The Browns Point Boat House and Oil House

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 8, 2014

1. The Browns Point Boat House and Oil House Marker

Inscription.

The Browns Point Boat House and Oil House. . The Boat House and Boat Ramp were built in 1905 for a surf boat that was necessary for a light keeper. Oscar Brown's primary means of transportation and communication was by rowboat. Several times per week he rowed to Tacoma for his mail, supplies and to attend or participate in music concerts. Murray Morgan renowned Northwest historian and friend of Oscar Brown recalled Oscar bringing a young calf from Tacoma in his boat. Oscar also needed his boat to do his lighthouse chores when a high tide covered the mud flat between the house and the lighthouse., When the Points Northeast Historical Society in 1991 renovated the former Crew Quarters building for a History Center, they found the light keeper's boat missing from the boat house. The United States Coast Guard had removed all boats from all lighthouse sites in 1961. In 1993-1994, Mike Vlahovich, noted shipwright, was contracted by the Society to build a 16 foot, wood Coast Guard Surf Boat replica. With community contributions and many volunteers the vessel was built. Park visitors and school children watched and asked questions. The surf boat “Browns Point” was christened and launched during the 1994 Browns Point Salmon Bake., The Oil House is the corrugated metal building behind the Boat House. Originally it was located a few yards away from the first, wood frame lighthouse. In order to avoid a lighthouse fire, the building was the storage shed for kerosene, gasoline and paint solvents. When electricity came to Browns Point in the early 1920s, kerosene was no longer needed for the lighthouse lantern, so the building was moved to this location. It continued to be used for fuels and paints and was then called the Paint Shed., [Captions (clockwise from top left)] , . Mike Vlahovich and Browns Point Elementary School students , . Surf Boat launching with historian Murray Morgan on right , . Architectural drawing of an Oil House , . End view and mid ship section of surf boat

The Boat House and Boat Ramp were built in 1905 for a surf boat that was necessary for a light keeper. Oscar Brown's primary means of transportation and communication was by rowboat. Several times per week he rowed to Tacoma for his mail, supplies and to attend or participate in music concerts. Murray Morgan renowned Northwest historian and friend of Oscar Brown recalled Oscar bringing a young calf from Tacoma in his boat. Oscar also needed his boat to do his lighthouse chores when a high tide covered the mud flat between the house and the lighthouse.

When the Points Northeast Historical Society in 1991 renovated the former Crew Quarters building for a History Center, they found the light keeper's boat missing from the boat house. The United States Coast Guard had removed all boats from all lighthouse sites in 1961. In 1993-1994, Mike Vlahovich, noted shipwright, was contracted by the Society to build a 16 foot, wood Coast Guard Surf Boat replica. With community contributions and many volunteers the vessel was built. Park visitors and school children watched and asked questions. The surf boat “Browns Point” was christened

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and launched during the 1994 Browns Point Salmon Bake.

The Oil House is the corrugated metal building behind the Boat House. Originally it was located a few yards away from the first, wood frame lighthouse. In order to avoid a lighthouse fire, the building was the storage shed for kerosene, gasoline and paint solvents. When electricity came to Browns Point in the early 1920s, kerosene was no longer needed for the lighthouse lantern, so the building was moved to this location. It continued to be used for fuels and paints and was then called the Paint Shed.

[Captions (clockwise from top left)]
• Mike Vlahovich and Browns Point Elementary School students
• Surf Boat launching with historian Murray Morgan on right
• Architectural drawing of an Oil House
• End view and mid ship section of surf boat

Erected by Pierce County • Points NE Historical Society • United States Coast Guard • Metro Parks Tacoma.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 8, 2014

2. The Browns Point Boat House and Oil House Marker

It was located near 47° 18.359′ N, 122° 26.596′ W. Marker was in Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County. It could be reached from Tulalip Street Northeast west of Wan-I-Da Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker was located in Browns Point Lighthouse Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 201 Tulalip St NE, Tacoma WA 98422, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Puget Sound Region

and in Greater Seattle.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it was in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Boat House and Oil House (here, next to this marker); Captain George Vancouver at Browns Point (a few steps from this marker); The Browns Point Light Keeper's Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Light Keeper's Cottage

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Browns Point Light Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Crew Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Bell and Pump House (within shouting distance of this marker); Generator Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tacoma.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Browns Point Lighthouse Bell and Pump House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 354 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 10, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.