Port Townsend in Jefferson County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Village at Memorial Field
The čičməhán Trail Stop 5
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 2, 2021
1. Village at Memorial Field Marker
The village of qatáy once sat near the bluff at what is now the corner of Monroe and Water Streets. It was the principal village of S'Klallam people at the time of the treaty signing, and home to their Chief, čičməhán (Cheech-ma-han).
James Swan's 1859 census showed 300 whites and 200 Klallams living in Port Townsend. qatáy village was burned on August 23, 1871 by order of the federal government, prompted by complaints from the settlers. Destruction of the village of qatáy forced many of the S'Klallam to move to the Skokomish Reservation, Port Gamble, Port Discovery, or to join family in Dungeness (who would purchase land at Jamestown in 1874). Others, including čičməhán and his family, moved to Indian Island, where villages had been located for hundreds of years.
Many S'Klallam adjusted to non-Indian communities, working at local mills, on farms, fishing and providing water transportation to settlers on land and waters that had always been Native homeland.
In 2018, a county project at Memorial Field uncovered remnants of that village. Sediments were sifted for artifacts and other evidence of the area's historical residents.
Erected 2019 by Native Connections Action Group of the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Čičməhán Trail, Port Townsend, Washington series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 23, 1871.
Location. 48° 6.983′ N, 122° 45.26′ W. Marker is in Port Townsend, Washington, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of Washington Street and Madison Street, on the left when traveling east on Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Washington Street, Port Townsend WA 98368, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jefferson County Memorial Athletic Field (a few steps from this marker); Fire! (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Townsend City Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Crimping (about 300 feet away); U.S.S. Marvin Shields (DE-1066) (about 400 feet away); Marvin Glenn Shields (about 400 feet away); Historic City Hall (about 400 feet away); Capt. George Vancouver (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Townsend.
Also see . . .
1. The čičməhán trail. (Submitted on August 18, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Fragments of old Port Townsend found in Memorial Field (Peninsula Daily News, 2018)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 2, 2021
2. Village at Memorial Field Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 18, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
