Archive for May, 2010

Friday Harbor Celebrates National Historic Preservation Month

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

My husband and I are in the process of designing a home.  We want a bungalow style, and spent a month walking and driving around the neighborhood where I grew up, studying the beautiful architectural details of those old homes.  Certainly some of them were no great gems, but the majority had distinct, appealing characteristics rarely seen now-a-days.  These embellishments give a home its architectural personality and have been lost over the years.  They are expensive, take a specialized craftsmanship to design and fabricate, and do not necessarily add practical functionality.  But they do add a huge aesthetic value to a home. Unfortunately when homeowners weigh the myriad factors in their new home’s design, oftentimes, these elements are priced out.

That’s why it’s so important to preserve the old buildings that we have.  Though only one square mile in size, Friday Harbor boasts nearly 150 historic buildings reflecting the community’s civic, commercial and residential history.  In 2008, it was selected as a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Being one of Washington’s few seaport villages to survive the turn-of-the-century fires that engulfed early Seattle and other cities, its authentic downtown streetscape and postage-size Memorial Park are the gateway to discovering the rich history, rural character and pristine marine environment of the San Juan archipelago.

Looking at old black and white photos of the town leaves the impression that all the buildings were drab and lifeless, though I doubt that is true.

Beautiful Historic Home Now Houses a Cafe

Harrison House Suites, Tucker House Inn, and Coho Restaurant, just a block and a half off the main street, are all century-old historic wooden buildings, lovingly restored and surrounded with beautiful gardens.  They look so pretty with the multiple trim colors and the vivid ornamentation of the gardens, I can’t help but wonder if they ever looked this good even when they were new.

This month, in honor of National Preservation Month, there will be plenty of activities to highlight the town’s history.  Five museums – American Legion’s War & History museum, the Museum of Flight (near Ernie’s Café at the Port’s aviation site), the Whale Museum, the San Juan Historical Museum, and the Islands Museum of Art – are collaborating on special events for visitors, and free guided walking tours are available throughout the month.  For more information, contact Sandy Strehlou, sstrehlou@fridayharbor.org, or call (360) 378-2810.  You can also check out www.historicfridayharbor.org

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Calendar of Free Guided Walking Tours During National Historic Preservation Month on San Juan Island

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

Saturday, May 1st, 9-10:30am, Free Guided Walking Tour of Friday Harbor’s Historic District. To celebrate May 2010 National Historic Preservation Month, the Town of Friday Harbor conducts free guided tours of the downtown historic district, and May 1st is the first tour of the season! Join historic preservation coordinator, Sandy Strehlou, for an insider’s look at Friday Harbor’s colorful past. Tours begin at Memorial Park, located at Front and Spring streets. Participants will need to be able to walk comfortably on town sidewalks, including some hills, for 1.5 hours. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Tours happen rain or shine and are free to the public. Contact: Sandy Strehlou Email: sstrehlou@fridayharbor.org Phone: 360.378.2810 More Info: www.historicfridayharbor.org.

Saturday, May 8th, 2pm, Walking Tour of Historic Roche Harbor Village. Join Roche Harbor Lodging Director, Sam Jacobson, on a free guided tour through historic Roche Harbor village, formerly the site of a substantial lime quarry and kiln operation that lead to the creation of a company town, known today as Roche Harbor Resort. The resort is home to the Hotel de Haro, the chapel and former school house, Our Lady of Good Voyage, and other historic buildings, and lime industry sites. Roche Harbor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sign up for the tour in the lobby of the De Haro. Free to the public. Contact: Sam Jacobson Email: sam@rocheharbor.com Phone: 360.370.7743 More Info: http://www.rocheharbor.com.

Wednesday, May 12th, 7pm, Casting the First Stone: The History of Concrete Block Buildings in Friday Harbor, San Juan Historical Museum, 405 Price Street, Friday Harbor, WA. Discover the intriguing history behind this often underappreciated building material.  Concrete block, or “cast stone,” was molded to resemble carved or chiseled rock. It was a popular ‘cheap, quick, and easy’ building material, typical of the early 19th century.  The Friday Harbor Brick and Tile Company manufactured the blocks and bricks used to build significant local buildings in downtown Friday Harbor. Guess which historic downtown buildings boast this masonry? One is on the National Register of Historic Places and another will be the future home of the permanent farmers’ market. Architectural historian, Boyd Pratt solves these stone-cold mysteries and more! Admission: no charge to Museum members; others a recommended donation $5. Contact: Kevin Loftus Email:museum_admin@sjmuseum.org  Phone: 360.378-3949  More Info: http://sjmuseum.org/.

Saturday, May 15th, 9am-10:30am, Free Guided Walking Tour of Friday Harbor’s Historic District. (See May 1st tour for more details)

Saturday, May 15th, 1-4pm, San Juan Historical Museum Silver Tea and Quilt Show. An island tradition, the Historical Museum’s Silver Tea celebrates island parlor teas of an earlier time. This year a sampling of the Museum’s impressive collection of over 50 historic quilts will be on display. Admission: no charge to Museum members; others a recommended donation $5. Contact: Kevin Loftus Email:museum_admin@sjmuseum.org  Phone: 360.378-3949  More Info: http://sjmuseum.org/.

Sunday, May 16th, 2-4 pm, Historic Christian Science Church and Reading Room Tour and Open House, 506 Guard Street, Friday Harbor. Take the insiders tour of the former Seventh Day Adventist Church built in 1900, later used as an additional elementary school classroom, and in 1923 purchased by the local Christian Scientist congregation. The Christian Scientists have used the building for church services for the past 87 years. No charge for this event. Contact: Fabia Schriber  Email:fabiajohn@hotmail.com Phone: 360.378.2256.

Thursday, May 20th, 6pm, Partners in Preservation Awards, 860 Guard Street, Friday Harbor.  Every year the Town of Friday Harbor’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) recognizes a project, group or individual for exemplary achievement in preservation. This year’s award goes to Steve Schramm and Jean Turner of Island Gardens Company for faithfully preserving the c1900 Smoots/Gerard House.  Join the HPRB, as we congratulate Steve and Jean   Turner, reception to follow. Contact: Sandy Strehlou Email: sstrehlou@fridayharbor.org Phone: 360.378-2810.

Friday, May 21th, 2pm, Guided Tour of the Historic San Juan County Courthouse, 350 Court Street @ Second. Court and government business have been conducted in the formal red-brick San Juan County Courthouse for over 100 years. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Join District Court administrator, Marion Melville, for an insider’s tour and historical account of this great building. Meet inside the Second Street entrance. No charge for the tour. Contact: Marion Melville  Email: MarionM@co.san-juan.wa.us  Phone: 360.378.4017.

Saturday, May 22nd , 9am-10:30am, Free Guided Walking Tour of Friday Harbor’s Historic District. (See May 1st tour for more details)

Saturday, May 29nd , 9am-10:30am, Free Guided Walking Tour of Friday Harbor’s Historic District. (See May 1st tour for more details)

Sunday, May 30th, 2-4pm, Historic St. Frances Catholic Church Tour and Open House, 425 Price Street, Friday Harbor. Take the insiders tour of historic St. Frances Church, built in 1875 in San Juan Valley, and relocated to Friday Harbor, sans its steeple, in 1959. There is no charge for this event. Contact: Jan Steckler  Email: stfrancisfh@centurytel.net  Phone: 360-378-2910.

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