The winter speaker series at the Door County Maritime Museum kicks off on Tuesday evening with a program centered on winters on Washington Island. Dick Purinton, CEO for the Washington Island Ferry Line, has also used his journalistic skills to write three books about life on Washington Island. His 1991 book “Over & Back: A History of Transportation to Washington Island”, earned him an award of merit from the Wisconsin Historical Society. Two other books have also been published, “Words on Water: A Ferryman’s Journal”, in 2009, & “Bridges are Still News: Island Essays, Poems & Photos”, last year. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1970, Purinton began his career with the Washington Island Ferry Line as a deck hand in 1974. Over the years, he has held a variety of positions with the ferry line, including general manager & president, a position now held by his son, Hoyt. The Door County Maritime Museum’s winter speaker series also features a report on the re-powering of a 1000 foot ore carrier, an update on work at Bay Shipbuilding, a presentation on the impact of the war of 1812 on the great lakes & information on the museum’s popular boat building program. All of the programs in the series begin at 7PM. They are free & open to the public with donations appreciated.
