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Langley Register of Historic Places Nomination Form
1 revised 3/26/12
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Received
Type all entries
1. Name of Property
Historic: Pole Building, Island County Fair Building
And/or common: Gust Skarberg Building
2. Location
Street and number: 819 Camano Avenue
City: State: WA Zip: 98260
3. Classification
Category Ownership Status Present Use
District X Public X Occupied Agriculture Museum
X Building(s) Private Unoccupied Commercial Park
Structure Both Work in progress X Educational Residential
Site Public Acquisition Accessible Entertainment Religious
Object In process Yes: restricted Government Scientific
Being considered Yes: unrestricted Industrial Transportation
Not Applicable No Military Other
4. Owner of Property
Name: Island County, WA
Street and number: PO Box 5000
City: Coupeville State: WA Zip: 98239
Telephone: 360-679-7354 Email: [email protected]
5. Physical Description
Condition Check one Check one
Excellent Deteriorated Unaltered X Original site
X Good Ruins X Altered Moved Date:
Fair Unexposed
Narrative description of the present and original physical appearance is found on one or more continuation sheets.
2 revised 3/26/12
6. Significance:
Year Built: 1936/1937 Builder/Architect: WPA
Narrative description of the history and significance of the property to Langley’s heritage is found on one or more continuation sheets.
7. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography is found on one or more continuation sheets.
8. Additional 8. Additional Documentation
Maps and photographs are attached.
9. Geographical Data
Latitude / Longitude:
Verbal Boundary Description:
The property being nominated is the Island County Fair Building (Pole Building) located on the Island
County Fairgrounds at 819 Camano Avenue. It includes the building itself and an area approximately
10 feet around it.
Legal Description:
Beginning at a point 20 feet north of the southwest corner of lot number one, Section three, Township twenty-nine, Range three E.W.M., running thence east 29 rods and 8 feet to the margin of the county
road; thence north along and with the margin of the said road 26 rods and 8 feet; thence west 30 rods
and 15 feet to the line between lot number 1 and lot number two at a point on said line 26 rods and 8 feet north of the point of beginning; thence south along said line between lot number one and lot
number two to the place of beginning, containing about 5 acres, and all lying in the south end of
subdivision number two, in lot number one, section three, township twenty-nine north, Range three
E.W.M.
Tax Parcel Number: R32903-442-4110
Plat Name: Block: Lot(s)
10. Criteria for Evaluation
Check criteria that apply:
! A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our
history; or
! B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
X C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that
represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and
distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
! D. That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.
3 revised 3/26/12
Explain:
(See # 12 below)
11. Description of Architectural Character (Character to be preserved if on Langley Register)
Describe and attach photographs that show the character defining features
12. Integrity (a building must have retained at least three of the seven)
Check aspects of integrity X 1. location
X 2. design
! 3. setting
X 4. materials
X 5. workmanship
! 6. feeling
X 7. association
Explain:
The Island County Fair building, commonly known as the Gust Skarberg Building or the Pole Building,
is a large barn-like structure accommodating the Island County fair offices, a large auditorium and various smaller multipurpose rooms and storage areas. It was built in 1936-37 by the Works Progress
Administration (WPA), using primarily local materials and local workers. It is historically significant
both for its connection with the WPA and the fair, a very important part of the island community for
more than a century. It is also architecturally significant for its Rustic style and several distinctive features:
Its large size, including an undivided auditorium space with a stage
Pole (post-frame) construction
An extensive roof structure with visible trusses
Use of peeled logs on the exterior, including cladding and rafters
Distinctive signs and ornament on the main (north) facade
A recessed porch and entry at the southeast corner
A large river rock chimney
A log chandelier
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13. Form Prepared by:
Name/Title: Mimi Sheridan
Organization: Date:
Street and number: 3630 37th Avenue West Telephone: 206-270-8727
City or town: Seattle State: WA Zip: 98199
Email: [email protected]
4 revised 3/26/12
14. The HPC encourages owners of properties listed on the Langley Register of Historic Places to allow placement of an informational plaque on their premises.
15. I agree don’t agree to allow photographs and other information about this property to be made available to the community by the HPC and/or City of Langley.
16. Signature of Property Owner
CONTINUATION PAGES – Pole (Gust Skarberg) Building
5. Physical Description:
The Pole Building is the oldest and largest building on the Island County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are located next to the Langley Middle School campus, on the main road into the town. The Pole
Building is located at the front of the fairgrounds, close to the main entrance and separated from the
street by a row of tall evergreens. To the north is a narrow paved area with a covered stage and a row of
animal stalls. The bulk of the grounds are to the southwest, with numerous barn-like structures arranged around a large grassy field and an open arena. There are approximately a dozen barns and about
twenty other structures, primarily sheds and utility buildings. Most were built between 1968-1988.
Exterior Building Description:
The Pole Building is a large rectangular structure with a tall front-gabled roof with clerestory windows that
admit light into the interior. The original building has a central section measuring 40x80 feet flanked by two side sections of 20x80 feet. Several small additions, described below, have been constructed. The
building is of pole (also called post-frame) construction with a concrete foundation. It is Rustic in style
with cladding, ornament and many structural members of slender (typically 5-8 inches in diameter) peeled logs. The roof, clad with standing seam metal, has deep open eaves with log rafters and log
brackets. Most windows have original wood sash, with six-light windows on the ground floor and paired
eight-light windows in the clerestory. Window and door openings are framed with peeled logs.
The main entry to the auditorium is on the north end, through a pair of tall, hinged doors constructed of
wide unpainted vertical boards. Above the doors are two horizontally-oriented windows with eight-light
wood sash, above which are the words "Island County Fair B'l'dg" flanked by the construction date, 1937. The words are formed of brown wood on a background of white-painted boards framed by narrow peeled
logs. Above the letters is a decorative diamond shape formed of logs, with a large modern light fixture in
the center. One other inscription is located east of the windows--the words "WPA Construction Gust Skarberg" are in white wood letters on two red boards.
Flanking the main doors are two shed-roof structures, each extending from the entry to the end of the building. The simple frame structures are clad with vertical boards and the upper portions are enclosed
with plywood; they open up to be used as food stands or a similar use.
The west side of the building has board-and-batten cladding; the "battens" are peeled logs about four
inches in diameter, cut in half vertically. Six Dutch doors are arranged along most of the facade to provide access to individual rooms used for storage or other activities during the fair. The doors are of
vertical boards and are brightly painted in primary colors; each has a wood sign above denoting its use
(e.g., Fire Department, Island County Fair History). A small shed-roof enclosure at the northwest corner contains a propane tank. Toward the south end one window is filled with plywood and has an air
conditioning unit in it. Nearby is a ticket window with vinyl sash and a small Formica shelf for sales
transactions.
At the southwest corner is a small shed addition with wide board-and batten cladding used for equipment
and tool storage. It has two windows with vinyl sash and a Dutch door at the south end; above the door
is the construction date, 1980.
5 revised 3/26/12
Extending across the south end of the building is a narrow hipped-roof addition containing the fair office. It is has five windows, all with metal or vinyl sash, and board-and-batten cladding (with half-logs as
battens). At the west end is a ramp to the entry. Above this addition, on the end of the original building,
are the words "Island County Fair" in large white letters.
North of the office, at the southeast corner of the original building, is a recessed porch with double doors
entering into the "fine arts room." This southern portion of the original building has a gabled roof that is
lower than the roof of the auditorium section to the north. The upper parts of the doors are glazed with diamond panes with wood muntins. The doorway is framed by peeled logs with a decorative log triangle
above. The porch has concrete steps and floor with a large peeled log post at the corner of the stairway
and a log balustrade and stair railing.
The other primary feature of the east elevation is the large river rock chimney about one-third of the way
down. Adjoining the chimney are sliding double doors into the kitchen and a small storage shed addition.
The doors are of vertical boards. Two simple slab doors provide access to a large multipurpose room. A stretch of white picket fence has been installed along the center part of the building here, as well as a
totem pole near the north end. The wood-sash windows (first story and clerestory) and log cladding are
all original.
Exterior Alterations:
The building appears to be largely original except for several compatible additions:
• On the north facade, two shed-roof food stands have been built flanking the main entrance to the
auditorium.
• At the south end of the building, a hipped-roof addition contains the fair office.
• Near the southwest corner of the building, just north of the office addition, is a small 1980 addition
used as to store tools and equipment.
• Very small storage sheds are at the northwest dormer and next to the chimney.
• The original wood shake roof was replaced with the current standing seam metal roof at an
unknown date.
• Early photos show that there was originally a large "WPA" sign in the center of the gable end of
the main facade.
Interior Description:
The primary interior space is a large auditorium (approximately 40x80 feet) with a raised stage of 40x60
feet at the south end. It has an open wood ceiling with a series of trusses of peeled logs that support the
roof structure. Several of the tall poles that form the main structural element are still visible, although some have been enclosed by wallboard. Diagonal braces extend from these poles to the sides and up to
the trusses. A particularly notable feature is a large rustic chandelier formed of peeled logs, hanging
near the center of the room. The stage opening is framed by slender logs and the wall above it is clad with stained wide fir boards. The floor is concrete.
Along the east side of the building is a long narrow room with plasterboard walls, fluorescent lighting
fixtures, and a carpeted floor. Double doors lead into the adjacent auditorium, while two doors on the opposite wall open to the exterior. The east wall has two windows with original four-light wood sash. A
similar window in the north wall is filled with plywood; it originally opened to the exterior but now opens
into the food stand addition.
To the south, separated by a pass-through counter, is a kitchen with commercial equipment. It has
asphalt tile flooring and vertical board walls. A double sliding door of vertical boards opens to the exterior. The original fireplace, next to the doors, is covered over and not visible.
Past the kitchen is the "arts room," at the southeast corner of the building, entered through double doors
on a large recessed porch. This room has a wood floor, an acoustic tile ceiling and fluorescent light
6 revised 3/26/12
fixtures. Diagonal log rafters extending from the wall to the lowered ceiling indicate that the room probably had an open ceiling like the auditorium. There are several small rooms nearby used for storage.
Past these is the office addition at the south end of the building.
7. References:
1. Cherry, Lorna. Langley, The Village by the Sea. South Whidbey Historical Society, 1986.
2. Dorpat, Paul and Genevieve McCoy. Public Works in Washington State. Seattle: Tartu Publications, 1998.
3. Fanfair (Island County Fair Association newsletter) February 2010. 4. http://www.islandcountyfair.com/documents/29.html
5. The Great Depression in Washington State (http://depts.washington.edu/depress/index.shtml)
8. Additional Documentation (Maps and Photographs):
Historic Photographs:
Photo taken shortly after the completion of the Pole Building.
7 revised 3/26/12
From the Whidbey News-Times, November 1939
.
Courtesy Island County Historical Society.
8 revised 3/26/12
Current Photographs (July – October, 2010; Mimi Sheridan and Robert Waterman):
Two views of the main (north) facade, showing the auditorium entrance and the food stand additions.
9 revised 3/26/12
Detail of sign and ornament over main entry (North side).
Details of eaves and log brackets.
10 revised 3/26/12
The west side of the building has a series of small storage rooms with brightly colored doors. The shed
in the left hand photo contains a propane tank.
Southwest corner. The shed-roof addition (1980) at the southwest corner is a used for equipment and tool storage.
11 revised 3/26/12
South side. Fair office. Southeast corner.
East side. Entrance to the Fine Arts room behind tree.
Entrance and porch to Fine Arts room on S.E. side.
12 revised 3/26/12
East side with prominent river rock chimney.
Northeast corner.
13 revised 3/26/12
Rock chimney, storage shed and double-door entry.
Details of river rock chimney.
14 revised 3/26/12
Typical window details showing six-light wood sash and log surround on first story windows and pairs of
eight-light windows, both with log surrounds.
Inside of the auditorium show the large posts (or poles) and diagonal braces that support the building..
15 revised 3/26/12
Ceiling and construction details in main auditorium. Stage at south end.
16 revised 3/26/12
Historical plaque on east wall of auditorium.
Views of log chandelier and the trusses and roof structure in the auditorium.
Two views of the east room.
Gust Skarberg was born in High Point in 1913. He attended Langley
High School where he was a
member of the 1931 championship basketball tem. He supervised the
WPA crew who built the Pole
Building in 1937, and owned a lumberyard during the 1960’s. Gust
managed the Island County Fair for
many years and was elected
president of the state fairs organization in 1974.
17 revised 3/26/12
View into kitchen from east room.
Two views of the arts room near the southeast corner of the building. The double doors open onto the
recessed porch. It appears that the room had an open ceiling (like the auditorium), as some original log
rafters are visible.
