The City of Bremerton and the United States Navy have a strong commitment to the life quality of the local citizens. With all of the past revitalization projects in the downtown Bremerton core I had always wondered about the buildings located at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) and their close proximity to the gorgeous Harborside Fountain Park. I have taken photos at the park of the proud and sadly dilapidated Building 460. But I still felt a pride for this building and every time I look at her I wondered the stories she could tell.
You see Building 460, which today houses the shipyard’s weld and ship fitter shops, was built in 1940 and she maintains her World War II appearance. World War II – Just say those words. In this area of Puget Sound those words hold a special meaning and a pride that is strong. At the peak of World War II Bremerton was the home to an estimated 80,000 residents due to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Pacific war effort. Did you know that during the 1940′s Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman visited Bremerton? President Roosevelt even made a campaign stop at PSNS and gave a national radio address with civilian workers in the background.
The City of Bremerton has undergone a huge revitalization during the last several years and so U.S. Rep Norm Dicks and Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman suggested to the Navy that they may want to refurbish historic Building 460 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The Navy agreed and has now awarded a contract for the painting and refurbishing of Building 460.
