry WHATCOM CHIEF navigating the waters of Hales Passage, located in the Pacific Northwest United States. Mt Baker in the... more

by James Williamson

Original - Sold

Price

$795

Dimensions

15.000 x 11.000 inches

Title

Lummi Island Ferry

Artist

James Williamson

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

Lummi Island Ferry WHATCOM CHIEF navigating the waters of Hales Passage, located in the Pacific Northwest United States. Mt Baker in the distance.
Watercolor painting by artist James Williamson.

Artist James Williamson, ASMA
Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists

Whatcom, the Lummi Indian word Whatcom was applied to the falls at the mouth of Whatcom Creek located in Bellingham, Washington. Whatcom translates to noisy water, rumbling water or in the place of noisy water. Whatcom Falls was a favorite winter resort of the Lummi tribe.

Lummi Name of Lummi Indian Tribe; Lummi Bay; Lummi Island; Lummi Peak; Lummi Rocks; Lummi River

WHATCOM CHIEF serves Manhattan-size Lummi Island throughout the year with passenger and car service. The 94-foot-long ferryboat was built in 1962 at Bellingham, Washington. Vessel documentation: Call sign: WT4561; Length 93.5 feet; hull depth 9.1 feet; hull breadth 44.1 feet; gross tonnage 69; net tonnage 47; horsepower 360.

The lifeline of an island is the access to it, and in the case of Lummi Island that lifeline is the ferry WHATCOM CHIEF. Its immediate predecessors were the Chief Kwina and the Acorn, capable of carrying just six cars each. When demand was high both ferries ran. When it was low the Acorn remained tied to the dock. The current vessel Whatcom Chief will hold approximately 22 vehicles and 100 people. Service to the island has been excellent since the vessel was placed in service and there have been very few times that the Chief could not make a run. The ferry runs about every 20 minutes during summer months.

Lummi Island is a place where people may come to get away or to connect. The island has organizations to fit almost every interest, from the venerable Lummi Island Civic Club to the Grange, Community Club, Friends of the Library, Fire Department, Heritage Trust, and the Conservancy. The Lummi Island Church is a gathering place for people of all denominations.

Lummi Island community includes about 880 residents throughout the year plus many weekend and summer residents. The only public areas on the island are the deck and beach at the old ferry dock location across from the Beach Store Cafe and a small marine park on the southeast end of the island. Lummi Mountain is set-aside as wildlife habitat by the State of Washington. The area contains hiking trails and biking trails exist along Lummi Islands network of paved roads.

Longtime residents, consisting mainly of hippies, artists and middle-class pensioners who have liked the laidback lifestyle, say they are being replaced by vacationers, rich retirees and families who commute to Bellingham. It is easy to distinguish the two Lummis. On the northern tip of the island, large homes sport terraces filled with teak patio furniture and well-maintained landscaping. A few miles away, Legoe Bay has the feel of a funky beach town. The homes have peeling paint and are decorated with sun-bleached antlers and crab buoys. Old pickups and skiffs that have seen better days clutter the yards.

The Whatcom Chief, with its big painted eagle on the cabin, takes passengers across Hale Passage to and from the world that Lummi Island allows them to escape. The roundtrip costs $3.

Many residents like being stuck on the rock, as the joke goes, where there's one general store and one restaurant, which is open only on weekends. There's no bank, no dry cleaners, no gas station, no pharmacy, no Costco. There's no sewage system and a limited supply of well water.
Old timers say the new residents have yet to earn their stripes. We haven't had a series of good nor easterlies to drive off the latest crew of whiners, said Aaron Rupp, a retired commercial fisherman and training officer for the fire department.

Uploaded

June 3rd, 2011