Morris Street makeover makes a gem

The small Town of La Conner is often referred to as “the most perfect Washington State weekend getaway destination” and “top of the romantic getaways [in] Washington.” People visit a picturesque small town with a scenic boardwalk, unique boutiques, extraordinary galleries and museums, exceptional restaurants and hotels and welcoming coffee shops. Because La Conner offers so much to its visitors and depends on them as source of revenue, it is important that the residents of La Conner do what we can to maintain and improve the appearance of our town.

La Conner-Whitney and Chilberg Road are the principal thoroughfares into La Conner. They terminate at the roundabout, the town’s gateway. The old Morris Street gas station is the first structure visitors see when they enter La Conner. This gas station was built in the 1950s and is no longer in use. Unfortunately, the building has fallen into significant disrepair; similarly, the area around has become badly overgrown and has been used as a dumping ground. These conditions inspired OPAL (a local non-profit group) to make the revitalization of Morris Street Gas Station its first major undertaking.

For months, OPAL members met after work and volunteered their time and resources to power wash, prime and paint the gas station. We also removed the piles of junk and trash behind the structure, cleared away the overgrown blackberry bushes and brush, placed curtains in the windows and provided planters to adorn the building.

OPAL would not have been able to fine-tune the Morris Street Gas Station, La Conner’s first impression, without the generosity of Karl’s Paint, Christianson’s Nursery, Mortenson’s Signs, Ramon Hayes, Scott Thomas and Greg Bishop for the graphic designs. Thank you all for your work and kindness.