Island Senior: Who were the Mullises?
Posted May 15, 2017 at 5:57 am by Peggy Sue McRae
Frank, Ada, Frances, and Ella Mullis – Photo Mullis/McRae family
Story by Peggy Sue McRae…
There is a plaque on the outside of the Mullis Center that reads, This land is a gift to the seniors of San Juan Island to honor the memory of our grandparents George and Emma Mullis and our parents Frank and Belle Mullis – from Ina Mullis Gustin, James and Florence Mullis Lang, Wallace and Evelyn Mullis, Donald and June Mullis – December 1994. Our community built the Mullis Center but the Mullis family, in particular Don and June Mullis, contributed the property that it stands on.
Some of you may remember the most recent generation mentioned on the plaque but fewer will remember Frank and Belle Mullis and even fewer will know who George and Emma Mullis were. However, thanks to the research of Mona Meeker on Friday Harbor’s pioneer families we have a collection of early newspaper excerpts that offer a few telling glimpses into the past of these early residents of Friday Harbor.
Both George Mullis and Emma Mouttell were immigrants from the UK who met and married in Kansas where they had their first four children, Annie, Ada, Frank, and Ella. They then moved to Friday Harbor where their youngest child, Frances was born. “Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Mullis, of this city, were the happy recipients of a Christmas present in the form of a little baby girl, who put in her appearance the day before Christmas.” (Islander, 12/27/1894) George Mullis was a carpenter by trade. His work survives today in some of Friday Harbor’s most cherished historic structures.
The home George Mullis built for his family was remarked upon in the Friday Harbor Journal (9/27/1906), “George Mullis is erecting a large veranda about his palatial new residence”. From the mention of parties given it seems the Mullis home was a social hub, also from the Friday Harbor Journal (2/21/1907) “The Misses Ada and Ella Mullis, gave a very enjoyable party at their pleasant home Saturday evening, in honor of their guests the Misses Fallon, and Till, of Seattle. The evening was devoted to charades, other like amusements and social converse. All entered heartily into the enjoyments of the evening. Dainty refreshments were served, after which the guests took leave of their hostesses, to whom they were indebted for so pleasant an occasion…” and again on (5/23/1907) “The Mullis sisters have treated themselves to a fine new piano, and since its receipt the Caprice club has met at the Mullis home for a social evening.”
Mullis House – Photo Mullis/McRae family
Years later George and Emma’s son Frank Mullis would move into the Mullis house with his wife Belle and children Ina, Wally, Don, and Flossie. Today the “palatial residence” on Argyle still stands. Slightly hidden now by overgrown vegetation, knowing that this is where the Caprice club once met only adds to its weathered charm.
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Categories: Community, History, Island Senior, People
7 comments:
7 comments...
The Mullis House was the site of the late State Sen. Harriet Spanel’s first campaign event on San Juan Island, which Lee Sturdivant and I hosted as our first foray into local politics. It was also where we discovered how to guarantee a good crowd. We asked 20 people to bring cookies, and all 20 showed up.
great article. wonderful history. thank you, peggy sue.
We all have a heritage. We are all products of that pace in a subtle way. Thanks Peggy sue for sharing these
An important story. Love the photos, too. Thank you, Peggy Sue.
I would LOVE to read these articles every week. My blessed contact with Don Mullis will never be forgotten! Thank you Peggy Sue for bringing it to life again!
And we, the proud owners of Argyle House Bed and Breakfast, always point out to historically-minded guests that our building was done as a wedding present for Ada, and remained in the Mullis family for many years. We’ve always enjoyed members of the Mullis family who have drifted by to comment on this or that historical points about our house, or how a grandmother always enjoyed rocking in her chair while watching the outdoors.
Great article and photos, Peggy Sue! I remember taking care of Belle Mullis when I was a nurse’s aide at Islands Convalescent Center, somewhere between 1969 & 1972. She was a very sweet, gentle woman.
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