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Bayview is the center of South
Whidbey; it's north of Clinton, south of Freeland and west of Langley, one of the oldest crossroads on the island. Thanks to Goosefoot Community
Fund, Bayview has flourished in the past three years with major renovations
to most of the historical buildings there.
Before 1900 Deer Lagoon was
only navigable up to highway 525 at high tide, so in 1918 William Burke had
the lagoon diked. Soon after, in 1924 he built the Bayview Cash Store
and Bayview Hall.
Bayview Hall served as a
social gathering place for every occasion which continues to this day.
The Bayview Cash store has undergone a dramatic face-lift in the past three
years. The one-story building was transformed from the foundation up, into a two-story building
now home to many new businesses. In June 2004, Star Store
Basics, Fishmongers, Half Link Bicycle Shop, and the South Whidbey Record joined the Smilin' Dog Cafe, which is located in the original home of the
owners, and still has the original floors.
The Art store resides in the
old Burke garage, and next to them is Bayview Farm and
Garden. The Saturday Farmer's Market at Bayview is set up in the parking lot
and is a treasure of local
goods.
Across the street from this
hustle and bustle is the Goosefoot Community Foundation, housed in a turn of
the century Sears kit house moved from Greenbank. Goosefoot Community Fund
painstakingly renovated the home, making sure the entire home was
historically accurate.
Bayview has been a site for
education since the inceptions of the community. The current Bayview Alternative School for South Whidbey School District was the first
elementary school.
Whidbey City-- not many call
it by its old name anymore, but it is the shopping complex across the highway from the Bayview Center. It is home to Neil's Cloverpatch
Cafe, Exxon gas station, Sebo's hardware store, Red Apple Casey's grocery
store, and the Bayview craft store. Whidbey City and the Bayview Corner meld
history with the present.
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