As the construction project on the northeast corner of Commercial Avenue and 7th Street got underway in 1909, some residents of Anacortes felt the owners, the Moyer family, were “overbuilding.” But in replacing a 1881 wooden structure that had burned to the ground with a concrete, stone, and brick building, Katherine Moyer announced to the Anacortes American that the Keystone Building would be “thoroughly modern.” “Some people say that we have made a mistake to build such a building, that Anacortes is not yet ready for so expensive a structure…We believe, we know, that Anacortes has a splendid future.”
Today, residents and visitors enjoy that “splendid future.” Anacortes is included in livability.com’s list of top 100 best places to live in the U.S. And bestplaces.net ranks Anacortes among the top 5% for quality of life among 1,200 American cities.
How has the Keystone Building fared over 100+ years of life? Has it stood the test of time and played an important role in the community?
Substance and Style
When you look up at the building, you’ll note an impressive attention to detail. The exterior of the Keystone reflects its many roles. Large open windows on the second and third floors let in natural light, while even larger windows on the first floor accommodate inviting storefronts. The building’s roof is enhanced with cornices, window arches, and decorative bands of dentil molding.
There’s plenty of charm inside the building as well. A grand wooden staircase with carved details anchors the interior, and stained-glass windows in the Art Nouveau style are set into arched niches on the third floor beside the ballroom—the floor the Elks Club convinced the Moyers to add to the building’s original 2-story design.
Tom and Elisabeth Freeland, the Keystone Building’s owners since 2012, have undertaken major renovations to keep the building sound, including replacing the falling roof and atrium skylight that collapsed in the winter of 2020 and re-routing the sewer. When second story floors were opened up, Tom discovered wood timbers that were 3.5” by 13” and spaced just 12” apart, creating an unusually sturdy framework. By choosing stronger materials and building practices, the Moyers and their builders ensured the Keystone had a solid start.
Shops and Services
The Moyers would be glad to know that enterprises calling the Keystone “home” have continued to be varied and vital to the Anacortes community over the years, just as they were in the building’s first five decades when Katherine and Elwood, then their son Leroy, owned the place. Early on, the structure was home to a hotel and apartments; gradually businesses such as furniture shops and department stores (including a JC Penney for a time) moved in.
In one stop at the Keystone in the 1940’s, you could send a telegraph via Western Union and drop off your shoes at Al’s Shoe Doctor. A decade later, you could visit your dentist then then pick up supplies at Tradewell Grocery.
Ralph Rikdall of Burlington purchased the Keystone Building in 1960, then Jack Papritz, a founding member of the Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival, bought the building with his wife, Maria, in 1967. As art enthusiasts, the couple were pleased to rent space to painters, sculptors, and other creatives. “We’ve had a little bit of everything,” Maria remarked to the Anacortes American in 2014.
Today’s roster of tenants at the Keystone includes architects, therapists, accountants, skin care specialists, and business offices of a variety of companies. A popular vegetarian eatery, Cosmic Veggies, occupies the northeast corner of the first floor.
Happy Places
The building has also been home to a few innovative tenants. The Anacortes Center for Happiness set up in the ballroom on the third floor from 2011 to 2020. First conceived to be a dance center, the non-profit expanded to include poetry, music, and art. The founders had in mind to welcome “whatever is going to make people happy to share and whatever is going to make people happy to experience,” one told the Anacortes American.
Another one-of-a-kind tenant was “Caveman Al,” Al Smith, whose studio was in the little cottage attached to the back of the Keystone Building. He created hundreds of tiny works of art during nearly two decades in the cottage some called “cave-like” while others saw it as the “cutest studio on earth.” According to the Anacortes American, the Gallery of Small Sculptures was one of the “hidden delights of Anacortes,” and Al Smith was “a bona fide Anacortes colorful character.” Al passed away in 2017 and the alley leading to the cottage bears his nickname.
Looking forward to eventual retirement and new owners for the building, the Freelands enjoy sharing their experiences as stewards of the Keystone. They operated a fish-and-chips restaurant at one time and an ice cream parlor at another. Today, the bottom floor of the building is home to their retail shops selling jewelry, precious stones, beads and beading supplies, antiques, and home décor. “We’ve done a lot of things in here,” says Tom. “We’ve had a lot of fun.”
Tom and Elisabeth will welcome visitors to the Keystone during September’s Historic Building Tour hosted by the Downtown Anacortes Alliance. Participants will also visit three other historic buildings in town, hear a panel discussion among renovation experts, and enjoy cocktails, appetizers, and the opportunity to mingle. Come join the tour and imagine what the Moyers would think about their building today! Mark your calendar for September 14th, and email us for more information.
See more images of the Keystone Building at the Anacortes Museum.