Harbor History Musuem needs your support

Jack Sutton

Special to the Gateway

The Sept. 30 issue of The Peninsula Gateway asked the question, “Is there another project the city should turn its focus toward?” I’m glad you asked.

The Harbor History Museum needs to open next.

The museum is the connection to preserve our heritage. It holds our history, from the Native Americans, to explorers, to farmers, to loggers, to fishermen, to boat builders, to grocers, bankers, newspapers and every person who has lived here.

Nearly every week, a family brings to the museum something special that they believe our community deserves to retain.

Look at what has been accomplished. The basic buildings have been built, the Shenandoah has been moved to its new home, and the Midway school has been relocated and remodeled with the support of Rotary.

All of this has been accomplished with amazing community support, but we are not done.

The Harbor History Museum will be the economic driver in our downtown historic waterfront. It will attract people not only to the waterfront, but to all of Gig Harbor.

The museum anticipates opening in July 2010. The capital campaign needs additional donors. The city has been supportive and encourages our completion.

What can be done now?

A public-private partnership can work. What form and what can be accomplished needs to be discussed.

New capital donors need to step forward. To do so, they may call Sue Loiland, our campaign director, at 253-858-6722.

Renew your current membership.

Enroll as a new member and learn about the history and opportunities for Gig Harbor.

Businesses can support the museum with your membership, encourage your employees to join and match their contributions as a benefit.

Talk to your friends and neighbors, and tell them you support the Harbor History Museum.

We all have been affected by the new economic reality.

That is no longer an excuse. We must move on.

The museum has adjusted to that reality as well. Our goal is to open a state-of-the-art historical museum. The museum, however, must be financially viable.

That means we cannot open with long-term debt that we cannot service, or an operational budget that we cannot manage.

There, I said it. We’ll open in July 2010 — with your support.

We need your capital contribution and your business and family membership.

The museum is our history, and it belongs to all of us, but it needs additional community support.

Get off the sidelines, please contribute, and let’s complete the Harbor History Museum.

Jack Sutton is a Harbor History Museum Board member. He can be reached by e-mail suttonjack@comcast.net.