2018-10-14 Anacortes Junk Co. (B&W) (2048x1024)
"SW side of 2nd St. at Commercial. Built around 1890.
One of the oldest wooden frame, false front buildings in town. It served as a livery stable in 1907. In c.1913 Greek immigrant E. Mike Demopoulous established Anacortes Junk Co." -City of Anacortes
Efthimios "Mike" Demopoulos lived what was, literally, a rags to riches story. He spoke no English when he came to the U.S. from Greece as a teenager, learning it as he worked at restaurants, railroads and shipyards in Portland and Seattle.
Born in Ballos, Greece, on July 24, 1889. He immigrated to the United States in 1907, traveling to Portland, Oregon, to live with his cousin. He wanted to be more than a dishwasher, so he moved north and worked at various jobs including digging the original Anacortes sewer lines. He also worked at the Seattle Shipyards of Robert Moran, who built Rosario Resort, in Tacoma, and in Vancouver, B. C. In 1913 he returned to Anacortes to make his permanent home. He borrowed $14 and gathered junk and scrap in a wheelbarrow, later using a horse and wagon, and finally trucks. Anacortes Junk Co. was later re-named Marine Supply and Hardware and moved to 1009 2nd Street.
Toil was second nature to a man who until age 90 showed up for work at six every morning.
Demopoulos bought property "every time he made a quarter extra," but never forgot to give back. His generosity is legendary. Much of his land he eventually gave to Anacortes because "the town helped me and I'm helping it." He donated property for the plywood mill and the schools. In 1956 he donated ten square city blocks of waterfront property to the Port of Anacortes, enabling them to establish the Cap Sante Boat Haven.
"The Port of Anacortes has decided to take down the historic Anacortes Junk Co. building behind the Marine Supply & Hardware store because a report found that the structure was unsafe.
A port-hired structural engineer wrote that the building was “unsafe and dangerous” for occupants and stated it had a “high probability of collapse under any high wind or seismic event” in a Oct. 25 letter to the port.
While the port is unable to save the building at this point, it hopes to be able to salvage its recognizable facade on Second Street and donate it to the Anacortes Museum, said Brenda Treadwell, port director of planning, properties and environmental." - Anacortes American
2018-10-14 Anacortes Junk Co. (B&W) (2048x1024)
"SW side of 2nd St. at Commercial. Built around 1890.
One of the oldest wooden frame, false front buildings in town. It served as a livery stable in 1907. In c.1913 Greek immigrant E. Mike Demopoulous established Anacortes Junk Co." -City of Anacortes
Efthimios "Mike" Demopoulos lived what was, literally, a rags to riches story. He spoke no English when he came to the U.S. from Greece as a teenager, learning it as he worked at restaurants, railroads and shipyards in Portland and Seattle.
Born in Ballos, Greece, on July 24, 1889. He immigrated to the United States in 1907, traveling to Portland, Oregon, to live with his cousin. He wanted to be more than a dishwasher, so he moved north and worked at various jobs including digging the original Anacortes sewer lines. He also worked at the Seattle Shipyards of Robert Moran, who built Rosario Resort, in Tacoma, and in Vancouver, B. C. In 1913 he returned to Anacortes to make his permanent home. He borrowed $14 and gathered junk and scrap in a wheelbarrow, later using a horse and wagon, and finally trucks. Anacortes Junk Co. was later re-named Marine Supply and Hardware and moved to 1009 2nd Street.
Toil was second nature to a man who until age 90 showed up for work at six every morning.
Demopoulos bought property "every time he made a quarter extra," but never forgot to give back. His generosity is legendary. Much of his land he eventually gave to Anacortes because "the town helped me and I'm helping it." He donated property for the plywood mill and the schools. In 1956 he donated ten square city blocks of waterfront property to the Port of Anacortes, enabling them to establish the Cap Sante Boat Haven.
"The Port of Anacortes has decided to take down the historic Anacortes Junk Co. building behind the Marine Supply & Hardware store because a report found that the structure was unsafe.
A port-hired structural engineer wrote that the building was “unsafe and dangerous” for occupants and stated it had a “high probability of collapse under any high wind or seismic event” in a Oct. 25 letter to the port.
While the port is unable to save the building at this point, it hopes to be able to salvage its recognizable facade on Second Street and donate it to the Anacortes Museum, said Brenda Treadwell, port director of planning, properties and environmental." - Anacortes American