History of the Port of Shelton
By
the middle of 1927, the City of Shelton had begun to take
shape. In addition to complete municipal services (streets,
lights, sewers and water), the city was preparing to build
a new courthouse. On July 29, 1927 Shelton held an aerial
day at its new airport on Scott's Prairie. Although many
wanted to name it Reed Field, it was (at that time) christened
Mason County Airport.
July 7,
1943
The United States Navy commissioned NAAS Shelton, an auxiliary
of NAS Seattle. The Navy closed Shelton in December of 1945,
eventually returning the airport to the County. After World War
II, the diversification of the City of Shelton timber-intensive
industrial base was an important priority of the local Chamber
of Commerce and business community. Stimulating the desire of
local entrepreneurs was the need to replace the loss of economic
revenues from the downsizing of the Navy's facilities and developing
a centrally-located, multi-purpose industrial site to service
the expanding economy.
The Port of Shelton was formed
on September 27, 1948.
In 1951 a resolution was adopted to purchase
Shelton tideland lots and provide the rules and regulations
for the operation of a marina.
In 1957 the United States General Services Administration deeded
the Mason County Airport to the Port of Shelton. The name
of the airport was later changed (May 1966) to Sanderson
Field in honor of Major General Lawson Sanderson, USMC (ret).
Then, in 1959, the Port paid $25,000 for 406 acres of land
for new mills and industrial sites. The property was deeded
to the Port in April of 1968 from the United States General
Services Administration. This property became the Johns Prairie
Industrial site.
Today, the Port of Shelton consists of an
airport, marina and two industrial complexes. The Port continues
to prosper and grow, realizing a steady trend of increased
revenue with minimal debt.
|
