Historic Langley

1903: Howard Store built

1903. Ed Howard family and others in front of the Howard Store (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

The first building on this site was a general store built by Ed Howard in 1903. Ed (with mustache and hat) is standing near the center of the group on the sidewalk in the photo above.

Circa 1908. Howard Store and Post Office (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

Ed Howard succeeded town founder Jacob Anthes as postmaster in 1904 and ran the post office out of the store. An addition was added to the west side of the original store circa 1908.

Circa 1910. First Street looking east (Courtesy Maureen Duryee).

The Howard store burned "under suspicious circumstances" in 1911, and Ed moved the store and post office into the first floor of the Olympic Club across the street.

1914: Langley State Bank.

A wooden building was constructed on the site in 1914 to house the Langley State Bank. A nephew of the town's namesake, James Weston Langley, named James Curtis Langley as president. He also helped establish the first water system in Langley, and installed a drinking fountain and Langley's first fire plug next to the bank.

Langley State Bank 1914 (Courtesy Island County Historical Society).

Circa 1915. Drinking fountain at First Street and Anthes Avenue (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

When a number of firms and individuals defaulted on their loan payments, the bank went into receivership in 1918 and J. C. Langley left town.

The bank recovered with support of Albert Ryland. As reported in the newspaper: "The newly elected officers of the reorganized bank are J. S. Foster, Cashier; H.P. Jensen president; G.L Woodruff, vice-president; William Kohlwes and A. A. Terry, directors. The bank will be open for transactions of business Monday, August 12. Holders of Liberty Bonds were the first patrons to receive money."

1922. The bank at the intersection of First Street and Anthes Avenue, May 6, 1922 (Courtesy Paul Sarkis) .

The vacant lot across Anthes Ave. was the site of the Jacob Anthes' store and home that burned in 1910.

1922/23: New bank constructed

A new, more substantial, bank building replaced the wooden bank in 1922/1923.

1923. First Street looking east with new bank building at First Street and Anthes Avenue (Courtesy Winifred McLeod).

1923. New Bank Building at First Street and Anthes Avenue (South Whidbey Historical Society).

The original wooden bank was moved a short distance south along Anthes Avenue and became the home of the Whidby Telephone Company Office.

Circa 1926. Looking South on Anthes Avenue from First Street (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

Albert R. Ryland, who was responsible for reorganizing the bank after it was placed in receivership in 1918, was also manager of the telephone company in 1922 and may have thought the old bank building would make a good place to house the switchboard. The telephone company purchased the building in February, 1923 (Marion Henny).

H.P. Jensen remained president of the bank until 1924 when he was replaced by Ernest Nobel, Sr. who moved his family to Langley from Alberta, Canada.

On May 1, 1924, E.E. Nobel wrote to the Town Council: "Being unfortunate in having the only piece of concrete sidewalk in uptown in Langley, we are often greatly annoyed and driven to despair by a large number of children who gather to roller-skate and run their coaster wagons on this little piece of concrete walk. The noise from the skates and wagons interferes with work both at the bank and at the telephone office, and the skating and coasting is a nuisance to pedestrians and at times causes damage to property.

We therefore respectfully request that your honorable body pass an ordinance forbidding skating and running of wagons on the side walk in front of lots 13 and 14 in block 7 of Langley, and for your convenience we submit herewith copy of such proposed ordinance."

In 1928, His son Ernest, Jr. ("Ernie") took over as president and ran the bank with the help of his brother Ralph. Ernest Noble, Sr. died in 1934.

The Bank was sold to "Peoples National Bank" (now U.S Bank) in 1968, and the bank moved to a new site at Second Street and Anthes Avenue in 1970.

1972: Soup Coop

The Dahlgren family purchased the building in 1970, and it was transformed into a food cooperative and restaurant called the "Soup Coop," that opened in 1972. It became a popular hangout for the alternative lifestyle folks who came to the Island in the early 1970's. Some of the young mothers who worked there nursed their babies in the vault that remained in the building. The name of the restaurant was incorporated into the annual "Soup Box Derby" races down First Street that began in 1972.

1972. Soup Coop (Courtesy Brain McKenna).

A sign was taped to the window to discourage individuals from breaking in.

1973. Sign on window of the Soup Coop (Courtesy Brian McKenna).

A series of businesses followed the closing of the Soup Coop in 1974, including the Black Swan Restaurant, Angelina's Bakery and La Casita Restaurant.

1981. Signs for Angelina's Bakery on Bank (Courtesy Lynn Hays).

Circa 1989. La Casita Restaurant (Courtesy Langley City Hall).

1991: Lowry/James Rare Books and Fine Prints

2008. Lowry-James sign on north side of building (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

In 1991, James Anderson and Priscilla Lowry moved their Rare Books and Fine Prints business into the building.

1997: Second story added

A second floor was added in 1997. Architect Todd Soli, who designed the addition, moved into the second floor in 2015. Lowry/James closed in 2015, and was replaced for a brief time by Langley Antiques.

1997. Second floor addition under construction ( Courtesy Ron Childers).

2016. Langley Antiques on first floor, architect Todd Soli Architects on second floor. (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

2017: Rob Schouten Gallery

The Rob Schouten Gallery moved from Greenbank into the first floor in 2017.

2017. Rob Schouten Gallery (Courtesy Robert Waterman).