Friday, October 15, 2010

Rosario

What is Rosario?






It is the name of the place, a resort on Orcas Island that dates from the early 1900’s. Robert Moran was a man who owned a ship building company in Seattle. He arrived in Seattle penniless and built a shipbuilding empire along with his two brothers. Moran become Mayor of Seattle in 1888, after the Great Fire had destroyed the downtown district. He dealt with the problems of the city while building his shipbuilding business. Through his outstanding efforts the city rebuilt better and stronger and he was easily re-elected. His company built all sorts of ships from fishing vessels to warships. The high point of his business career was when his shipyard built and launched the flagship of the Navy's "Great White Fleet", the USS Nebraska built in 1904 and used through WWI.


In 1904 Mr. Moran health was in danger. The doctors gave him only a few years to live, so he gave up the business life and moved from the city to Orcas Island where he started to complete his retirement home which he named Rosario. It was hub for visitors, congressmen and business alike. Rosario became known as a resort for the rich and influential. (Incidently, the island life was good for him because he lived until 1943).





Today it is still a resort. http://www.rosarioresort.com/ You can still stay at Rosario. You can get married there. 22 “rooms” are available. All of the accommodations are detached but close to the “house”. Some are motel suites. Others are individual home units. All have gorgeous views of Cascade Bay and the surrounding hills.





The main building houses the offices, meeting rooms, and a couple of restaurants on the main floor and a spa and pool in the lower level. The second floor has been left mostly like it was when Mr. Moran lived there. Stained glass is dispalyed in the windows and lighting. The woodwork is amazing! The floors, built-in drawers, even the doors with their unusual hinges reflect the attention to detail that is prevalent through out the structure. The second floor also contains an auditorium that contains a huge 1900 Steinway Grand Piano and an enormous pipe organ dating from 1913. Free concerts are held in this room at regular intervals that feature both instruments. During the fall the concerts are held at 4pm on Saturday. It would be a joy to attend.

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