Former Owner's Daughter Calls for Wawona Preservation

I received this e-mail from Linda Trafton Haakenson and Susan Trafton Carpenter, the daughter and granddaughter of J.E. Trafton, the last commercial owner of the schooner Wawona. They wrote to me out of concern for Wawona's immediate future, given the city of Seattle's recent threat to "demolish and dispose" of the vessel. (See MHN entry for June 14 and following entries, or search on the word "Wawona" in the search box at the top of the screen.) They gave me permission to post the e-mail.

[June 28, 2006]

Our family wants to preserve the history of the Wawona. The Trafton Family of Anacortes who owned the Wawona for over 33 years sailed from Anacortes. The history of the ship is very important to keep alive for generations to come of the hardships of making a living in the Bering Sea. We were very happy to see it had a home in Seattle and was restored by Northwest Seaport. The Wawona and other sailing schooners of that era are a rich history of the Pacific Northwest. This would be a wonderful educational tourist attraction for Seattle.

Please help preserve and save the Wawona and make it a show piece of the Seattle waterfront.

Linda Trafton Haakenson
Susan Trafton Carpenter

If you'd like to write to Linda and Susan, e-mail me at info@maritimeheritage.net and I'll forward. Otherwise, please comment via the link below.