Letter to the Editor: Help Re-purpose the Olga Strawberry Barreling Plant

— by Boyd C. Pratt —

I am writing to ‘nudge’ you in the direction of the Olga Strawberry Council’s “Final Push” to rebuild the Olga Strawberry Barreling Plant. Please support them in the efforts to finish restoration of this building, which is significant to the history, economy, and well-being of the Olga area, Orcas Island, and the San Juan archipelago.

What’s not to love about this historic building? Listed on the Washington Heritage Register, it was constructed in 1937/38 as a facility for barreling strawberries. It is a simple, utilitarian structure that clearly expresses its function through the beautiful economy of its design and materials. Our islands have a long history of repurposing older structures to meet today’s needs. The Olga Strawberry Council has done just that by first converting the structure to contemporary uses and now by restoring it to its former appearance. They help ground us in the history of our place, reminding us of the time when Orcas raised strawberries that were shipped throughout the nation, while celebrating our island values of repurposing and reuse.

I applaud the Olga Strawberry Council for raising this phoenix from the ashes, not only restoring the historic integrity of the structure but also bringing it into the twenty-first century, meeting health and safety codes and an all-new, fully-operational, health-department approved café! (And if you think that was a run-on sentence, imagine what it has taken to restore this building!)

With its key location and use as an art gallery and café, the Olga Strawberry Barreling Plant is signal to the sense of identity as well as the economy of the local community. It is always so gratifying to visit the building on a summer day and see the parking lot full, the gallery teeming with visitors, and all the tables full at the restaurant—a local, historic building well used!

The Olga Strawberry Council (a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization) is trying to finish by February 28th, so go to www.olgastrawberrycouncil.org and join in the “Final Push” to complete the restoration of this vital element of the Olga community!