If the walls of the historical Mercer Island VFW building could talk, they would regale people with stories of dedicated community members hauling copious amounts of lumber up the steep slope from the water to start the construction process, to Friday night big band dances, to debates about planning the Lake Washington floating bridge, to memorable parties and weddings and more.
One-hundred years worth of stories, that is.
On Oct. 29, members of VFW Post 5760 will hold an open house to showcase the building, which hits its official centennial mark of existence eight days prior. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and community members are invited to venture through the building’s rooms and learn of its rich history. The building stands tall across the street from the Roanoke Inn at 1836 72nd Ave. SE.
Following its dedication, Islanders gathered socially at the Keewaydin Clubhouse — with its Native American namesake meaning “of the Northwest wind” in Ojibway (Chippewa) — to discuss community issues until the VFW acquired the building in 1966.
Currently, the VFW has about 170 members who took part in a conflict, with the majority of them having served in Vietnam and newer members from conflicts in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. The members — whose civilian professions range from lawyers to doctors to nurses — gather once a month for social hour, a meal and a meeting.
“It’s just a really nice atmosphere, telling stories,” said VFW member Thomas Koger, 71, who served in the Marine Corps for 27 years in places like Libya, Iran and Kosovo. “We hope, perhaps, that there will be a few people (at the open house) that will come and see and want to join us.”
VFW member and Vietnam veteran Bob Harper, 77, said he was initially a bit hesitant to join the post, but he’s glad he followed through on a fellow Vietnam vet’s invitation.
“Vietnam veterans didn’t get the best reception when they came home. So I came down here and you get to meet guys and tell stories at the bar. I found it a nice group of people,” he said.
Koger said the VFW members are proud of the building, which they rent out to the Masons, dancers, fly-fishers and other groups and individuals for their gatherings. The VFW has invited a host of hall users to the open house along with Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, Mercer Island Fire Department, Mercer Island Historical Society and others to share information at their tables. The event will also feature refreshments and Halloween treats for kids.
The building has notched a pair of honors over the last 14 years with the Keewaydin Clubhouse/VFW hall receiving designation on the National Registry of Historic Places and garnering the John Spellman Award for exemplary achievement in historic preservation.
Outside the hall, there’s “Patriot’s Plaza,” which features a multitude of pavers inscribed with the names of local veterans who are honored for their service to the nation. A memorial plaque is set beside the bricks to remember those Islanders who were killed in Vietnam.
As Harper glances around the hall, he’s impressed about how the construction from back in the day came to fruition. He chuckled when mentioning the mammoth pilings under the building.
“It was quite an effort that these guys did. And just to think that they didn’t hire a contractor and a bunch of people to build this — they built this with the skill set of the people here,” said Harper, explaining the difference of getting an immense job done 100 years ago compared to modern times.
Koger added that skilled VFW members have tackled a lot of repairs themselves and recruited Boy Scouts to lend a hand for their community projects. The Mercer Island Masonic Lodge stepped into the mix to donate funds so the post could fully renovate and upgrade its bar area.
Harper said it’s an honor to continue using the building after 100 years. Perhaps another Friday night dance will be on the schedule soon.
For more information, visit https://vfwmercerisland.org/
From left, Bob Harper and Thomas Koger kneel in “Patriot’s Plaza,” which features pavers honoring local veterans and a memorial plaque to remember those Islanders who were killed in Vietnam. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo
