Where else would you expect to find an elevator outside? Port Townsend, Washington

Port Townsend, Washington, is a beautiful coastal town on the Puget Sound. Home to Fort Worden, an old army installation which is now host to music and art festivals, conferences, recreation and camping, it’s one of our favorite places we’ve stayed.

The downtown area is easily walkable, and full of fun shops. There is a great automotive antique store that we stumbled across on Washington St., Bergstrom’s Antique & Classic Autos. This store is an unbelievable labor of love. Missing a door handle, horn ring, an emblem or hood ornament? He’s most likely got it, but it probably has to be older than a 1980’s model..

During our visit through the store, the owner, Robin Bergstrom, began sharing some of the stories behind the vehicles he had on display and for sale. This shop has always been a garage, beginning in 1917, and Robin leased the building in 1981. He came to Port Townsend in the 1940’s and grew up there, so he knows a lot of local history. His dad bought the Kuhn building on Water St. and operated Bergstrom’s Department Store for many years. That’s where the Victorian elevator enters the picture.

This Otis elevator was originally purchased and installed when the Saint John’s Hospital in Port Townsend was built in 1890. The hospital was operated by the Sisters of Charity and Providence until 1965 when a new hospital was built. The elevator became available, and Mr. Bergstrom thought he could use it for his store. He moved the elevator, but found the building would not support, nor could he afford, the installation of the support structure on the inside or outside of the building. So the elevator stayed about where it was put: at the southwest corner of Water and Madison Streets. It served as the home of a hot dog stand and then Elevated Ice Cream began their small operation out of it. The business model proved popular, and they outgrew the space after their first year in business, so Elevated Ice Cream Shop moved locations and is now located across the street, still using the motto, “Lift Your Spirits.”

Elevated Ice Cream shop on Water St. It began in the Victorian elevator.

Over the years, the elevator has sold donuts, Mexican food, and who knows what else. It’s in need of some tender loving care and the elements continue to take their toll. But that’s the story of the Victorian elevator, sitting outside on a street corner in Port Townsend, Washington.