PORT TOWNSEND — A landmark that has overlooked Fort Worden beaches for more than a century came down to Earth on Wednesday.
“It’s part of my childhood,” said Dave Klemann, who grew up on Morgan Hill.
“It was a fantastic tree house,” said Erik Paulson, who moved to Port Townsend when he was 10.
Klemann, who owns Ben’s Heating, and Paulson, a computer consultant, took the day off from work Wednesday to watch a crane lift the rickety searchlight tower at Fort Worden State Park off its feet and place it gently on the ground.
Due to safety concerns, the century-old tower was fenced off 12 years ago; it was lowered Wednesday to preserve it instead of letting it fall down.
“The long-term idea is to restore it, bring it back and allow public access,” said Dave Hansen, the park’s historic preservation director.
“This is a unique item.”
One of only a few searchlight towers still in existence in the United States, the Fort Worden tower has stood at the entrance to Puget Sound since 1901.
—————-
