Update on License Plates

As you may know, we started a petition to have a custom charitable License Plate added to the possibilities for Washington State residents.

Historic Whidbey & the Whidbey Island Maritime Heritage Foundation were disappointed that the 2024 State legislative session ended without passing our joint “Nautical Northwest” specialty license plate bill.  Although the House passed the bill on February 29, time ran out of the short session before it could pass through the Senate.  Because 2025 is a new biennium, we will have to craft a new bill and start again, including a fresh passage through the House next year.

Work is already under way with our State reps Dave Paul and Clyde Shavers to strategize passage for next year’s long session.  We will keep you apprised of developments!

More info available at NauticalNorthwest.com.

More Landscaping Fun at the Engle Heritage Homestead

Once again, the season of landscape preservation is upon us! Historic Whidbey is teaming up with the David & Dolores Engle family to help rediscover and rehabilitate their ancestral farmstead at Terry and Ebey Roads in Coupeville. The house and farm have been home to seven generations of original Whidbey settlers and remain in their hands to this day. The farm's significance as a historic landmark on Whidbey Island cannot be overstated. The uncommon survival of so many farm structures make the farm a rare witness from a lost era.

It's still hard to get a good view of the Engle House today, despite the remarkable progress made by Whidbey volunteers in 2022.  There is lots more clearing to do!

Last year over two summer weekends, more than 40 Whidbey volunteers bushwhacked and hacked through dense ivy, holly and blackberry stands to reveal and liberate the historic 1858 Hill-Pearson-Engle House from its botanical tormentors. 

Now for 2023:

This year we are going back for more fun!  These work parties are a rare opportunity to explore the historic Engle farm, which is rarely open to the public. If the mystery of the property has always intrigued you, you won't want to miss out!

Please join us at one of our two Saturday work parties.  Two 3-hour shifts are available for sign-up: 

Dates have passed.

Thanks to all you came out and helped!

Please park on the north side of the farm, entering from Terry Road.

Raffle

Tom V. won our Husky Night Out Raffle Package!

Prize package included:

  • Two tickets to the University of California football game on September 23, 2023.

  • Two tickets for the “Dawg Boat” to and from the Husky Stadium to attend the game, leaving from Seattle’s Fisherman’s Terminal.

  • Overnight stay and breakfast for two at the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott in Seattle.

  • Autographed copy of “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown.

  • Autographed copy of “Fear no Man: Don James, the ‘91 Huskies, and the Seven-Year Quest for a National Football Championship” by Mike Gastineau.

  • A University branded cooler bag.

  • Three pairs of handknitted socks in Husky colors (one adult and two infant).

Thank you to Humanities Washington!

Historic Whidbey would like to thank:

for their generous award of a SHARP grant during the recent pandemic. 

Their support helped keep our engine running!

Funding for Historic Whidbey has been provided by Humanities Washington and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) approved by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden.  This 2022 SHARP grant (Sustaining Humanities through the American Rescue Plan) was indispensable, enabling us to continue our mission through the the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our board extends their deepest gratitude!

Pullin' Nails

While winter delays construction progress, Historic Whidbey has been planning out 2023 and what we hope to get done. A lot of projects are on the list for 2023, and we are really excited to share those with you in the future.

With the help some active Board Members, we have completed the arduous process of removing the thousands (literally) of nails that once held the old lathe boards to the wall. Unfortunately, the plaster was not in good enough condition to keep, so the decision was made to remove the old plaster and put-up drywall as well as additional structural pieces that will assist the house to remain standing for much longer in the future. Even to endure large earthquakes.

NOTE: The old lathe boards are available for sale at Aqua Gifts across the street. These roughly ~12in long boards are bundled together and only cost $5 each. This bundle is great for kindling, enjoying in your fireplace or while out camping. I have also heard a few people have decorated with these old boards, so the opportunities are endless. Recycling and supporting a local cause, we make it pretty easy!

Remember to hit that donate button below to keep our train chugging along and getting more and more projects done!