by PAUL LOSLEBEN and MERRY BUSH

Special to the Sounder

Is it possible to love a building?  That collection of wood and nails, pipe and wire?  What most of us know as simply The Artworks began its life in the Great Depression as a Strawberry Barreling Plant, a way to bring the local farmer’s crops of strawberries to the market on the mainland.  It was amazing for its day, the first use of electrical equipment on the island.  The scale that weighed the farmer’s produce still stands at the front door.

After the war, the building passed through a succession of purposes, and ultimately in 1981 a group of people with a vision for the building formed an Artisans Coop and leased the building.  About 10 years later, a group of 15 people purchased the building and formed the Artworks Building Limited Partnership.  These artists and members of the community created what would become a long tradition of art and good food that would involve us all over the succeeding years.

In 2004, the Partnership needed help to continue the tradition that they had started and a nonprofit was formed, Olga Strawberry Council, to assure that the building would continue to serve the community.  A historical designation was obtained, and with the generous donations of their shares by the partners along with a grant from the San Juan County Land Bank, it all became possible.

Most of us on the island have enjoyed the Artworks, the James Hardman Gallery, and Cafe Olga over the years, bringing our visiting relatives and friends to this pleasant place. We enjoyed Bev’s cinnamon rolls and Bobby’s scallibut cakes. We enjoyed events like the annual party for the community and so many special occasions. But most of all, the building became an anchor for the community, providing income for our local artists and giving us all a way to appreciate the talent on this small island.  In return, the community turned out when work needed to be done.

Then, in the early morning hours of July 19, 2013 we got the call for help from the fire department, a fire at 11 Point Lawrence Road. Oh no!  It’s the Artworks!  We turned out with other neighbors to help the firemen with food and drink and then to attempt to rescue what we could.  Over a long day, the artists and islanders labored in shock.  I vividly remember crying with Bobby and Bev as they surveyed the destruction of the cafe that they had labored so hard to build, all destroyed by an arsonist’s match.

The community resolved to rise to the occasion. For nearly two years now, the members of the Strawberry Council have labored with the insurance companies, the permitting, the contractors, the legal issues and all the details of recovery.  There was never a question but that the building would survive and once again serve the community.

It is nearly done, but the help of the community is once again needed as the reopening date rapidly approaches.  The unexpected expenses, the tyranny of the building code, and all the other trials of the past two years have taken their toll.  The Council is facing a significant financial shortfall.

Visit www.olgastrawberrycouncil.org to see a slideshow of the fire and the reconstruction. Join us  in asking the community to step up to meet this need.  We have done far more than this in the past and we can do it for a building and an institution that we love.