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About
Eliason Square
1883
In September 1883, Jorgen Eliason, one of Poulsbo’s first permanent settlers, rowed into Dog Fish Bay on the eastern side of the Kitsap Peninsula. Eliason followed Ole Stubb (an acquaintance from Norway) to the south side of the bay. After Stubb assisted Eliason in locating a parcel, Eliason filed his claim and returned to Seattle for his sister, Rakel, and son, E.J. Eliason. Shortly thereafter, he moved the rest of his family west from New York. Eliason is a farmer by trade and claims his homestead just up from the waterfront. This is the origin of Eliason Square.
1901
1908-1920's
The main Eliason building opened in 1908. E.J. Eliason (son of Jorgen) owned the mercantile on the first floor and had his family apartment along with other apartments he rented out on the second floor. It appears that the third floor was used for storage early on. In 1920 the Masonic Lodge leased the floor for its use, and it is believed that in Eliason’s will, the lease was granted in perpetuity to the Masons.
It wasn’t long after the mercantile opened that people complained that they couldn’t get their mail after store hours, so E.J. who was the postmaster, built the little shop (Annex) to the south to accommodate them.*
E.J. Eliason kept his business in half of the first floor and rented out the other half to Paulson, Hostmark and Borgen (PHB) for a grocery business. In 1912, Eliason added a soda fountain/ice cream parlor in his half and also accommodated Wallace’s Jewelry – the town watchmaker.
1921-1970's
In 1921, E.J. Eliason closed out his business and, after some remodeling, the Kitsap County Co-op moved its store into the space formerly occupied by Eliason. PHB closed in 1923 and the Co-op moved their men’s clothing and shoe store into that space. The Co-op remained in the building until 1959.
From 1960 to 1965, the 1st Avenue Grocery store was in residence. During the 1970s CHT Appliance and Montgomery Ward’s occupied the bottom floor.
