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Historic Places on Mercer Island |
The Mercer Island Historical Society has placed historical markers at each of the following historical sites on Mercer Island.
Slater Park
At Mercer Island's Slater Park, which borders Lake Washington
looking toward Seattle, the History Society has placed its fourth historical sign. This sign is a pictorial presentation of the start of Mercer Island as a community known as East Seattle. It shows the Water Tower, Calkins Hotel, early stores, and Roanoke Dock for the ferries, the nascent community's link to Seattle. The Slater Park sign and its placing was made possible by Mr. Pete Mayer, director of
Mercer Island's Park and Recreation Department who enlisted the services of graphics designer Jim Engelhardt. The formal unveiling of the historical sign was at 11:30 a.m. on March 26.
The first photo shows the sign placed at Slater Park. The second photo shows the view looking from Slater Park west toward Seattle, and the third photo shows the wording printed on the sign.
The Roanoke Inn
The Roanoke Inn is located at 1825 72nd SE, on the corner of 72nd and North Mercer Way.
When automobile traffic was off-loaded at Roanoke Dock beginning in 1914, there was
nowhere to drive, nothing to do except return to Seattle. When Island roads improved
enough, more brave tourists went exploring. To appeal to the visitors as well as to
serve the community, a chicken-dinner inn was built not far from the ferry dock, on
72nd Avenue. George McGuire built the Roanoke Inn, which stands today well preserved
and looking much the same as when it was built.
At first business was not exactly brisk, and McGuire lost the inn because of debts. A Mr. Green took over and operated it as a hotel. Subsequently it was sold several times, sometimes falling into ill repute, rumored to be a brothel, a purveyor of illegal booze served in coffee mugs d uring prohibition. During the years after prohibition when it was a tavern, groceries, ice cream and pop were sold. But minors were not allowed inside, so a window to the right of the door provided the access where children could buy ice cream cones or complete their shopping errands.
In 1943, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin B. Reeck purchased the Inn. Ed and Laura made it a true inn, with
meal service as well as beer and wine. The gathering place for Islanders and off-Islanders,
the Inn developed a friendly, homey atmosphere, with a working fireplace.
After Ed Reeck died, Laura married Bill Bice in 1953, and they carried on the old traditions without the grocery store. Fifteen years later, after the death of Bill Bice, Laura's son, Hal Reeck, joined his mother as co-proprietor. Laura dies September 29. 1982 at the age of 88 years. Hal Reeck married Dorothy, and after his death she has continued the family tradition of running the Roanoke Inn.
The plaque placed at the Roanoke Inn was made possible by gracious donations from members of the Mercer Island Historical Society.
Across the street from the
Roanoke Inn stands another Mercer Island landmark, the VFW Hall,
which started its life as the Keewaydin Club. In 1922
North Side residents decided that the community needed a
building strictly for social purposes--parties, dances,
meetings, etc. That June all available men cleared the lot and
poured concrete, and on a single day, July 1, hauled about
60,000 feet of lumber and 58,000 shingles up a steep slope from
the barge that had brought the cargo from Seattle.
The volunteer builders called
it the Keewaydin Club. To the early Indian tribes Keewaydin
meant "the north wind" or the "home
wind," for when the wind blew from that direction the
trail led home.
About 15 to 20 years later the building became known as the
Mercer Island Community Club where residents met to discuss the
problems facing the growing community, the pro
blems ranging from
roads and water lines to street ends and ferry docks. Social
events continued, including a big dance each month. In
1966 VFW Post No. 5760 bought the building. The Mercer
Island Community Club merged with the South End Club. The VFW
members remodeled the building extensively and continues to rent
it out to social and civic groups today.
In the spring of 2001 the Mercer Island Historical Society
placed a plaque outside the building. The plaque was made
possible by a donation by Hunter Simpson.
*The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post No 5760, was chartered shortly after the termination of World War II. Principal organizers were Nelson Rochester, Ben Jacobsen, and Harry Marshall. Chris Lillions was the first post commander in 1945-46. The group's purpose is fraternal, patriotic, historical, and educational.
Luther
Burbank Park is located at 2040 84th SE.
From the 1890s to the 1930s the Seattle School District ran a school for wayward boys to help them get back on track. The school was located on the northeast side of Mercer Island at what is now Luther Burbank Park. The school, which housed up to 75 boys in dormitories, became self-sufficient. The boys spent half a day in classes, then spent the rest of the day farming. They gardened, fed the stock, picked apples, milked cows, and developed a prized Holstein herd.
When the Seattle school system bowed out, King County eventually gained possession of the 80
acres and made it into a park. The park includes wetlands, a swimming beach, a picnic area,
tennis courts, a pier for fishing, a dog-running area, and a parking lot. The Mercer Island
Historical Society has installed a plaque to commemorate the school and Willis Rand, its
longtime principal.
The plaque placed at Luther Burbank Park was made possible by a donation from Ted Rand in memory of his father who was superintendent of the Parental School for many years.
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