When Kay Zuanich heard that the Port of Everett planned to demolish the net sheds it rented to the few remaining commercial fishermen to make way for redevelopment, she called her friend Barbara Piercey.
Both women are from families involved in fishing, once a major industry in Everett that started in the early 1900s and played a strong role in its economy and values.
The sheds used to store nets and fishing gear were the only tangible evidence of an industry that had employed thousands in catching fish in Alaska and in Puget Sound and in processing them in Everett.
Zuanich’s phone call in August 2004 left the women convinced they needed to do something to ensure that history wasn’t lost with the net sheds.
The nearly seven-year effort that followed involved more than 100 volunteers.
“This was truly a community effort,” Piercey said. “A lot of people donated time and expertise.”
It was an effort that involved fund-raising dinners, the sale of hats, T-shirts and artwork, development of two books involving the fishing industry, and the commissioning of a bronze statue that will culminate at 4:30 p.m. June 23.
That’s the time for a celebration at the port’s Waterfront Center at 1205 Craftsman Way and the unveiling of a Fisherman’s Tribute Statue by Sultan sculptor Kevin Pettelle.
The statue is being cast at a foundry about 40 miles east of Portland, and Pettelle was staying there to ensure that it was done right.
“It seems from the onset of this effort I have had the privilege of working with the very best,” Pettelle told me by email late last week, lauding the work by Zuanich, Piercey and others. “Am I happy with the sculpture? Yes, I feel it is one of the finest examples of my work. The lead tooler, the person who builds and chases the bronze, commented to me that of the thousands of sculptures he has worked on, this was the best he had seen.”
The sculpture is of a fisherman in foul weather gear hauling in a net containing salmon.
Piercey told me that some volunteers located the old-style rain gear and others modeled it. Pettelle worked hard to add detail to the work and to get feedback.
“We avoided a lot of pitfalls because of people’s advice,” Piercey said. “He (Pettelle) would constantly run it by fishermen. I think he caught the essence of a fisherman. He always went the extra step.”
The port is providing the waterfront location and also paid for benches and other amenities surrounding the statue. The sculpture itself was paid for with money raised from the community. The late Bernie Webber, a popular artist in Everett, provided a painting to the effort. Others donated and bought many other items. Hundreds bought the book, “Everett Fishermen,” by author Raejean Hasenorhri, a compilation of photos donated by scores of people.
The group held a fund-raising dinner after publication and sold 400 copies in one night, Piercey said, adding, “We sold out.”
Hasenorhri and Jack and Larry O’Donnell, who wrote “The Evolution of a Vibrant Everett Waterfront,” are scheduled to attend the celebration and to sign their work.
Piercey and Zuanich worked hard for the tribute and will be glad when their work is done on the 23rd. But they enjoyed the process, even though it took seven years.
“It was amazing,” Piercey said. “As I was working on this there was always someone who wanted to talk about a connection. Either they had a father who fished or a brother or some other member of the family had fished. It was truly remarkable.”
She hopes that Pettelle’s sculpture will evoke those memories for people and will help others not from fishing families know how important the industry was for the community.
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
