100 YEARS ON SHAW- THE GENERAL STORE

 

This Memorial weekend our small SHAW ISLAND GENERAL STORE celebrates 100 years. Started in 1898, it is one of the oldest businesses in the San Juan Islands and in Washington State. Located at the Shaw Island ferry landing, with a small marina, it has been called the best store for boaters in the San Juan Islands.

Painting of Shaw Store with Orcas Landing in Background- Cindy Margritz

In 1898, Eugene and Sadie Fowler started the little store in their home near Blind Bay on Shaw Island. In 1924 they built the store at its present site, on the water’s edge, with the post office in the back. In the early days, feed (for the many island chicken farms) and building supplies for Shaw and other islands were an important part of the store trade.

The warehouse, adjacent to the store, was originally a cannery built for the Shaw Island Canning Company in 1912. The cannery processed salmon and produce from local farms. Later, the building was used for boat building, as well as sales of feed and lumber for the store. The Fowler family ran the store for almost 30 years, with Gene’s daughter Mabel Fowler Crawford working in the store and also eventually serving as Postmaster from 1943 to 1963. Mable also kept a shelf of books in the store for checkout, the first “library” on the island. Mabel was nicknamed the ‘Mayor of Shaw Island’ by her children

In 1953, the Fowlers sold the store to the Don and Gwen Yansen, who sold it to the Leidigs in 1959, who sold it to John and Geb Nichols in 1971. In 1976 they sold it to Henry Ellis (who gave Our Lady of the Rock our property), who in 1976 helped a small order of Franciscan nuns acquire the property. For 28 years, the sisters ran the store and the ferry.

The “Nuns” were famous for meeting the ferry in their brown habits and greeting people at the store. They maintained a chapel near the dock and welcomed many friends and visitors to Shaw and continued to serve the Shaw Island community for 27 years.

                            Mother Kateri Meets the Ferry with Kane- Dan Olsen

In 2004, Steve and Terri Mason along with their children bought the store from the nuns. Over time the owners and the kinds of items for sale have changed but the store has always been the central hub of Shaw Island life. Even during the two years of covid shutdown, islanders were well taken care of.  When the country was searching for toilet paper, we always had a good supply!

Today thw store continues to carry staples needed for everyday life, but also local products, supporting as many local farmers and artisans as possible, from wine to our monastery herb products.