By Lorrie Harrison
Special to the Islands’ Weekly
Ten years ago a group of islanders gathered around a Lopez kitchen table and talked about their dreams: What if folks didn’t have to move to the mainland when their homes became too much to keep up or because of a change in social or health circumstances? What if Lopezians could live out their lives right here on the island they love?
“A few elders had recently moved away because Lopez had no such place,” says Charlie Janeway, current co-chair of Lopez Housing Options the nonprofit organization that built and now manages The Hamlet.
The goal was clear: build beautiful homes in the heart of the village for people who want to simplify, downsize, lighten the burden of home ownership and stay put in their own community. In 2008 the fourteen Hamlet Cottages and The Hamlet House, Lopez Island’s adult family home, were completed.
In December 2011, the last of the team who dreamed The Hamlet retired from the board. “Rip Van Camp and Murray Trelease’s retirement marked an end of an important chapter in our history. We are so grateful for their tireless efforts bringing the Hamlet to reality,” says Charlie.
Barbara Fleming moved to the Hamlet in September, 2008 from Orcas Island for a sense of community.
“When you live alone, it’s different,” she says. “Your neighbors have significant others, you get a few invitations but you’re still alone. Here there’s always someone to have a glass of wine with, to walk with. You don’t have to plan it. If you fix too much for dinner, you can invite a friend to come share it with you.”
Fleming was also drawn to the idea of having a low-maintanence home. Before moving to the Hamlet she found it getting harder and harder to take care of an entire house.
“If you need some work on the house, you either have to find someone to do it for you or do it yourself,” she said. “I could no longer climb on the roof to clean my gutters and my chimney.”
Barbara returned to Orcas to put her house on the market, but ended up in Seattle being treated for ovarian cancer for eight months. While she was there her house sold.
“When my treatment was finished I had some decisions to make,” she said. “The Hamlet is the place where I was happiest, so I decided to come back. The truth of the matter is, right now I feel better than I have in years.”
The cottages are for rent, just like apartments. Rent includes the services of a personal assistant who does housekeeping or light chores for each resident twice each month. Charges for water, sewer and trash pick-up are included.
Six of the seven one-bedroom cottages are reserved for those with modest incomes. Serving the full range of islanders, including those with limited resources, is a key part of the Hamlet’s mission. Currently there are four cottages available.
While many residents are long-time islanders, others move to The Hamlet Cottages to be near family or friends. Nancy Mariotti, a retired college administrator from Maryland, recently moved here to be near her son and his wife who live in Bellingham. Her Lopez connection: Moira and Colin Goode are her son’s in-laws.
“I like the simple lifestyle,” Nancy says. “It’s a nice blend of interesting things to do and having your privacy.”
Annie Fox, who has rented her cottage for four years says its a place to be involved, connected and have fun.
Mollie Fromm moved to her cottage after spending summers aboard Little Toot, her houseboat moored in Fisherman Bay and winters in Miami Beach.
“Everything here is close enough to walk: the clinic, community center, LVM, the pharmacy, Holly B’s, the library and of course, my very favorite place – Take It or Leave It,” she said.
For more info about the Hamlet, visit www.lopezhamlet.com.
– Harrison is the current director of Lopez Hamlet
