Whidbey’s Merchantile Company / Toby’s Tavern
Address: 8 Northwest Front Street
Date of Construction: c. 1875
Modifications made in: N/A
Original use: Commercial
2006 use: Commercial
Public accessibility: Yes, limited
History: This building was constructed for John Robertson c. 1875 and sold to Thomas Calhoun in 1890. By 1896, A.B. Coates and Co. were running a store in the structure. The east portion of the building was used as a store until 1938. In the 1930’s, George Hesslegrave sold gasoline and had a vehicle for hire on the west side of the building. The building has been operated as a tavern since the late 1930’s. The front exterior of the structure has been extensively remodeled with a falsefront constructed in front of the west part of the structure.
Description: False Front Commercial. Wood frame set on wood pilings/post and block foundation; rectangle; 5 bays wide; 1 1/2-stories; shiplap siding; asphalt-shingled, gently sloping, fable roof with falsfront; recessed center entrance with new wood diamond-pane glass door on south façade; interior chimney on north façade. Exterior features include single pane fixed sash; multi-pane hinged sash.
