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 Whidbey Mercantile Company, Central Whidbey Island Historic District - WA Posted by:  Hikenutty
N 48° 13.269 W 122° 41.201
10U E 523271 N 5340928
This structure was originally built in 1875 for John Robertson's Whidbey Mercantile Company, known as the "Whidbey Cash and Carry". It became a tavern in 1938 and is still used as such.
Waymark Code: WM3Y2X
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 06/03/2008
Views: 17
The following information about the Whidbey Cash and Carry is from the Historic Coupeville Walking Tour:
The name of this store derives from the fact that it was common at one time for stored to have customer accounts and to deliver purchases. Here, savings could be had for "cash and carry." This is another structure built for John Robertson, with a false front added later. On the rear is a large door on the second floor, where boats could unload directly into the store at high tide; there was a scale on the sidewalk in front to weigh goods being shipped.
About 1930, a lean-to on the west end was enclosed and used as a gas station, with gasoline pumps right on the sidewalk. The eastern section remained a store. It has been a tavern since 1938.
The NRHP narrative gives this description of the area contained within the Central Whidbey National Historic District:
On October 16th, 1972, the Island County Commissioners established the Central Whidbey Historic District, containing approximately 8,000 acres surrounding Penn Cove. Located within the district are: original Donation Land Claims preempted by early settlers according to the provisions of the Donation Land Law passed by the U.S. Congress in 1850; eighteen places listed in the Historic American Buildings Survey [1930's], fifteen of which still stand; Fort Casey, a turn of the century coastal defense installation and lighthouse; and numerous structures portraying a cross-section of early domestic architecture.
Later, in 1978, the U.S. Parks Service created the Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve, the first park unit of its kind. The reserve includes all of the land within the NRHP district, plus some additional acreage. The NPS describes the reserve in this way:
The reserve was set aside by Congress in 1978 to preserve and protect a rural community—a cultural landscape—that is a laboratory of Pacific Northwest history. Today, historic land uses continue, with the rich prairie soils still being farmed, the forests being harvested, and century-old buildings being used as homes or places of business.
Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): Central Whidbey Island National Historic District
Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link]
NRHP Historic District Waymark (Optional): [Web Link]
Address:
8 NW Front St
Coupeville, WA
How did you determine the building to be a contributing structure?: Narrative found on the internet (Link provided below)
Optional link to narrative or database: [Web Link]
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