Ports of Call By Deane Hislop
LANGLEY, WHIDBEY ISLAND
Historical Community Oozing with Charm Langley sits on a high embankment overlooking the dark blue waters of Saratoga Passage in Puget Sound. Historic buildings, fine restaurants, and eclectic shops make this quaint seaside village an enjoyable place to visit. It exudes charm with shopkeepers who are genuinely friendly when you step across their threshold. Visitors can search out handmade clothing, jewelry, art glass, furniture, gourmet items, books, and antiques. Also known as “The Village by the Sea,” Langley was incorporated in 1913 and celebrated its 107th birthday this year. Established by German immigrant Jacob Anthes in 1890, it is located on the eastside of south Whidbey Island and within easy cruising distance from the more populated areas of Puget Sound. The threat of large-scale development in the 1980s led Langley residents to grow their economy based on their best assets: the island’s natural beauty, rural character, heritage and the arts. Mindful of the past, the city has put effort into preserving its history. Five entries have been placed on the Historic Preservation Commission’s Register of Historical Places: Langley City Hall, built in 1948 by the local Masons group as a Masonic Temple; The South Whidbey Historical Museum, a former bunkhouse; the old section of Woodmen Cemetery, the oldest cemetery on south Whidbey Island and the final resting place of many of Langley’s founding families; Wylie hospital-birthing house; and finally the old section of the Langley Library. The area’s history is worn like badges of honor with many informative signs sprinkle throughout town. One interesting fact is Langley was the second town in the United States to have an all-female administration in 1919.
72
The Harbor The Langley Boat Harbor is operated by the Port of South Whidbey and monitors VHF channel 66A. The addition of D and E docks a few years ago significantly increased guest moorage to over 600 feet, making the docking of larger vessels much easier. The harbor features beautiful views of Saratoga Passage, Camano Island, and the Cascade Mountains. Ashore is the landscaped Phil Simon Memorial Park overlooking the boat basin. With tables and barbeque pits, it is a perfect place to have a picnic or just sit, relax, and enjoy the view. For the scuba diver, just offshore of the park is Langley’s manmade reef, composed of thousands of tires, wood logs and tons of chains. The reef is home to octopi, crab, and fish of all kinds. Going to Town Much of the village’s activity is centered around the repurposed historical buildings on 1st and Second streets. Langley is a walker’s paradise and only a short uphill distance from the marina. The village’s commercial area measures a few square blocks and is easily walkable. The meandering, flowered walkways are packed with art galleries, bookstores, a museum, antique shops, boutiques, souvenir and specialty shops. The work of some of the region’s best-known artists is displayed in galleries throughout downtown. Along 1st Street is the village’s iconic bronze sculpture of a boy leaning on a railing gazing out to sea, his small dog lying beside him. The adjacent stairs lead to a promenade and public beach. At the north end of town on First Street, another set of steps connects with the promenade. Should you need provisions,
