— by Ed Sutton —
Friday, Oct. 30 Update —
Editor’s Note: Jan Koltun and Mike Schifsky were the top competitors in the “Island History” quiz and though they were close, Koltun pulled ahead and was decided the winner of this historical quiz, created by Ed Sutton.
The prize, in keeping with the nature of the contest and the season, is a vintage copy of the “Classics Illustrated” comic book, “The Headless Horseman” and “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving.
Congratulations Jan and thank you all for playing this history game with us!
And today’s good news/bad news for those who “failed” the quiz — the ferries aren’t running this morning and the system isn’t taking reservations, so a general amnesty from the penalty is hereby issued
Please read to the last COMMENT, as of noon on Weds. Oct. 28, for Ed Sutton’s answers to this quiz.
As the years have passed, and the Island has become more crowded with “those newcomers”, Islanders who have called Orcas home for many, many years have asked how we might return to the “good old days” before ferry reservations, traffic congestion in Eastsound, and no parking spaces in the village.
So, after considerable reflection and contemplation, it has been decided that to remain on Orcas Island, you must prove that you are, indeed, an Islander, and to accomplish that, you must past the test which follows below. Unless you can answer eight of these questions, you will need to pack your bags and return to that place from whence you came! So, here we go!
1. What was the name of Roger Purdue’s wife?
2. Who dug ‘the ditch?’
3. Name the Orcas family that has recorded daily weather data on the island for over 100 years.
4. What were the first names of the ladies who owned the old Bungalow Cafe, and what was their prior profession?
5. Name the six families whose cabins are part of the Historical Museum.
6. What were the Whales, Clams, Crabs, and Dolphins?
7. Name the former County Commissioner who was the half-sister of a WA State Governor, and what was their father’s name?
8. Who played checkers with Henry Lohman at Doty”s A-1 Cafe?
9. What was the name of the brother of Harriet Miller’s first husband?
10. What was the name of the “boat” that Robert Moran built in Seattle before moving to Orcas?
Well, there you have it! If you have answered eight of the above questions successfully, you are probably a genuine Islander and can remain on the Island until we dream up another quiz. If you did not pass this test, then we will be pleased to make ferry reservation for you, eastbound, one-way! (just kidding)
P.S. We’ll post the answers next week. This quiz is open book, so comments (and guesses) are allowed! We’ll give away a Legacy “Classics Illustrated” Halloween Comic Book to the winner — in case of a tie, a drawing will be held at date and place to be announced.
So good, Ed! I can only answer 4, without going to the Historical Museum & researching the answers (did you?)
Your article is a good plug for having more History Corners in the Sounder and this space.
Bring it on!!
Even if I don’t know the answers (and I am NOT admitting I don’t), I think that this is a terrific little historical piece and I look forward to both the answers and further such quizes.
OK Ed,
I only got 7 out of 10, but I’m not packing my bags yet.
Nice cameo on the Lohman/checkers question.
I just LOVE this!!! I only know a bit…but I can’t leave this island. I can walk more and give up my parking spaces. Can’t wait for the answers and stories
Terrific quiz! I asked Eva North who her folks bought The Bungalow from in the 40s, but no reply yet! Yes, please do more such quizzes. Does anybody still have the old edition of Orcas Trivial Pursuits? That also has some good questions.
How do we respond to your quiz without giving away our own answers?
Well, after 17 years, I think that I can answer three (3) of your questions, Ed.
I’d leave the island, but I can’t get a ferry reservation…
https://theorcasonian.com/do-you-know-about-island-history
Maybe hold this comment to preserve the suspense for everyone else?
1. Huldah
2.MacIntire
3. Willis
4. Mayme and Edna
5 Boede, Kimple, Nordstrom, Harrison, Shattuck, Langell
6. baseball teams
7 Linda Henry, but Booth Gardner’s father wasn’t the same as linda’s because his mother divorced his father, a man first-named Bryson, before marrying Mr. Clapp
8.Mr. Doty or Frank Ferris
9 Dunno!
10 Robert Moran’s “boat” was the San Wan; ships included the Nebraska. Boat was wrecked off the California coast; he shudda
stuck with ships?
1-I remember getting gas at Roger Purdue’s gas station.
2-Did you know the “ditch” was suppose to go all the way through to Eastsound? And next LD McIntre was going to put a flood gate on the lagoon in DH and built a boat basin?
3-Willis
4-I don’t remember their names, but my grandma and great aunt would take me their when they went for tea and visits. I still have the bungalow zucchini bread recipe.
5-I don’t know the families, but I have the pioneer costume my great grandma wore while she worked at the museum on Saturdays in the 80’s.
6-When the islands had Baseball!
7-Linda Henry and Mr. Clapp I believe.
8-Not sure about the checkers, but the fresh donuts were a family treat!
9-Harriet and Marvin would pick me up for church on Sunday’s in the Caddy! Always had cream after!
10- The only battle ship built in Washington. The Nebraska, along with many paddle wheelers that went to the Yukon!
How fun! But how even MORE fun to visit the Historical Museum, see first hand the cabins and the way original residents of Orcas Island lived. There is so much in our museum and I hear a lot of locals have never even been in the museum. Please go! It’s AWESOME!
Finally got # 9, thanks to another pal. How about Bruce Ballanger?
Recently moving after 38 years of living in Deer Harbor I could not answer one of your questions, so your little quiz is more a reflection of your world than mine. I bet I could compose an islander test of the Deer Harbor area that would stump you.
Here’s another idea…learn even more about some of our most interesting locals, both past and present, by checking out their stories in the historical museum’s oral history room.
From Eva North, who worked for the ladies, I found their names: Ellen and Evelyn Swiegart. Don’t know what they did before buying the Bungalow. Jan
I just remembered them as the Grumpiest ladies ever and I was a bit scared of them as a little kid going in to the Bungalow…Bruce Orchid told me they were teachers!
Just got back from Seattle and saw the quiz. Thanks Ed for keeping history alive. If you want to find the answers to these question visit the Pioneer Museum, tour the cabins and look for the answers. I’ve been on island for 16 years, owned property for 32, been President of the Museum Board for three and a still learning about all the history of the island.
Are Ellen and Evelyn the same two ladies that I heard flipped their CLOSED sign around when a Tour Bus pulled up in front?
Evelyn & Ellen, at the Bungalow, served an awesome chocolate-banana ice cream pie. They were kind of grumpy, but nice. I believe they were school teachers before they had the Bungalow.
So here are a couple of new quiz questions to add to the list:
1: Before the Madrona pub was in that space, it was an oyster bar, and before that… what? And before that?
2: One of Eastsound’s major water sources is Purdue Lake on Buck Mountain. Who prospected the site with Roger Purdue?
3: Why is Dolphin Bay called Dolphin Bay?
OK. Enough of this. Next?
I don’t know how many people will read this by getting to the bottom of the replies.
The point of the quiz while having a little fun at everyone’s expense, has been to get each of us to be a little more aware of the wonderful place in which we live and learn some of its history.
I am pleased that nearly all of the respondents had some fun with this and took it in the spirit that it was intended.
The tie-breaker question is ….”What festival featured the bulldozer races?”
Editor (and 15-year Island resident) answers – guesses: (Official answers to be posted at noon on Wednesday)
1. Roger Purdue’s wife was named Mrs. Purdue
2. Wally Gudgell dug ‘the ditch?’
3. The Willis family has recorded daily weather data on the island for over 100 years.
4. So from what everybody’s saying Evelyn and Ellen, were the first names of the ladies who owned the old Bungalow Cafe, and teaching was their prior profession.
5. Name the six families whose cabins are part of the Historical Museum — Boede, Geoghegan, O’Neill, Cayou, .
6. The Whales was my grandfather’s nickname, Clam was my Aunt Jane’s nickname, Crab was my Uncle Harry’s nickname and Dolphins are the name of the Miami professional football team.
7. Name the former County Commissioner who was the half-sister of a WA State Governor, and what was their father’s name? Think somebody tipped me off — Rhea Miller?
8. Ed Sutton played checkers with Henry Lohman at Doty”s A-1 Cafe — thanks for the tipoff Mike Schifsky
9. What was the name of the brother of Harriet Miller’s first husband? Ozzie?
10. What was the name of the “boat” that Robert Moran built in Seattle before moving to Orcas? USS Nebraska, sad to say our war economy predates our generation, even our venerable Robert Moran….
Nice job Ed – he had lots of fun working on this and have enjoyed the comments of those listed above.
1. What was the name of Roger Purdue’s wife?
Hulda
2. Who dug ‘the ditch?’
LD Macintyer
3. Name the Orcas family that has recorded daily weather data on the island for
over 100 years.
Willis
4. What were the first names of the ladies who owned the old Bungalow Cafe, and what was their prior profession?
Ellen and Evelyn. sign flipping was true
5. Name the six families whose cabins are part of the Historical Museum.
?
6. What were the Whales, Clams, Crabs, and Dolphins?
slow pitch softball teams
7. Name the former County Commissioner who was the half-sister of a WA State Governor, and what was their father’s name?
?
8. Who played checkers with Henry Lohman at Doty”s A-1 Cafe?
Ed Sutton
9. What was the name of the brother of Harriet Miller’s first husband?
Bruce
10. What was the name of the “boat” that Robert Moran built in Seattle before moving to Orcas?
?
1: Before the Madrona pub was in that space, it was an oyster bar, and before that… what? And before that?
gas station, garage and machine shop (Russ Honaker, owner)
2: One of Eastsound’s major water sources is Purdue Lake on Buck Mountain. Who prospected the site with Roger Purdue?
Mike Schifsky & engineer Jim Wilson
3: Why is Dolphin Bay called Dolphin Bay?
?
Bulldozer races: family festival
Nice job Mike Schifsky. You must be a genuine Islander. How could you forget that the Lower Tavern was in the Madrona Grill space back in the “good old days”; Rita and Ron Saling were the owners. So, Mike, who won the last bulldozer race (about 1973)?
AND THE ANSWERS ARE —
(from Ed Sutton, author of the quiz)
John Erly mentioned just the other day that the ferry line leaving Orcas was very long because so many folks on the island were not able to pass the History Quiz that was published recently.
How did YOU do ? The answers are:
1) Hulda was the wife of Roger Purdue who operated a service garage across from the old Bungalow Cafe.
2) L.D. McIntyre dug the “ditch” which is the marina on the north shore next to the airport runway.
3) The Willis family has kept weather records in Olga “forever”. Ask John about his appearance on national TV to talk about the family’s records.
4) Ellen and Evelyn owned The Bungalow, having previously been school teachers.
5) The six cabins within the Historical Museum are from the pioneer families of Kimple, Boede, Jackson, Olsson, Boede, Jr., and Kirchoff.
6) The Whales, etc. were adult softball teams in the early 1980’s; a total of five men’s and one women’s teams.
7) Linda Henry was the County Commissioner whose half-brother was Booth Gardiner, Governor of WA, and whose father was Norton Clapp, a Weyerhauser executive.
8) Many people played checkers with Henry Lohman, including myself.
9) Harriett Miller’s first husband was Marvin Ballanger whose brother was Bruce.
10) Robert Moran’s company built the battleship USS Nebraska.
Orcas Issues has had a good response to the quiz, and we might do more in the future. We hope that you now know a little bit more about the very special place that you live !
Nicely done Ed! My recollection is that Henry Lohman also played checkers at the Bungalow Cafe (Evelyn Myers and Ellen Siegworth) with his brother Don Lohman (former part-time deputy for San Juan County sheriff Eric Erickson) but the brothers never spoke to each other except at the checker board!
Norton Clapp was a step father to both Linda Henry and Booth Gardner, although I believe with different mothers. In 1959, former Weyerhaeuser chairman Clapp built the 19 story Norton Building at 801 Second Avenue in downtown Seattle. Both of my grandfathers, D.K. MacDonald (Insurance) and Cassius E. Gates (Bogle, Bogle & Gates law firm) had offices in the Norton Building.
The Madrona Bar and Grill besides being the second location for the Lower Tavern (Old Gaffer’s Pub) also housed a gas station/garage for variously Howard Porter, Russ Honacker and Skip Lien.
My only quibble over the answers was over the terms “boat” and “ship.” Robert Moran’s boat was the San Wan; he ships included the battleship Nebraska,. on which my grandfather, James Gibson, was clerk of the works.
With a little help from friends, I got 9.5 right. Was the Madrona Bar and Grill qustion added afterwards?
GOOD QUIZ!
I just saw this today and before I saw the answers I had them all except the name of the cabin owners. I had Boede & Kimple. Such a fun quiz. Sorry I did not see sooner. Working in Eastsound in the ’80’s I saw more than once the Bungalow put the closed sign out when the bus of tourists showed up. Some would wander over to WaFed at the Brown Bear location and ask us what was going on and if they could have some of our coffee. So interesting that todays news is so quickly history.
Pat and I think the tiebreaker answer is Bill Carlson first in the Buck Mtn. Bull dozer race with Johnny Johnson second and McBryer last. LOL
After the Gas Station, Casey Wood opened the Night Heron Cafe/Coffee Shop. It served soups, Nettle Pancakes,coffee and tea, all with a great view. It was also an Art Gallery and sold handmade items. I remember being on hands and knees helping to clean up the floor and yucky things that were the result of the space having been used as a garage.
Spirit Eagle
My memory may fail me, but I believe another spot for Bill Williams playing checkers with Henry Lohman was in his trailer, parked somewhere along the shore of Eastsound…???
What a HOOT ! I learned even more about this wonderful community that has been my home for over 40 years. If you would like to learn more, the best suggestion that I read was to visit our excellent Historical Museum.
NOW, if you all are up for a BIG community challenge, “Who would be interested in reviving the Family Festival?” I remember bathtub races at the “ditch”, brass bed races down North Beach Rd., “jail time” to raise money, the original Salmon BarBQ. Add in bike races, foot races, Harvey’s Log Show !!!
Sounds like a lot of fun to me !!