An Ohio man and life-long fan of Jacque Cousteau wants to establish a historic marker at Pacific Fishermen Shipyard to recognize the place where Cousteau’s iconic ship, Calypso, was built.

Earlier this month, Alan Bundy of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, wrote the City and the Seattle Times a letter petitioning a landmark be established at the site to commemorate the place where the boat was birthed.

“For me – and I will bet for many others around the world — this is an internationally important historical site,” Bundy wrote to the City. “I believe it should be designated as such-with perhaps an interactive kiosk informing the public about its history and how important Jacques Cousteau and the Calypso are.”

Doug Dixon, General Manager of Pacific Fishermen Shipyard, supports the idea.

According to Dixon the ship was originally built in 1941 as the BYMS-1 Class Motor Minesweeper. Back then Pacific Fishermen Ship Yard was Ballard Marine Railway Co., Inc. The boat was commissioned to the Royal Navy in 1942 and renamed J-826. It was later decommissioned in 1947 and sold to become a car ferry named Calypso. Cousteau bought Calypso in 1950 and made extensive modifications to the vessel, including a crane for his dive saucer and an underwater viewing chamber fitted with portholes in the prow of the ship. Calypso become Cousteau’s floating film production center, research vessel and home during his extended excursions at sea. It was a moving platform where his team created the films that revealed the ocean as it had never been viewed before.

In 1996 the ship was struck by a barge in Singapore and sunk. It was later retrieved and the Cousteau Society is working toward restoring the vessel in hopes of it being an ambassador for the seas and oceans. In 2007 the first phase of its restoration was to move the ship to dry dock at Piriou Ingénierie, a shipyard in Concarneau, France. But since then the project has stalled by legal disagreements between Cousteau Society and Piriou Naval Service.

The restoration of the Calypso was part of what inspired Bundy’s letters. He hopes to drum up support for the project by establishing a marker to commemorate its birthplace.

“Calypso already visited once, and if they come back there should be a marker to honor it.”

Bundy, age 70, has been a fan and skin diver since the 50s. He said that when the first Aqualung came out he couldn’t wait to start diving.

“It was revolutionary at the time. He (Cousteau) developed a way to see three-fifths of the ocean and to do it safety. ou can see why people are so interested.”

Indeed, Dixon is also a fan of Cousteau and was inspired to SCUBA dive after visiting the Jacque Cousteau museum in Long Beach in the 70s and reading Cousteau’s book on diving.

“I was enthused and got my SCUBA certificate as soon as I could,” said Dixon.

Dixon said that he would be happy to work with someone to create a Cousteau landmark. He also said people have been talking about doing just that for about ten years, but organizing a plan hasn’t happened.

Currently the shipyard is not established as a historic landmark, even though the site has been a maritime hub for ship production and repair for almost 150 years.

The site was founded in 1873 as the T.W. Lake Shipyard. It has changed hands over the years to eventually become Pacific Fishermen Shipyard in 1946. 400 Norwegian fishermen established the yard as co-op style operation. The site continues to operate today.

In addition to the site’s history, it is also where Dixon collects iconic neon signs from Ballard businesses that have closed over the years. The shipyard has become a time capsule ornamented with iconic neon signs from places like the Copper Gate, The Viking and Valhalla Tavern – to name a few. Indeed, it would be a fitting place for a Calypso marker, another symbol of Ballard's history.

Dixon said he’d be honored for the site to become a historic marker and for something like a plaque or kiosk to be placed near the yard to commemorate the Calypso.

Bundy has volunteered to purchase the Calypso flag to place on the marker.

So what does it take for a site to become a marker?

The City designates landmarks through its Historic Preservation Program. In order to be established as a landmark there is criteria based on location, architecture and linkage to important people in history and/or historic influence on culture. Any person or group can make a nomination.

More information can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/landmarks