Shaw Landing Association

The small parcel of waterfront property down by the store and ferry landing ( about .4 acre ), commonly known as the Shaw Landing, was purchased about six years ago to prevent the County buying it to construct a landing and float for the launching of commercial groups of kayaks. Working in conjunction with Washington Water Trails, the site was planned to be used as a part of the water trail through the San Juan Islands and on to Alaska and the County Commissioners and Board of Public Works were rushing the project to completion. None of this was known to the islanders until it was announced at a public meeting here on Shaw. Although the county believed that they had a ‘right of first refusal’ in place on the property, a quickly formed committee, after a few phone calls to the off-island owner, determined that they did not. An offer was made on the property somewhat below what the county had agreed to pay, and after more phone calls and negotiations a purchase price of $52,000. was agreed upon.

A non-profit corporation was formed and within a month that sum was raised by Shaw islanders with the help of some very generous donations. Wanting to involve everyone regardless of their financial means, it was decided by the quickly formed Board of Directors that anyone making even a nominal donation of $5.00 could be a part of this community effort.
The county was not at all happy about the situation, nor was the Washington Water Trails, who had already published in their Launch Site Book that Shaw Island was okay for launching. A map was also included in their annual publication so that there would be no mistaking just where this place was located. A supervisor from the Board of Public Works who had inadvertently disclosed what was in the works, vowed that he would be keeping an eye on us to make sure that the property was not used for anything other than just raw land.

As the only ongoing expense was raising the annual liability insurance premium, an annual event known as ‘Groundhog Day Barbeque Get Together’ was started for that purpose. In the years since being formed, the Landing Association has hosted chili cook-offs, salmon bakes, and baked bean cook-offs. Always popular events, that time of the year was recognized as being a good time to raise money by other Shaw Island organizations, so the Landing Association has not had a Ground Hog cook-off or Barbeque in the past couple of years. Independent donations have taken care of the insurance premiums.

The new Kiosk in place on the Shaw Landing property was approved for placement by the active Board of Directors to satisfy a need for a centrally located bulletin board after the Franciscan Sisters at the store urged moving the bulletin board from the front of the store because of customer congestion. Since that time the US Post Office Mail Deposit box was moved from its prior location to where it is now to prevent it from being run into by cars backing out of the store parking, also a constant problem.

For those of you who are new to the island and would like to become a part of this project, I have some Shaw Landing vehicle decals which you can obtain by a donation of at least $5.00 to the Shaw Landing Association. Or, a donation can be mailed to our Post Office box, 444, here on Shaw Island.