Category: Downtown Sequim

The grain elevator, 1 of 2

Big cities have towers and skyscrapers that define their landscapes. Sequim, with its deep roots as a farming community, has its historic grain elevator. Built in the 1940s it’s the tallest structure in Sequim. Railroad tracks once ran by this granary that functioned as the Clallam Co-Op until the 1970s.

The upper portion of the building now serves as a communications tower and there is a Mexican restaurant at its base. I rather like its corduroy look.

Update to this post on 4/12/14: The restaurant at the base of the elevator was closed on March 3, 2014. The owners are attempting to sell the property. If they are unsuccessful the property is destined for public auction as a trustee sale on April 27, 2014 according to an article in the Peninsula Daily News.

The steeple

Driving on West Washington a month or so ago I did a double-take as I drove past the Mormon Church. A steeple? I don’t remember there being a steeple on that building. They put a new roof on this summer. I remember that. But a steeple??

We later asked at a nearby business: “Is that a new steeple on the church over there?” Yes, it is.

On a sunnier day it’s very bright. And, strictly in my opinion, on a clean-lined building like this the styles don’t exactly mesh. But I guess nothing says “Hey! Here’s a church!” like a bright, white steeple.

Community education

I was pleased to discover that Peninsula College, our local community college based in Port Angeles, has a presence in this building in downtown Sequim. I’ve taken a few of their noncredit community education classes and as often as not had conflicts that interfered with taking more. But I’m happy when I make it into an interesting class.

Yum!

Pane d’Amore Bakery moved into their new downtown store a month or two ago. I’m happy to report that the offerings are as good as ever.

We wandered in on a recent Saturday looking for a carb fix. In addition to a tasty selection of breads, they also offer breakfast pastries, focaccia, and a small selection of gourmet items.

Here’s the store’s new exterior.

Pane d’Amore is located just over the fence…from Over the Fence. And in case this gives you ideas, I’ll warn you now: Sorry! They’re closed on Sundays.

A very nice facelift

A little over a year and a half ago I posted that the Red Ranch Inn had reopened after closing sometime in 2011. Since then there’s been steady work to breathe new life into these lodgings. It’s looking good. Take a look here at what it looked like last year and see if you don’t agree. It’s now called the Olympic View Inn.

Sand sculpture resurrection

Last summer I posted a version of this sand sculpture here. The sculpture, entitled “Violet Picking Lavender,” was a volunteer effort by Kali Bradford who spent over 200 hours on the work to celebrate Sequim’s annual Lavender Faire and Festival. I posted a photo of the work on July 7th. A week later vandals destroyed the top of the castle and smashed “Violet’s” head off.

Bradford returned to work on the sculpture last month, adding the lion to protect Violet. And she rebuilt Violet’s head.

I don’t think this dragon was part of the earlier sculpture when I saw it; it’s not in any of the photos I took.

Although there is rain erosion, you can see some of the human-caused damage in this shot. To call it senseless is an understatement.

Bradford admitted she didn’t have the heart to rebuild the sculpture after the vandalism but said in the newspaper last Friday getting back to the sculpture was a way for her to heal from the vandalism. “That’s the great thing about sand: I can always rebuilt it.”

Sequim Senior Center

The Sequim Senior Center is a buzz of activity. I found my way there a month or two ago when I had call to meet with a volunteer to untangle some healthcare insurance mysteries. While there I explored a little and discovered that in addition to exercise classes, art and games such as bridge, bingo, and pinochle they also offer tours. The Center offers daylong bus tours to scenic areas like Snoqualmie Falls, to sporting events, and even some of the larger shopping centers around Puget Sound.

A local benefactor has generously donated money and property to build a new senior center, first to purchase and initial 4.5 acres of land. Then he donated a coin collection and more recently gifted to the Center a mobile home community that he owned. Income from R. Leo Shipley’s donated business will benefit the Senior Center’s capital campaign.