Voelker House
715 Third Street
Adam Voelker immigrated in 1881 and came to Whidbey Island from Topeka, Kansas in 1887 at the invitation of his boyhood friend and town founder Jacob Anthes. After working for a time in Clinton, he settled in Langley and built this house in 1906 at the Southwest corner of the original 1891 town plat.
1911. Adam Voelker standing behind his house (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).
Adam became Jacob Anthes' "right hand man" helping to build the new wharf and other projects. William McGinnis described Adam as: "A short bowlegged man with overall pants dragging the dock planking. He squinted with very crossed eyes and grinned through his stained teeth. He was a pretty good old-country mechanic."
Adam remained in Langley after the Anthes family left for Everett in 1908. He never married and died October 17,1940.
circa 1930. Adam Voelker (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).
The property changed owners several times following Adam's death.
1952. Voelker house (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).
An addition was added to the southwest corner of the house in the 1960s.
Circa 1963. Addition on south side (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).
Brandt Wilson bought the property in 1974. The previous owner, Lulu Anderson, died in 1972, and Brandt recalled it "hadn't been occupied for 4 years when he bought it." He called it the "Prairie Schooner." His brothers Dennis and Kevin, and later his sister Mindie, joined him. He built a garage with an apartment for his brother Dennis above on the lot adjacent to the house in 1976.
They acquired two pigs they named "Rhoda and Rooter" to remove the blackberry bushes.
Brandt built a house on the part of the property south of the Voelker house in 1979 and sold the house to Harrison Jones who subsequently sold it to Kelley Choate in 2004.
Circa 1985. Voelker house (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).
In 2005, Kelley sold the garage and apartment to Langley artist David Gignac.
Circa 1985. Voelker house (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).
2020. Adam Voelker house (Courtesy Robert Waterman).
2020. A front deck was added (Courtesy Robert Waterman).
A new walkway with lighting was added and landscaping done in 2021.
2022. New walkway (Courtesy Robert Waterman).