Marjesira Inn

Article brought back memories

I very much enjoyed reading the story about the Marjesira Inn in last week’s issue. It stirred up memories of many happy days living in the Case house so many years ago. The construction was actually started in 1905 and completed in 1907. So 2007 is the official time to celebrate its 100th year. Thanks to Marian Brischle, the last of the Case line, the building has remained in excellent condition.

To facilitate the building of such a large structure, a small cottage was built to the north of the site, and this is where the laborer lived while he constructed the house. Over the many years, his name has been lost. During the period around 1920, this small cottage was used as a school house, and the teacher came from Burton on the Vashona with Capt. Billy Phillips at the helm. The school lasted only a few years, and attendance never exceeded six students.

The Marjesira Inn ceased to exist by 1920, and after that the building was just known as the Case store and the post office. Occasionally, boarders might be taken in, and in fact when the road from Burton to the Tahlequah Y was being built in 1932, the surveying crew boarded at the Case house while they were doing their preliminary work.

While my family never lived on the Island, they paid the Cases $10 a month for my board for the summer months of 1924 and 1925. From the summers of 1926 to the summer of 1936, I worked for my room and board. My main job was to take orders and deliver groceries by rowboat to the summer colonies of Indian Point and Harbor Heights just south of Magnolia Beach.

There was one small correction I would like to make to Logan Price’s tale of the Marjesira Inn. It was mentioned about the great food prepared by Mrs. Case. Actually Mrs. Case was a good cook alright, but the great cook was Mrs. Case’s mother, Mrs. McClelland. Her job was to cook the meals, while Mrs. Case ran the store and post office. Ira Case spent much of his time working for the state in Olympia and getting great things for Vashon Island.

If you have any money left after Christmas, you might want to buy my book, “Magnolia Beach Memories” being sold at the Vashon-Maury Heritage Museum, or, if you’re broke, you can read it at the library.

Bob Gordon

An open letter to the community

Retiring Doc’s beloved shires

Vashon’s Open House is fast approaching. This is the time of year the Eastly family is usually in the final stages of preparation for Doc Eastly and his beloved shires to bring Santa to town and give hayrides for the evening.

By now the horses would’ve been recently exercised, new shoes secured, the wagon safety checked and delivered to Bettie at The Little House for decorating. On the day of the event a group of us would be busy grooming horses and cleaning harness. After a flurry of activity at the barn, we’d head down to the house where Pat, Doc’s beautiful bride of more than 50 years, would have a huge pot of chili waiting on the stove. We’d fill our bellies and warm our fingers, then quickly usher Doc out the door, pointing earnestly at the time on our watches. We’d check with our friends Stephen, Anna, Lynette and Jenny to make sure someone had Doc’s winter gloves. He’d be looking for them once he got up on the wagon, ready to drive his team.

For the first time in many years, these preparations have not happened. To give hayrides at special events, the horses need exercise year-round that we haven’t been able to provide. Outside of working our jobs and caring for our young children, we find ourselves drawn to participating in the community in other ways. Clay is strongly committed to Vashon’s growing football teams; Michele loves working with children at Chautauqua Elementary School, and Pat continues with her passion to support local artists. As for the horses, sadly, they have lost their teamster. Since Doc’s passing, they’ve been well cared for and vacationing comfortably, but deserving a more active life. We’ll look diligently for their new teamster, a responsible one who will drive them regularly and love them dearly.

It has been almost a year since Doc passed away. We miss him deeply. And we truly will miss seeing the smiles on the hayrides, especially the children at Open House. This is a tough change to make. Thank you, Vashon, for giving Doc all those years of doing what he loved so much, driving that team with a wagon packed full of people. We are sorry to let go of this tradition. Yet, while honoring the past, we look ahead as new traditions emerge.

Clay and Michele Eastly