Port Townsend: New Historical Society director settles in

PORT TOWNSEND — When Bill Tennent drove out of Savannah, Ga., in July, he knew he was leaving his old life behind.

But he didn’t know he was heading to the city of his dreams.

“I thought I’d throw all my stuff in my car, and I’d end up where I’m supposed to be,” Tennent said.

Tennent is the new director of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

He arrived in Port Townsend in August to interview for the job.

“When I came over the hill and saw all the historic buildings, I knew this is where I belonged,” Tennent said.

Tennent, 54, didn’t know he had the job when he decided to leave Savannah, where he was director of historic Davenport House.

Westward ho!

He had put his own house on the market, and on the day the sale closed, loaded his bags and his three cats into the car and headed west.

“When I see a good place, I’m going to stop,” Tennent said of his plan.

Before he left, Tennent had applied for the museum directorship in Port Townsend.

He made it as far as New Mexico when he got a call on his cell phone, asking if could come to come to Port Townsend for an interview.

He was the top choice among 26 applicants in a nationwide search and the only finalist asked to come for an interview.

He took the position Sept. 3.

—————–

The rest of the story appears in the Monday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

More in News

Jon Picker, airport and marina manager for the Port of Port Angeles, describes runway sections for William R. Fairchild International Airport on a diagram of the terminal area. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Fairchild upgrades completed

Ribbon cutting is planned for Dec. 12

Clallam County eyes changes to park fees

Public hearing on adjustments set Dec. 12

Rich Foutch of Active Construction, Inc., in Tacoma paints a line on the roadway at the new roundabout at Kearney Street and state Highway 20 for the placement of temporary stripes in a pedestrian crosswalk on Monday in Port Townsend. The temperatures have to be in the mid-50s to install permanent striping, he said. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Roundabout striping

Rich Foutch of Active Construction, Inc., in Tacoma paints a line on… Continue reading

Proposal to rename Sequim road put on hold

Rotary, city to consider other options to honor local Olympian

Researcher: Managed forests needed to fight climate change

Wood products can replace existing fossil fuel-based materials

Jefferson County updates fee schedules

Environmental Public Health up 6 percent

The downtown Port Angeles Christmas tree is surrounded by people during a lighting ceremony on Saturday at First and Lincoln streets. The 30-foot tree will stand at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain plaza through the holidays. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Lit up for the holidays

The downtown Port Angeles Christmas tree is surrounded by people during a… Continue reading

tsr
Community Aid seeks support for Toys for Sequim Kids

Nonprofit helps hundreds of children with Christmas presents

Planned electrical outage in Forks on Thursday

A planned power outage in Forks will affect electric service… Continue reading

Nordland man dies of injuries from Nov. 14 wreck

A second person involved in a two-car collision on Nov.… Continue reading

Santa Claus, portrayed by Stephen Rosales of Sequim, waves to the crowd after his arrival by vintage fire truck at Centennial Place in downtown Sequim on Saturday, part of the city’s Hometown Holidays celebration. Santa, accompanied by Irrigation Festival royalty, greeted children next to the city’s Christmas tree in an event that also featured music by the Sequim City Band and a lighted tractor parade. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Holiday tradition

Santa Claus, portrayed by Stephen Rosales of Sequim, waves to the crowd… Continue reading

District 3 chief pick bows out

Fire officials could resume search in ’24