CULTURAL CHARACTER

Central Whidbey Island is rich in agricultural and maritime history. There are dozens of identified archaeological sites of early Native inhabitants in the District. A fundamental community priority within Central Whidbey is the preservation of land and structures of historic significance. The Port of Coupeville has embraced the communitys conservation principles since its inception. It has acquired properties which could achieve historic preservation goals, while providing economic development opportunities. The renovations and improvements to Port property have always respected the historic character of the property. Site preservation directly translates into cultural preservation in this community. The historic rural, agricultural and maritime character of the area is zealously guarded. This instinct for preservation has resulted in a two-fold return: a beautiful and interesting place to live, and the foundation for an immensely important economic driver, tourism. In the current comprehensive planning process the Ports commitment to continue to evaluate opportunities by this dual standard is re-affirmed.

Early settlement: The marine setting dominated the early cultural development of Central Whidbey Island. Central Whidbey was the seasonal meeting ground for Native tribes from the mainland and the Olympic peninsula, long before white settlers arrived. The focus of early white settlement was in the vicinity of Penn Cove, in what is now the northern part of the Port District. The recorded history of the area dates from the 1792 expedition of Captain George Vancouver, who named the island to honor Joseph Whidbey, whose discovery of Deception Pass established the existence of the island. French-Catholic missionaries arrived in 1840, but the Native Americans remained the only inhabitants until after the Treaty of 1846, which established the 49th parallel as the international boundary between the United States and Canada. In 1850, Colonel Issac Ebey established a claim, and settled on the prairie northwest of Crockett Lake.

Military Presence: The threat of Indian uprisings caused a number of blockhouses to be built in the area. Several of these are now preserved as historic structures and tourist attractions. The military presence in Central Whidbey increased dramatically in the late 1890s. Fort Casey was constructed at Admiralty Head as a part of a three-fort defense system guarding the entrance to Puget Sound. It remained an active post through World War II. Today the remaining battlements are part of a Washington State Park. The barracks and officers quarters are in private ownership, the bulk of which are operated by Seattle Pacific University as a sports and retreat complex.

During World War II, Fort Ebey and the Whidbey Naval Air Station (NAS Whidbey) were constructed. NAS Whidbeys Outlying Field (OLF) was constructed on the prairie south of the Town of Coupeville at that time. These military posts dramatically affected the economy and land use patterns in Central Whidbey. Defense and related support activities became a mainstay of the economy and indirectly stimulated tourism, improved transportation systems and the accelerated interest in Central Whidbey as a retirement community.

Town of Coupeville: In 1852 Captain Thomas Coupe claimed 320 acres on the south shore of Penn Cove, and founded the Town of Coupeville in 1853. The oldest and most densely developed area is the original Town plat recorded in 1883. Early residential development occurred in the central portion of town on small lots established by early plats.

The current Town boundaries incorporate 721 acres of the Port District, including commercial, residential and public uses. The Town is the primary commercial business center in the Port District, with three banks, a grocery store, a hardware and lumber store, restaurants, retail shops, service businesses and a diverse assortment of lodging accommodations. Buildings housing public and community services impact the small town feel of the Town. The Island County courthouse, jail, juvenile detention facility and administrative offices are sited within the Town boundaries. Whidbey General Hospital, the only primary care and emergency medical facility, is also located in the Town. The Coupeville School District administrative offices, schools (elementary, middle and high), gym and sports fields are located within the Town.

The Town of Coupeville was designated as a National Historic District in 1973. The Town has 52 historic structures within the Town limits. In Port Commissioner District 2, surrounding the Town there are 40 structures which are designated as National Historic Landmarks.

Coupeville Wharf: During the early years, lumbering was the principal industry of the island, followed closely by agriculture. Products were moved to market by sea, and Penn Cove provided a convenient and secure anchorage. The Coupeville wharf was constructed about 1905 from funds raised by a local corporation of farmers and merchants. Through the early 1900s the mosquito fleet, an assortment of privately owned steamships, provided regularly scheduled service for passengers and materials between Central Whidbey, other Island County landfalls in Saratoga Passage and the mainland. By 1919 they commenced ferrying automobiles. The Coupeville wharf may be the only remaining pier in Central Whidbey of this marine transportation system.

Coupeville wharf prior to 1930

Steamer at the Coupeville wharf

The Port purchased the wharf, the wharf building and the 60 X 100 upland tract of the wharf entrance area in February1969 for $29,344 from Richard Hansen. The adjacent property to the west and the building on it were acquired separately from Lorine Kippen in September 1969. The Port owns both properties outright today.

The first major repairs to the causeway were done in 1970. A rock bulkhead was installed at the head of the causeway in 1983. The causeway substructure was completely refurbished in 1984. The wharf building underwent two major renovations in 1985 and 1997, which created a public lobby, a Harbormasters office, commercial spaces for rent and a sanitary sewer system. The grain towers were removed in 1985. Over the years, the marine facility has been upgraded to provide a fuel dock, additional mooring floats, sanitary service and mooring buoys.

Coupeville wharf prior to 1930

Coupeville wharf before removal of grain towers in 1985

**Key historical facts drawn from The Coupeville Wharf by Roger Sherman.
**Pictures courtesy of Mary Hansen, Roger Sherman and the Wallie Funk collections.

Greenbank Farm: In the late 1800s land in the Greenbank area was purchased as a result of speculation related to potential railroad construction. Greenbank settler, Calvin Philips, purchased 10,000 acres of excess railroad lands on Whidbey Island as a land sales venture. On the 1,500 acres that he held in the Greenbank area, he established a dairy farm, hotel, and a commercial wharf.

Early dairy herd in front of early Barn B and Barn A with silo

Original farm pond south of Barn A

Philips sold his Greenbank holdings in the early 1940s. The U.S. Navy purchased 372 acres including Lake Hancock. John Molz purchased the farm and planted the first loganberries. By 1950, the Greenbank Farm was reported to be the largest loganberry farm in the United States. Berries were shipped to the Molz-owned American Wine Company in Seattle where Pommerelle and Chateau St. Michelle wines were produced. In 1971 the Greenbank Farm, sans the beachfront property and the area now known as Holmes Harbor Estates, was sold to Seattle investors, and within three years sold to the U.S. Tobacco Company along with the wine company.

Loganberry fields at the old Greenbank Farm

Early sign at the corner of Hwy 535 and North Bluff Road

In 1995, the remaining 522 acres of the Greenbank Farm was offered for sale. Island County purchased all but approximately 50 acres of saltwater marsh (purchased separately by Nature Conservancy) as part of a large bond issue. The entire area was designated as a Special Review District in Island County zoning code. The Port of Coupeville purchased 151 acres from Island County in 1997 under a mortgage contract which will be paid off in 2017. The Ports purchase included the open farmland, approximately one half of the marsh, three barns and two residences.

The Port has worked collaboratively in a unique public/private partnership with a community non-profit organization, Greenbank Farm Management Group (GFMG), since the purchase to further a shared mission of economic development and preservation. The Port has maintained lease and/or management services agreement with GFMG from 1997 to present. Both the current lease and management services agreement end in 2014.

Since 1997, the loganberry fields have been replaced with other agricultural activities, a public trail system and outdoor event activities. A zoning package for the Port Tract was adopted by the Port and approved by Island County in 2002. A 2002-2004 capital building project, financed with Port levy revenue, Washington State Capital Budget funding and an Island County funding contribution, replaced or remodeled the barns for commercial tenancy, improved infrastructure services and completed site improvements. Today, the Greenbank Farm is a thriving local marketplace, event venue and scenic tourist attraction.

Ebeys Landing National Historical Reserve: The Central Whidbey prairies, once vast open grass lands, constitute some of the richest farmland in the State of Washington. In the 1970s there was increasing pressure upon these prairies for commercial development. The Central Whidbey community organized a political drive to preserve the prairies and their historic structures. The Washington State Legislature appropriated funds in 1977 to purchase a corridor across the beachfront of the Smith Farm. In 1978 federal legislation incorporated the Central Whidbey Historic District into a unit of the National Park Service, and created Ebeys Landing National Historical Reserve (NHR). The NHR is a successful cooperative effort of the National Park Service, Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission, Island County and the Town of Coupeville. The NHR is managed by a Trust Board whose mission is to preserve and protect into perpetuity, the historic, natural, cultural, scenic, recreational and community resources which are vital to the Reserve. There are 91 historic structures within the Reserves boundaries, which overlays all of Port Commissioner District 1 and the majority of Port Commissioner District 2. (See map, Appendix E-4)

Port of Coupeville Comprehensive Plan 2007-2026