The MV Tustumena Oral History Project

Winter 2019 News

To the many wonderful people who have been telling their Tusty Stories for the University of Alaska—Fairbanks (UAF) Alaska Oral History Archive, and the many people who are still waiting to tell their stories:

We are not done with the MV Tustumena, but neither is the MV Tustumena done with us. Politics have intervened in our plans. This week the newly elected Governor of the State of Alaska released his budget proposal. You can read the article published in the Anchorage Daily News HERE.

Briefly summarized, it will cut the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) budget from $140 million to $44 million. It will cut the system’s Aleutian route to Unalaska and the route to Bellingham, Washington, entirely from the schedule, destroying the founding statehood vision of a great Marine Highway that connects our vast state, people, and resources to each other and to the Lower 48.

If you live in Alaska now is the time to make your voice heard, from wherever you live, but especially if you are on the road system. Your state representatives and senators need to know that the Marine Highway serves all Alaskans just as the road system does. Every mile of our state highways and roads is subsidized by the state with no fee for usage, yet the Marine Highway, which is supported by additional fees, faces draconian cuts. Please write or call your senators and representatives today.

Meanwhile…we are sad to report that we were not able to take our planned winter trip on the MV Tustumena to Kodiak and vicinity. We will reschedule provided it still is available.

We are still working on the story files recorded aboard the Tusty last August. The trip went as planned and was incredibly beautiful with remarkably good weather.

We were honored to have been “seen off” on the trip by TSP participant and historian Pennelope Goforth. She took this departure photo showing the new project banner in the Homer Ferry Terminal.

Aboard, the sight of the well-stocked snack vending machine corroborated many stories we have already recorded.

 

       

Did we mention that we had absurdly good weather? We did…and enjoyed calm seas and frequently clear skies. It was almost unfair. We were hoping (if we can say this) to have a well rounded Tustumena experience, but that didn’t happen. It was beautiful weather. We enjoyed our candied ginger as a frequent snack anyway!

Even the turnaround day in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska was so spectacular that we climbed Ballyhoo Mountain for 360° views from the WWII sites on the summit. We were able to take the time to make the climb because our phones didn’t work. Since we were unable to connect with anyone there, after several tries using a public phone in a hotel lobby, we gave up and simply went sight-seeing.

Returning to Unalaska is a high priority for the Tusty Story Project. There are many people there with whom we want to visit and hope to record!

As “Round-trippers,” the term for folks who are going both directions with the Tusty, we felt at home on the way back. The captain on the sailing was Jon Cornelius. With permission and encouragement from the AMHS Main Office, Capt. Cornelius gave us full access to the crew and the vessel, and we took every advantage of it to interview crew and interested passengers, and to record the voice of the Tusty herself.

Our host and guide to the Tustumena was most often Chief Engineer Dohn Piscioniere. We hope he enjoyed the experience as much as we did! Over the course of the trip, he led us from top to bottom, front to back and everything in between. We loved it all, and he seemed to enjoy the experience of having visitors who were fascinated and delighted by the sounds of the MV Tustumena.

Michael took the photo at right just after Lucy finished recording the sounds of the stern wake from the poop deck. This fifteen-second sample is just a short portion of the full recording…did we mention how terrific the weather was?

 
       

And this spectacular sunset brought everyone out on deck with their cameras, crew and passengers.

To those of you who have served aboard her or been served by her, the historic significance of the Tustumena is not in question. Alaska is a young state, and the entire history of the AMHS is within living memory. We need to record firsthand stories now while it is possible.

This Report #2 is being sent to you because either you have shared your email with us or someone you know has. If you wish to be removed from this list, please email us at info@tustystoryproject.org and we will promptly remove your name.

We welcome your comments, suggestions, and referrals! Please use the above email address.

These are the people who have so far generously made time to record their memories with the MV Tustumena Oral History Project:

Peggy Arness Penelope Goforth Kaare Elde Karl Elde Rae Elde Virginia Allen Sarah & Henry Hopkins Doug Stuart Tom Hopkins Ester Larson Laurie Murdock Marcella Dillon Mike Treston Jon Cornelius

James Allen Dan Rough Peter Toloff Jodi Toloff Mike Lasota Darryl Schaefermeyer Paul Hanson Rodney Murdock Tom Kouremetis Gregg Schmidt Ilane Ashby (& Riley, Raechel Allen, Miya, and Aiya) James Anderson Glennora & Ray Kozo Kurt Weichhand

Judith Christiansen John “Andy” Anderson Kari Anderson Willard Dunham Allen King Pamela Oldow Jan Sande Scott & Heather Peisner Donald Cooley Arlene Kopur Rhonda Gregoric Meta Carlson Dohn Piscioniere Dave Beams

Dian Rodriguez Betty Arriaga William Hopkins Wynn Hopkins Robert Kern Susan Lutz Scott Merrill Lars & Lana Anderson Paul Warner John Whisamore Maggie Henneghan Kenneth Mack Paul Warner James “Jay” Pearson David Bell

Thank you all!!

 

Lucy Peckham and Michael Sakarias, in Kodiak, August 2018
photo by Daysha Eaton, KMXT, Kodiak Public Radio