Rolling on the River

As part of the "Rolling on the River" maritime exhibit at the River Life Interpretive Center at Redmen Hall in Skamokawa, Peter Brix, co-author with Bryan Penttila of "The Brix Maritime Story," on Saturday signed copies of his two books recounting the Brix family's role in logging and maritime industries along the lower Columbia River. Above, l-r, Jon Peterson and Russ Durrah have Brix autograph their books.

Brix's grandfather settled in the Grays River Valley in the late 19th century. The Brix family developed logging and tug boating businesses, and Brix talked about his role, moving from deckhand to chief executive officer of a towing business with a reach from Lewiston, ID, to Alaska, Hawaii and up and down the coast. The towing business is slowing, Brix said, as Columbia River shippers have lost business to changes in container shipping, expanding ship size, and other economic issues. "The river is moderately busy," he said.

The "Rolling on the River" exhibit runs through Labor Day Weekend.

Photos by Rick Nelson.