Just inside the Fort Worden Chapel’s meeting room on the east wall is an etched brass plaque dedicated to Army chaplain Edmund Pepperell Easterbrook. Born in Torquay, England, in 1865, Easterbrook joined the U.S. Army’s Chaplain Corps when he was 23 years old. During World War I, he was stationed at Fort Worden and was given the honor of presenting the colors to the 63rd Coast Artillery Regiment as it prepared to leave for the war in Europe.

The April 7, 1918 Leader reported, “Chaplain Easterbrook is particularly well known to the men … and due to Red Cross work elsewhere, missed his chance to go along and administer to the spiritual welfare of his own boys.” Easterbrook remained behind at Fort Worden and devoted his time to the new recruits. His longstanding service was recognized 60 years later with the dedication of the plaque on May 30, 1978.

Other sites dedicated to respected community members include the post theater, the commons, the “castle,” the pavilion and the balloon field.

Built in 1938, the charming, old-fashioned movie house with its Art Deco motif, lighted marquee and glass-encased ticket booth, was dedicated in 2010 to Joe Wheeler, the founder and first executive director of Centrum, the fort’s landmark partner in the arts. Now known as Wheeler Theater, the 275-seat movie house is home to many events, including the Olympic Music Festival.

The commons at Fort Worden is also named for a noted community leader. In 2015, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission renamed the fort’s centennial project (1902-2002) conference center the Nora Porter Commons. The large, versatile hall houses the Reveille Cafe, the mess hall servery and the front desk. Born and raised in Port Townsend, Porter was a devoted and celebrated civic activist honored in 2017 as a “champion of Fort Worden,” in recognition of her lifelong contributions.

There are other structures within the fort bearing names of distinction. Most notable is Alexander’s Castle, built by John B. Alexander in 1883. The distinctive tower, resembling a rook chess piece, was designed to catch rainwater for later use. Alexander had returned to Scotland to fetch his fiancée, only to find she had married another. Back in Port Townsend, he used the building as a temporary residence, eventually selling his 10 acres and “castle” to the federal government in 1897.

MCCURDY PAVILION

The balloon hangar, the largest structure at the fort, is named McCurdy Pavilion in recognition of Richard McCurdy, longtime Leader newspaper publisher, and the extended McCurdy family.

All have been central to the development of Centrum. The hangar, renovated in the 1990s by Centrum, is now the fort’s 1,200-seat performance hall. It hosts large events, including Centrum music festivals, the Wearable Art Show and high school graduations.

Just in front of the pavilion is the field where the balloons were launched and retrieved. This large grassy field, now named Littlefield Green, is a serene open area complementing the pavilion when its big bay doors are opened during Centrum events, including the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.

The Littlefield family, longtime supporters of Centrum and its activities, continue to support the fort through the Sage Foundation, directed by philanthropist and musician Edmund W. Littlefield Jr. A recent foundation gift was dedicated to renovating the Quartermaster Building, built in 1905.

The names on the buildings and sites at the fort reflect the recognition and gratitude of a community that has been well served for more than a century in enjoying the transitioning of the Army post to an arts, education and recreation center.

Tim Caldwell served as a founding board member of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority and currently works in Guest Services at the fort, a position that includes researching the fort’s military and civilian history. He is writing this column monthly for The Leader