Hosted by the Olympic Natural Resources Center – April 23, 2025

The Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) invites the public to attend the next installment of its Rosmond Evening Talk Series on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 7 p.m. This free event will take place both in person at the Hemlock Forest Room (1455 S. Forks Ave, Forks, WA) and online via Zoom at https://washington.zoom.us/j/3834334539.

The evening’s presentation, “An Update on the S.V. Nikolai”, will be delivered by Rod Fleck, City Attorney, Prosecutor, and Planner for the City of Forks. Fleck will delve into the dramatic story of the S.V. Nikolai, a Russian America Company vessel that ran aground north of the Quillayute River in 1808. The shipwreck triggered a series of significant and complex interactions between the Russian crew and the native peoples of the Quileute, Hoh, and Makah Tribes.

In addition to recounting the historical events surrounding the crew’s capture and survival, Fleck will discuss findings from a 2023 coastal survey conducted by Madeline Roth, Katie Wrubel, and Eric Miller. This effort, which sought to locate the Nikolai’s anchor and cannon, culminated in the final report titled “Early Encounters on a Western Frontier: The Search for Svyatoy Nikolai (1807–1808).”

Rod Fleck brings a unique blend of legal, planning, and historical expertise to the topic. A U.S. Air Force veteran and University of Washington history graduate, Fleck earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law before beginning his long-standing service to the Forks community. Beyond his municipal duties, he maintains deep interests in genealogy, Civil War history, and the maritime history of Clallam County—particularly the shipwrecks of the Nikolai and the HMS Condor.

The Rosmond Evening Talk Series is made possible through the generous support of the Rosmond Family Education Fund. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore a compelling chapter of Pacific Northwest maritime history through the lens of legal and historical research.