Jefferson County Historical Society director Bill Tennent likes to say that history ended yesterday.

Now, he will be part of that history.

Tennent recently announced he’s retiring from his position after 16 years.

“It was just time,” he said, noting that he just turned 70. “I think it will be nice to turn over the reins to someone else.”

The JCHS Board is in the final stage of bringing on a new director and will make that announcement in mid-June, Tennent said.

THREE TO FIVE

When Tennent first came to the JCHS in 2002, the society only operated two sites – the Jefferson Museum of Art and History in the 1892 Port Townsend City Hall building, and Rothschild House in Uptown.

Today, JCHS operates three more sites: the Commanding Officer’s Quarters at Fort Worden State Park, the Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitor Center at State Route 104, and the Research Center – the only site that JCHS owns – located across from the airport.

“The Jefferson County Historical Society had some pretty nice things happening before Bill came, but he took things to an entirely different, very professional, level,” current JCHS Board president Jenny Westdal said.

GROWING UP

Tennent said he’s been fascinated with history – and architecture – since he was a kid. That interest was nurtured by family vacations to historic sites.

“All of my friends used to go to places like Disneyland, or to some mystical place called the beach,” Tennent recalled. “Our vacations were always taking our camping trailer and just doing road trips through the southwest.”

The family went to museums, Native American sites, national parks and state parks.

“I guess that kind of grew on me,” he said.

Tennent noted he did finally make it to Disneyland as a freshman in college. 

“It was one of iconic places that's historic in its own way,” he said.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in history and pre-law at Utah State University, he achieved his master's degree in science with an emphasis on museum studies. He then went on to become curator of history at the Museums of Western Colorado, deputy director of the Cayman Islands National Museum and director of the Davenport House Museum in Savannah, Georgia.

‘DON’T WEAR A TIE’

About 16 years ago, Tennent was ready for a new adventure. He sold his house, left his job, sent out some resumes and was about to head west on U.S. Route 66 with his three cats when he got a call from JCHS – one of the organizations to which Tennent had applied.

He arranged for a flight within a week and traveled to Port Townsend for the first time.

“You can't help but fall in love with Port Townsend if you’re a historian,” Tennent said.

He recalled one story from the interview process: He and a board member were going on a walk on the beach, and the board member gave him some advice – “Don’t wear a tie.”

“I thought, ‘Oh, OK, this is my kind of place,’” Tennent said. “It all went well. I didn’t wear a tie; I got the job.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

During Tennent’s 16 years as director, in addition to expanding the sites JCHS operates, he also started the First Friday Lectures series, which he said is “wildly popular,” and established the West End Weekend, regular walking tours, and First Night on New Year’s Eve – a tradition he brought from Savannah.

“All these activities have enriched our life as a community,” Westdal said.

He also led three successful capital campaign projects to raise funds for three restoration projects: at the bell tower on the bluff, at City Hall where the museum is located, and at the Research Center.

The $2 million City Hall project was underway between 2002 and 2006 and included the city’s building of a new wing.

“It was really important to the city and to the people of Port Townsend to keep this building as a public space for the people,” Tennent said. “We like to say city council is upstairs, where the people of Port Townsend plan their future, and in the museum downstairs is where they can study their past.”

Another accomplishment Tennent is excited about is JCHS’s publications.

“We have really an aggressive publication program,” he said, noting that Jerry Gorsline is the head of that committee.

JCHS has published histories of Port Townsend and Jefferson County and has reprinted Gorsline’s book “Shadows of our Ancestors” – which the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe purchased for students in the Native American studies course at Peninsula College. The society has also started publishing books based on the many art exhibits the museum hosts.

“Eventually we’ll have a really nice library of the cultural life of Jefferson County,” Tennent said.

A current project is updating “City of Dreams,” which was edited by the late Peter Simpson.

IN THE '70S

Tennent said his favorite period in Port Townsend history is that of the late 1970s and early ’80s.

During that time, Port Townsend underwent a cultural renaissance, transforming from a quiet mill town to a robust arts community.

Those years saw the emergence of numerous artists, a boom in printing presses and the birth of the wooden boat festival.

“I think it’s pretty fascinating,” he said, noting that Westdal has been a key link to that time, as she herself was part of it.

Tennent said the community also has been keen on that era.

“When we did the First Friday lecture on the Town Tavern, 300 people showed up,” he said. “They were lining up into the streets.”

VOLUNTEER

Tennent said what he’ll miss the most about being director is the daily interaction with his board members and staff – “with people who are really passionate about preserving the history of our county.”

“I won’t be getting that as a retiree,” he said, giving credit to the members of the board. “We have a very active board and just an amazing staff.”

But, he added, he’s planning on volunteering – most likely leading walking tours – and will be on call if questions arise.

“JCHS has really thrived under his directorship,” Westdal said. “We’ll really miss him but wish him a great retirement – especially since he’s promised us he’ll come back as a volunteer.”

LOOKING BACK TO GO FORWARD

Commenting on the idea that “history ended yesterday,” Tennent said, “To make museums relevant, they have to be current. People have to feel like the museum is not just about what happened 100 years ago, but what happened yesterday.”

For example, he said, JCHS is currently collecting signs from this year’s Port Townsend Women’s March.

“If we're the diary of the community, we're collecting things from today as well as from the distant past,” he said.

Tennent also reflected on the importance of knowing about history.

“We don't know where we’re going unless we know where we come from,” he said. “Today that’s more important than ever – so we don’t revisit the mistakes of the past.”