City Life
Evening of Keys
B3
TACOMAWEEKLY.com
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013
SECTION B, PAGE 1
DOCTOR WHO’S UNTOLD ESCAPADE IN TACOMA’S HISTORY By Kathleen Merryman kathleen@tacomaweekly.com
D
octor Who will celebrate its 50th anniversary of adventures through time and space Nov. 23 with “The Day of the Doctor” on BBC America – and at 3-D theater events and a festival at Seattle’s EMP. It will be an intergalactic mash-up of Daleks, Companions, the Tardis, fezzes, Captain Jack, Weeping Angels and Sonic Screwdrivers, plus the impossible appearance of three doctors at the same time. And everybody lives. If you understood any of the above paragraph, you’re a Whovian, and we have a treat for you on this page and on our website at www.tacomaweekly.com. Tacoma Weekly’s owl-eyed journalists spotted the Tardis at Metro Parks Tacoma’s Ferry Park. It’s disguised as an informational kiosk, and it’s black instead of police box-blue. But it got us digging into the history of the park, Tacoma’s first, donated by Col. Clinton P. Ferry. Ferry and his too-lovely wife Evelyn. Ferry, the grandson of one of Napoleon’s soldiers, was born in Indiana and moved west for adventure. He found it as a telegrapher, trader, aide to the territorial governor, lumber mill worker, broker and the land speculator who spurred development of Tacoma. He dubbed himself “The Duke of Tacoma” and made no secret of his vast earnings. He was a jealous man married to a beautiful woman, the former Evelyn Trafton. Together, they also donated Tacoma’s first international love scandal. He represented Tacoma at the Paris Exposition of 1889, and brought his lovely wife with him.
PHOTO BY TACOMA WEEKLY
HUZZAH! Tacoma Whovians cheer Col. Clinton P. Ferry for donating the city’s first park. While he attended to his mission, she was attended to by the suave and handsome Henri LeClerc. Col. Ferry suspected them of having an affair and attempted to have the two arrested and his wife sent to a prison for disgraced women. The charges did not stick, but the ensuing divorce did. On top of that, their story has been passed down incorrectly, starring a mysterious woman named Cynthia. It’s all a mystery, a ripping tale begging for the space-time intrusions of The Doctor. So we combined that historic tale with a pop-culture story, and invited Tacoma’s Whovians to star in it.
Metro Parks Tacoma declined to let us illustrate this story at Ferry Park unless we formed a movie company and bought an insurance policy, but Bellarmine Preparatory School graciously allowed us to shoot the first scene on its campus. The Knights of Pythias invited us to their Temple for the interiors. Everyone had a grand time. As The Eleventh Doctor might say: “Newspapers are cool.” Yes. Newspapers are cool. Allons-y! To see this as a silent video, visit www.tacomaweekly.com
FERRY PARK, TACOMA, MAY 14, 1883 Colonel Ferry! Colonel Ferry!
Ferry? Ferry? Why does the Tardis say Ferry? It should say Police Box.
Yeah? Well I’m the Lord of Time. If the Titanic were already built, it would be a metaphor for this marriage.
I am The Doctor.
Beautiful cities have boulevards and parks, and I own this division of what will be a beautiful city. That is why I and my wife, Evelyn, are proud to set this land aside as Tacoma’s first park.
I prefer the term ‘Duke.’ I am The Duke of Tacoma.
I am pleased to hear that. Our city is in need of doctors, and soon will need more of them as the railroads expand.
I am at your service, any time, any space.
Unhand her, presumptuous fellow!
Should we divert the voyage?
Fezzes are cool! Allons-y!
And miss the passion? The gendarmes? The nosebiting? And the statues? What this town needs is more semi-clad maidens. And lions. Lots of lions. And fraternal orders, Masons, Odd Fellows, and temples with knights. Knights of Pythias—
Fezzes are not cool.
See DOCTOR WHO / page B2
THE THINGS WE LIKE ONE MOG ORNAMENT The 2013 Museum of Glass annual holiday ornament has arrived and is now available at the MOG store. Handblown by Glass Eye Studio, this ornament is one from a limited edition of 500, wrapped in festive ribbons of sparkling dichroic glass. All purchases help support the museum’s exhibitions and education programs – regular price $40, member price $34.
her friends (including the audience) to help solve a very tricky problem at the enchanted pond. Children use their imaginations and simple math skills to create a spider puppet used as a prop to help save the day! Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. at Mathnasium, 3820 N. 27th. Cost is free. Designed for children ages 3-8 yrs. and their families, but kids of all ages are welcome! Call for info and to register: (253) 761-2022 or (206) 732-0224.
THREE TREE LIGHTING
TWO TAP DANCING SPIDER Join theatre company Live Paint and the Proctor math tutoring center Mathnasium for a fun-filled play-ful event! You’ll meet a spider named Esmerelda whose favorite thing in the world to do is to tap dance on a lily pad in the sun. However, trouble occurs and Esmerelda must depend on
PHOTO BY CHIP VAN GILDER
It’s beginning to look at lot like…well, you know. On Nov. 30, come one come all to join Santa in the free downtown
Christmas tree lighting festivities at 5:30 p.m., 9th and Broadway. Before that, at 3:30, sing along with “Grease” at the Pantages Theater, tickets $18 and $26. Info: www.broadwaycenter.org.
FOUR JEFFRY HAMILTON STEELE On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Ta c o m a Academy of Fine Art (301 ‘A’ Puyallup Ave., Tacoma) welcomes guitar master Jeffry Hamilton Steele, with Monica Steele on keyboard, playing favorites by Bach, Villa-Lobos, Barrios and Rodrigo (including Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez). Concert starts at 4 p.m., free-will offering accepted at the door. Part of Tacoma Arts Month/ Art at Work. Visit www.jeffrysteele.com.
FIVE JAZZ WITH ED TAYLOR Independent record label Tate Music Group has announce the official release of sensational jazz crooner Ed Taylor’s album “It’s Complicated.” Known for his captivating and passionate songs that speak of the excitement of falling in love, Taylor’s smooth and dreamy jazz beats invoke a lovely feeling in the listener, setting them in the mood for love. Each song in the album is packed with romance and bliss, perfect for getting in the mood for some love. The album offers 11 tracks and is readily available for purchase nationwide at the iTunes Store, Amazon.com, or directly from TateMusicGroup.com.