If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 517

 

 

 

 

 

Ballard Locks, painting by Carl Funseth

 

This Carl Funseth painting of the Ballard Locks is found on an unused postcard published by Mark Ukelson.  The reprints of the original painting are available through Russell Galleries in Seattle.  The card was purchased at the Locks gift shop. 

 

The artist, Carl Edward Funseth (1931-2000) was well known for his paintings, many local scenes in Spokane.  His work is described as straddling impressionism and naturalism.  His series of old Seattle, such as on the postcard, were made into prints. 

 

The Ballard Locks or Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are located at the west end of Salmon Bay, in Seattle, Washington’s Lake Washington Ship Canal between Ballard and Magnolia.  These locks have more boat traffic than any other lock in the United States.  There are also a fish ladder and botantical gardens on the grounds surrounding the locks.  When we visited here recently we saw large boats in the larger lock and small pleasure craft, including several kayaks, in the smaller lock.  An added attraction that day were the harbor seals hunting for fish in and around the locks and a great blue heron that was also fishing. 

 

A navigable connection between the fresh water in Lake Washington, 8.8 ft or 2.7 m higher than the salt water Puget Sound, for the purpose of moving logs, milled lumber and fishing vessels was a topic of discussion as early as 1854.  Originally a Naval shipyard was also proposed but later that was built at Bremerton instead.  In 1867 the United States Navy endorsed the canal project but it was not until 1891 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started planning the project.  Some work began in 1906 but work in earnest did not begin until 1911 under the direction of Hiram M. Chittenden for whom the locks are named.  The locks were completed in 1916/1917 .  The Lees visited the locks shortly after they were open to the public and would often bring out of town visitors to see the locks.  There are movable walkways that allow visitors to watch as the water is raised and lowered and the boats pass through to either the Sound or the Lake.

 

The construction of the Locks required rerouting the Cedar River into Lake Washington so that there would be sufficient water flow for operating the locks.  The rerouting disrupted the Duwamish salmon runs.  To solve that problem salmon runs were reintroduced to migrate through the locks via fish ladders.  To prevent salt water from flowing upstream into the fresh water lakes it was necessary to design of system of siphons and flushing mechanisms.  Also, the Cedar River is the main source of drinking water for the city of Seattle so problems with maintaining an adequate water supply to operate the locks needed solving.  The second unused postcard, also purchased at the Locks gift shop, has views of the lock construction as well as drawings of how the locks work. 

 

 

An Impact photo graphics card with Impact photography

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballard_Locks

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/spokesman/name/carl-funseth