Another year, and the 106-year-old building would have been toast.
That’s one assessment of the old carriage house at the
The old building is being restored, using funds from an easement sale to the San Juan County Land Bank.
The carriage house is one of four original buildings on the former King farm, a once expansive spread established in the 1890s. The carriage house contains numerous artifacts, including a horse-drawn buggy used by an early 20th century midwife.
Age, deferred maintenance and patchwork had taken their toll on the historic building.
Museum executive director Kevin Loftus said the building is believed to have been built in 1894, and to this date consisted of original materials. That’s based on an assessment by architectural historian Boyd Pratt.
Finding replacement materials required some custom milling. “We have to make it match as close as possible,” Loftus said.
Loftus said he expects the project to be completed in time for the Pig War Picnic.
Museum officials see the museum as a community gathering place – a place of learning about island history, a venue for community events, and place to rest and enjoy the park-like grounds. Museum officials are working to preserve the old farmstead as open space for the public, and to restore and maintain the site’s heritage buildings.
The historical museum is the last remnant of the once expansive 445-acre James King farm. The grounds include the 1894 farmhouse, carriage house and root cellar; the 1891 Scribner Cabin and the 1895 county jail, both of which were relocated to the museum grounds; and the 1980 barn, built on the site of the original barn to house a collection of early farm equipment. The barn also contains an exhibit of equipment from the Friday Harbor Fire Department’s first 100 years; the exhibit was curated by former fire chief Rick Galer.
The museum co-authored the book “Friday Harbor” in time for the town’s centennial; a second book, “San Juan Island,” is due for release Nov. 1.
The historical society hosts several community events during the year, among them the Kiwanis Club’s Pig War Picnic on July 4, Island Rec’s summer Music on the Lawn concert series, and the Old-Fashioned Holiday Celebration in December. The society also hosts exhibits and presentations related to San Juan Island history.
Besides the carriage house restoration, the museum has, since 2008, reroofed the 1895 county jail; and painted and put a new foundation under the 1894 King Farmhouse. Electricity and lighting have been installed in the barn; expansion of the barn is planned this fall. The jail, which is still owned by the county but managed and maintained by the museum, will be painted by the end of the year.
Donors can sponsor project restorations, for example, replastering and repainting of a room, or proper storage of a Coast Salish canoe, or installation of a new shed. Donations are tax-deductible and the donor’s name will be placed on a plaque next to the project they sponsored. Contact Loftus at 378-3949.
