Documenting Silverdale's past

Once upon a time, a water district was formed in Old Town Silverdale in 1929. When the Silverdale Water District turned 75 last year, it enlisted Poulsbo-based video production company Galloping Pictures Inc. to create a 30-minute documentary.

“We didn’t want to just do it on the water district, because we knew our history was also Silverdale’s history,” said maintenance supervisor Tim Knapp.

“I was so proud of the water district (and its initiative on a historical project),” he said. “I just felt motivated to push it forward.”

And so the Silverdale Heritage Project was born.

A group of 22 community members met Wednesday to discuss the details of the project which includes a 90-minute documentary on Silverdale’s history, a bonus video featuring Silverdale’s service organizations and a main sponsor, and a resource booklet with maps of the area and a historical timeline.

Chris Davenport, owner of Galloping Pictures and director and editor of the videos, presented a DVD with sample footage from the Silverdale historical documentary which is already in production. The clips included areas shots of Dyes Inlet, interviews used in the water district’s anniversary video about the town’s history; and video montages from Whaling Days and the quicksilver hydroplane races.

The premier for the full project will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Red Lion Hotel Silverdale. Proceeds from the $100 per plate opening night gala will go toward Friends of the Library, the local organization that serves as the financial manager for the project.

“We are a very small group so anything we can do to help we are willing to do,” said Doris Boyd, president of the nonprofit group. “They (the organizers) are young, ambitious and energetic and that’s a great combination.”

Once the video is complete, “The chamber will use that video extensively to send it to potential residents and businesses,” said Bob Bjornemo, long-time Silverdale resident and Dandy Lions member who is in charge of the financial donations on behalf of local service organizations.

For local residents, though, the DVD will be sold for $19.95, distributed exclusively by Friends of the Library and the main sponsor for the first six months after the DVD’s release.

Boyd said proceeds of Friends of the Library will

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