Kingston prepares to celebrate heritage

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, September 27, 2006

KINGSTON — The Kingston Chamber of Commerce is suiting up for a special Saturday event — literally.

Members are digging out their crinolines, corsets, three-piece suits and pocket watches and preparing to go Victorian to match the Little City by the Sea’s historic new look.

All this week, members of the chamber and the Kingston Revitalization Committee have been transforming the town to appear as it did at the turn of last century. The result will be the first ever Kingston Heritage Day.

“We kind of felt like we needed something fun to do in the fall,” said KRA member Karen Ross. “Kingston is an old town, with great history. This just seemed like an natural fit.”

The historical festival will kick off with a free loggers’ breakfast at 8 a.m. Sept. 30 and run throughout the day, with events occurring all over town, Ross said.

“We’re going to have photos set up from 2-5 (p.m.) at the community center,” said Kingston Historical Society President Bill Reynolds. “We’re going to have logging pictures, historical pictures and cemetery information.”

The day will offer North Kitsap residents, both old and new, a chance to learn a bit about the town’s roots, Ross said, adding that the chamber and KRA members are working to make Kingston’s historical facts tangible for everyone who attends the celebration.

“We’re working on a jail,” said Kingston Chamber of Commerce Board member Betty Mathers. “The jail is going to be in the community center. We’re going to have at least five deputy sheriffs walking around the town, looking for jaywalkers and such to put in jail.”

There’s nothing to fret, however, Mathers said a wait of about 10 minutes and a donation, no matter how small, will work as bail, and any rogue jaywalkers will be released, though the community members who make up the posse will probably keep a close eye on them.

“The sheriff’s posse will keep local order,” Ross said with a laugh, adding that the group shouldn’t deter the public from coming out.

The dress code shouldn’t either, she said.

Part of the day includes asking residents to don period garb, Mathers said. The public can choose any era between the early 1900s and the early 1960s.

Kingston Junior High School ninth-grader Kateese Carter isn’t certain whether or not she will dress up, but she is definitely looking forward to attending. Carter is one of seven KJH ninth-graders who will volunteer at Kingston Heritage Day’s breakfast and the historical kid’s area that will run from 2-5 p.m. The other students are Rachel Burg, Jordan Tapp, Marina Philip, Ashley Larson, Carson Smallbeck and Maggie Maisermen.

“I want to see who all goes,” Carter said, adding that she hopes it’s more than just the older end of the Kingston spectrum.

“We’ll probably learn a lot about Kingston’s history,” added Tapp, who agreed with her classmates that they would probably use what they learn during Heritage Day in their history classes.

“I’m looking forward to seeing people dressed up,” Ross said, adding that, while she doesn’t want to scare anyone away, it would really add to the feel of the day if residents wore their very best 1900s wardrobe.

A complete list of activities, times and places can be found at www.kingstonchamber.com by clicking on the Kingston Heritage Day link.