Claims

The items listed below are currently undocumented artifacts held in the collection of The Orcas Island Historical Museums. All claims are subject to Washington’s RCW 63.26.040 (Notice of abandonment of property).  

Any person claiming ownership of the property must provide proof of ownership in writing to the Orcas Island Historical Museums. Please email info@orcasmuseums.org with any relevant information about your claim such as receipt of purchase, photo documentation, or other supporting evidence.

If no claim or information establishing ownership is received by the museum or society within 90 days from the date of posting, the property shall be deemed abadoned and shall become the sole property of the Orcas Island Historical Museums.

Click on each photo to expand it. Contact OIHM’s office for more information or inquiries. 

 

Review Claims

First piece, “Success Spokane” fanning mill. Red-painted wood with metal fixtures. Date unknown. (Photo shows main fanning grader.) 

OIHM Reference: FB_67

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026.

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026.

Fanning Mill (1/2)

Second piece, “Success Spokane” fanning mill. Red-painted wood with metal fixtures. Date unknown. (Photo shows detached mill.) 

OIHM Reference: FB_70

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Fanning Mill (2/2)

Thresher

Metal thresher with toothed conveyer. Date unknown.

OIHM Reference: FB_101

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

"7-Up" Cooler

White cooler with a chain latch, “7-Up” logo. Date unknown. (Photo ca. 1993)

OIHM Reference: FB_66

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Post Office Counter

Large wooden postal counter with cupboards and mail slot. 84” x 26” x 46.5”. Date and post office unknown.

OIHM Reference: FB_77

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Double adhesive tape dispenser, rolling pins with cutting edge. Black and blue. Metal Specialities Manufacturing Co. *Star* No 5.

OIHM Reference: FB_83

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Tape Dispenser

Wringer

Table-top wringer. Lovell Co. No 32, ca. 1890-1930.

OIHM Reference: FB_92

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Iron lime kiln door frame with double doors. Illegible writing, “Foundry”. 

OIHM Reference: FB_103

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Lime Kiln Door

Hay Rake

Hay rake with wheels and teeth. Date unknown.

OIHM Reference: FB_98

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Two large wagon wheels, all cast iron. Alternating double spokes, 22 total. Wagon Wheel Group C.

OIHM Reference: FB_100

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Wagon Wheels, Group C

Concrete Mixer

“Dandie Mixer”, ca. 1920s-1950s. Multiple gears and wheels, intake and output shoots. 

OIHM Reference: FB_97

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Cast iron blade. Length/Width: 24.5″/2.5″. Date unknown.

OIHM Reference: FB_64

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Iron Blade

Post Office Facade

Wood facade for postal service, vertical sliding glass door. Date and post office unknown.

“Made by Junction Mill Cabinet Works in Seattle, Wash”.

OIHM Reference: FB_75

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Rocking Chair

Dark wood rocking chair, lathe turned. No apparent marks/inscriptions.

OIHM Reference: FB_82

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

(Photo displays the back servicing side.) Set of 63 post boxes with glass windows and painted numbers. Names on boxes suggest Eastsound (Howard Wilson; __ Neal; __Carson; Gordon – Trish”.

AM. P.O.E. Co, Patent 12-31-01, 1-14-02.

OIHM Reference: FB_76

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Post Boxes

Wood barrel washing basin with metal gears.

“Sunshine” Voss Bros, Davenport, ca 1912. 

OIHM Reference: FB_88

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Washing Machine

Lamps

14 small oil lamps. White porcelain with blue decorations, glass vase.

OIHM Reference: FB_71

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Waffle maker. Griswold Mfg Co, “New American No 8”, Erie PA USA.

OIHM Reference: FB_73a

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Griswold Waffle Maker

Andresen Waffle Maker

Waffle maker. Alfred Andresen Heart Shaped Design, ca 1893-1913

OIHM Reference: FB_73b

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Container with receding lid, blue with gold trim decorations.

M.J. Brandenstein Co, ca. 1890s.

OIHM Reference: FB_81

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Coffee Container

Washing Machine

Metal carriage and chamber on wheels. Mfr. 1900 Company, “1900 Cataract”, ca 1920s. 

OIHM Reference: FB_87

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Three wooden wagon wheels with yellow hubs. Wagon Wheel Group A

OIHM Reference: FB_39

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Wagon Wheels, Group A

Two wagon wheels, 14 wooden spokes and sloped inverted hub. May have once been painted red. 

OIHM Reference: FB_86

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Wagon Wheels, Group B

Wagon Wheel, Group D

One wagon wheel. Yellow hub and 14 faded red painted spokes. Distinct from Wheels Group A. 

OIHM Reference: FB_104

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

Unknown Item FB_84

Shallow metal circular basin with venting tube. Three metal stands. Marked with Accession #996.15.1, duplicate and incorrect.

OIHM Reference: FB_84

Date of Notice: July 29, 2026

Last Date for Claim: October 27, 2026

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

Glenn Aust

Trustee

Glenn is part of a 7th generation homestead family on Orcas Island. He lives full time in Deer Harbor and is grateful for this great community.

Glenn works and owns a media production company and spends his free time volunteering on Orcas. In addition to the Orcas Museum board, Glenn is also Vice President and Historian of the Deer Harbor Community Club. He is also a SJC Cemetery Commissioner serving Orcas. All of these provide a fulfilling opportunity for serving our community.

Michelle Hassebrock

Program Administrator

Michelle (she/her) grew up in Whatcom County and has lived on Orcas Island since 2020. In the spring of 2022, she joined the Museums as a weekly docent. Within a year, Michelle decided to bite the bullet and become a full-time staff member. She now works as the Program Administrator, and is currently working on revitalizing the Oral History Project and designing new exhibits.

Debbie Durand

Museum Administrator

An Orcas resident since 2017, Debbie has family ties to what feels like half of Olga and beyond. She teases she knows more of her husband’s family history than he does. Debbie is our museum admin, but also bookkeeper for many island businesses, and treasurer to several non-profits beyond the park. 

Nancy Stillger

Executive Director

Nancy has lived on Orcas since 2020 coming here as an empty nester with her avid sailor husband. Nancy is New Mexico born, raised in Singapore and then has had many other stints up and down the West Coast. She has over 30 years in the non-profit industry always working in the areas of arts, culture, literature and heritage. She has a BA degree in Economics from Scripps College and a MA in Urban Planning from UCLA with an emphasis on the history of the built environment.