This (very) old house: Whidbey group seals a purchase deal

Jessie Stensland

Whidbey News-Times

COUPEVILLE — It doesn’t have central heating, barely has any plumbing, and raccoons live upstairs, but the historic value of the 160-year-old Georgian house made it a steal.

After six years of collecting donations and grants, a Whidbey Island nonprofit group last month closed a deal on the purchase of the Col. Granville O. Haller home here. Built in 1859, it is one of the oldest houses in Washington state.

The Haller House, on the corner of Front and Main streets, is now owned by Historic Whidbey, an organization committed to preserving historic sites on Whidbey Island. The group wants to make needed repairs to stabilize the home, and use it for education and office space.

“The Haller House is a real gem,” said Rick Castellano, executive director of the Island County Museum. “Coupeville, Island County and Washington state should be smiling widely that another of these rare, historical buildings is going to be around for many more generations to enjoy and learn from.”

Historic Whidbey isn’t saving it alone. Many organizations and governmental entities banded together to complete the deal. About half of the $265,000 raised was provided by grants from the National Park Foundation, the National Park Trust, the Norcliffe Foundation and the Coupeville Lions. Numerous private citizens also donated to the cause.

“It truly took the whole village to save this landmark cultural and natural resource for the community,” said Lynn Hyde, a founding member of Historic Whidbey. The organization refers to the house as an “unrecognized treasure” on its website.

But it was the National Park Service that helped seal the deal when it purchased a preservation easement on the house and lot, amounting to $110,000. The easement protects the “historic character” of the structure, Hyde said. The house is part of the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

The Haller House was originally a one-story home built for Raphael Brunn on 2⅛ acres of Capt. Thomas Coupe’s claim. Coupe then turned around and sold the land, which included the house, a store, a warehouse and a wharf. Two years later, the property was foreclosed.

In 1866, Col. Haller purchased the property and added another story and a front portion to the house. It was likely moved on the site to form an ell — and L-shaped wing — to Haller’s new home.

Somehow, over the course of 160 years, the house escaped modernization in the 20th century. Little has changed.

In fact, the construction of the house chronicles the evolution of the area’s building technology: Within its walls are three distinct eras of construction.

When it was one story, the house was built via plank construction, with a gable roof and central chimney. When the front portion was added, the balloon-framed house featured a corbelled chimney. Stud walls were added for extra support in the mid-20th century. But even with the additions over the years, the original open floor plans with central fireplaces are retained.

That makes it highly significant to Whidbey history, Hyde said. She describes the Haller House as a “rare architectural artifact” in a historic community. “Coupeville is really the only place left in the state where you can find a concentration of buildings from the pre-1870 era,” Hyde said.

Not only is the Haller House constructionally significant, but the house’s first owner adds to its legend.

Col. Haller was involved in many of the major events of his era, including the Civil War, according to the Historic Whidbey website.

As an Army leader, Haller protected settlers from Native Americans and the British. His company was the first to respond when Native Americans beheaded Col. Isaac Ebey on Whidbey in 1857. It also patrolled the waters of San Juan Island aboard the USS Massachusetts during the “Pig War” dispute with Great Britain.

After the Civil War, Haller moved his family to Coupeville, where he was a merchant, postmaster, county treasurer and founder of Masonic Lodge No. 15. Haller moved to Seattle in the 1870s. He died in 1897.

Hyde said her group has big plans for the Haller House: The house needs a new roof, a structurally sound foundation and interior rehabilitation work. The raccoons also will have to find a new home.

She is hopeful that Historic Whidbey will win grants to fund much of the work.

The plan is to develop an interpretive space where visitors can learn about the house and territorial history. It would include a period-themed mercantile store with a Victorian soda fountain.

The upstairs will be transformed into office space, which will provide revenue for property maintenance.

“It is exciting,” Hyde said. “We are still pinching ourselves.”