FORKS — This year’s annual Hickory Shirt Heritage Days celebration in Forks pays homage to the women whose work behind the scenes allowed the men of the timber industry to succeed, said Lissy Andros, Forks Chamber of Commerce executive director.
“Behind a strong man is an even stronger woman,” she said.
The theme of the celebration is “Beauty and the Timber Beast,” which recognizes “some of the contributions women have made,” Andros said.
Hickory Shirt Heritage Days began Wednesday and continues through Sunday with gatherings scheduled throughout Forks.
“It is a community celebration, and we invite anyone who is here to celebrate with us. We have a lot of fun activities,” Andros said.
What are hickory shirts?
Hickory shirts are thick, cotton blue-gray and white striped shirts designed to stand up to hard work and traditionally worn by loggers. Residents were urged to wear their hickory shirts Wednesday to symbolize Forks’ logging roots.
In the theme of celebrating women, the Rainforest Arts Center at 35 N. Forks Ave. is debuting a new display of unusual, vintage aprons.
Several local women are putting this display together. They are apron collectors, and the display will pay tribute to the part the apron once played in daily life.
The Forks Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the event in partnership with the West End Historical Society, the Rainforest Council for the Arts, and the West End Business and Professional Association.
One of the two recipients of this year’s Pioneer Logger Award is a woman — one of only three women ever so honored since the award’s inception in 1981.
This year’s recipients are Jay Sarnowski, who provided lab and X-ray services at Forks Community Hospital for decades, and logger Ernie Nielsen.
Other women, in addition to Sarnowski, to receive the award are Eleanor Thornton in 2006 and Ingrid Dahlgren, who was awarded the honor posthumously in 2009. The award was originally given to pioneers. It is now presented in their memory.
Nielsen, who is in his mid- to late ’80s, was not available for comment this week.
Sarnowski accepted her award from Christi Baron, president of the West End Business and Professional Association and editor of the Forks Forum, during a ceremony Wednesday morning at the Rainforest Arts Center. Nielsen did not attend.
Since 1981, the Pioneer Logger Award has been bestowed on a usually reluctant recipient, according to the Forks Forum.
Sarnowski moved to Forks in October 1962 to work at Forks Community Hospital.
“I absolutely loved the job; it has been a privilege over all these years to work with all the patients,” she told the Forks Forum. “I have never been sorry that I came here.”
Sarnowski, now retired, volunteers at the hospital.
Festival celebrations continue today with the dedication of the Department of Natural Resources building at 411 Tillicum Lane. The ribbon-cutting will be at 1:30 p.m., followed by tours.
From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., live music is planned at the Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave.
On Saturday will be the 20th annual Fish and Brew at the Rainforest Arts Center. Entry is by a suggested donation of $5.
The community is invited to sample fish entries, brews, root beer, apple cider and a few surprises.
Fish entries should arrive between noon and 1 p.m. for judging. Brewers should arrive before 1 p.m. for setup. The doors will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Prizes will be awarded for judges’ choices and people’s choice awards for fish and brew.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Loose Gravel.
Jack Datisman beer label prints will be available for sale.
The Fish and Brew is sponsored by the West End Business and Professional Association.
From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the arts center will host dance classes with the Aprons and Overalls Dance, with Crescent Blue to follow until 10 p.m.
Admission to the dance is by a suggested donation of $6 per adult and $12 per family.
On Sunday, demonstrations by the Rainforest Council of the Arts will be presented from noon to 4 p.m. at the arts center.
Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave., will host the Little Logger Contest at 3 p.m. The contest is sponsored by the West End Business and Professional Association.
The Far West Art League Art Sale and Show will be in the arts center alcove from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission to the Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave., will be free every day of the festival.
Raffle tickets are available at the museum, which will benefit from the proceeds.
First prize will be an 18-inch doll with a trunk, bed, sleeping bag and accessories, a $200 value.
Second prize will be a denim camp/car/picnic blanket, and third prize will be two Forks Timber Museum caps.
Winners will be drawn at the end of festivities Sunday.
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Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News Linda Offutt, Forks Timber Museum manager, conducts the Round Table meeting in which local history is discussed last year at the RAC.
