Colvos Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colvos Store
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Colvos Store
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 123rd Ave. SW and Cove Rd., Vashon, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Trones, John; Parker, Gustav |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000970 |
| Added to NRHP | August 10, 2000 |
The Colvos Store is a special old building in Vashon, Washington. It has been known by a few names, like the Kress Store and Belcher Home. This building is unique because it was once a shop and a home all in one! It's so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 2000. This means it's a place worth protecting because of its history.
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What is the Colvos Store?
The Colvos Store is a historic building that served two purposes. It had a shop area in the front. Behind the shop, there was an apartment where people lived. This combination made it a very practical building for its time.
A Look Back: The Store's Beginning
The Colvos Store was built in 1923. Two people, John Trones and Gustav Parker, worked together to build it. John Trones was an immigrant from Norway. The front part of the building, where the store was, measured about 30 feet by 30 feet. The apartment in the back was a bit smaller, about 30 feet by 25 feet. Later, in the 1930s, a garage was added, but it is no longer there. An addition was also made to the back apartment.
New Owners and Changes
John Trones first ran the store himself for several years. Then, in 1927, he sold it to the Tellvik family. Mr. Tellvik added a garage to the property. This garage worked with a gas pump from the Shell Oil Company. The store changed hands a few more times in the 1930s. It went from the Tellviks to the Townes, and then to the Sextons.
In 1938, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Kress bought the store. They renamed it the "Kress Store." They ran the store until 1943. At that time, it became harder to get supplies, and fewer people were shopping there. So, the Kresses decided to close the store.
From Store to Home: A New Life
After the store closed, the building started to get old and worn out. But in 1985, it was given a new life! The building was fixed up and turned into a home and an art studio. Its outside look was made to be just like it was when it was first built.
In 1994, something interesting was found. An old gasoline storage tank, about 700 gallons big, was still buried underground! It was safely removed. Steps were taken to clean the soil around it, making sure the area was safe and clean.
