Page 5 - Newsletter Spring 2023

lined the area bluffs, Maple Cove: as hired
stream banks, shore- help, food vendors (fresh
lines, and wet bottom milk and poultry) or of-
lands. fering horse drawn car-
Taking advantage riage rides to explore
of the maritime infra- the island. Locals would
structure and steady come for Sunday din-
food supply on the ner to enjoy the inn’s
island, the brothers 75 cent chicken dinners
first built two new while taking in the fin-
docks at Maple Cove ery of the Inn.
to stage building sup-
plies. An Easy Commute
Materials were then In 1908 a roundtrip
hauled up the steep fare to Maple Cove
cliff by hand and cable to begin trans- month in 1908. Special dates and rates aboard the steamer Calista from Seattle
forming the site. Remnants of the docks were available for families and parties. cost $1, and roundtrip fare from Everett
are still evident along the shoreline at Access to the Inn required visitors aboard the Camano was 35 cents. Pas-
Maple Cove and via lidar imaging. disembark at one of the docks at Ma- sengers disembarked at a dock at Ma-
ple Cove and follow a steep path which ple Cove or Brown’s Landing offering
The Ivy Inn zig-zagged along the high bluff. Many an easy commute to work in Everett or
The Hawes focused their attention visitors chose to disembark at Brown’s Seattle.
on expanding the footprint of the farm- Point and follow a more gradual dirt The steamship Calista built in 1911,
house to leverage a maximum number road up the hill, while buying supplies served the area until it sunk after another
of guests which became the Ivy Inn… from residents along the way. steamship, caught in dense fog, rammed
“the prettiest inn in the prettiest spot on the vessel as she entered Elliot Bay.
Puget Sound.” Maple Cove Cottages The Camano was built in 1906 and
Touting Whidbey Island as “having Once the expansion of the Ivy Inn operated until 1917. Later rebuilt and
less rainfall, more sunshiny days, and was completed, the brothers turned known as the Tolo, it was struck in
a more equable climate than any oth- their attention to platting the remain- heavy fog by the tug Magic, en route
er point on Puget Sound,” the brothers ing lots and crafting a new marketing from Seattle to Bainbridge Island. The
also began promoting the area as “pro- campaign promoting the purchase to steamer sank in less than eight minutes,
tected from the cool northwest summer building seasonal cottages. For as little killing four aboard.
winds, with a long sandy beach which as $750.00 and with “easy terms” fam-
affords splendid bathing, where chil- ilies could buy their own piece of par-
dren can safely wade out 200 feet.” adise – a “place to rest amid the quiet
Now operating as the Maple Cove and beauty of woods and water.”
Company, the brothers characterized Each cottage had a large rustic fire-
the inn as a “place to rest with the best place, piped in spring water, a sink, Maple Cove developers described
meals and beds of any summer place toilet, and sewer. The cottages came both steamers as “large, comfortable and
on Puget Sound.” The Inn had hot and complete with a kitchen cabinet, drain- safe.”
cold running water on each floor with ing board and “cooler.” The small cot-
bathtubs “to provide city convenience tages offered other features including Beautiful Things
amid rustic surroundings”. The din- access to “farm fresh produce.” The comfort, beauty and rustic opu-
ing room seated 50 guests at rustic ta- The Maple Cove Company adver- lence of the Ivy Inn was an attractive
bles and boasted a menu which placed tised activities including swimming, incentive for vacationers from the
emphasis on fresh foods of the island: fishing, tennis, boating, canoeing, clam mainland. It also made an impression
milk, eggs, vegetables and fish – quali- and ‘geou-duc’ digging and amenities on local residents who were limited in
ty and quantity were emphasized. including the availability of a store, their wealth of possessions and expe-
Between 1910 and 1917 guests would post office, dance pavilion, children’s rience with modern comforts. This in-
flock to the Ivy Inn – a “strictly high playground, and a dock. cluded the first generation of bi-racial
class summer place.” Price of a week’s and immigrant sons and daughters at
stay at the Ivy Inn was $10 a week for Local residents benefitted econom- Sandy Point who were educated on a
a single person, $12 for two or $35 a ically from the seasonal operations at (Continued next page)
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