The Gibson home consists of a 1920s
style soda fountain, presided over by Sally Gibson. Photo by
Eileen F. Gieser.
Ocean Shores couple
share their dream house as a Bed & Breakfast
By Eileen F. Gieser
For The Vidette
This article first appeared in 2002
The outside of the Gibson's house in Ocean Shores gives no hint
of the unique features they have inside their home.
When Norman Gibson retired several years ago from the Safety
and Health department of the Post Office, he was already a collector
and builder of musical creations. He and his wife Sally reserved
one room in their home for this collection, but the rest of the
house overflows with his creations as he continues to build innovative
displays that combine music and figures reminiscent of the days
of the Hurley Gurley and the organ grinder. Sally retired several
years ago from her job as a school cook and designed their home
that was built in the year 2000. Visitors will encounter an original
German organ grinder upon entering the front hallway. Next to
this is the impressive Band Organ named "The Scotsman"
because it was constructed to play Celtic music for Highland
Games. Norm completed it in the year 2000 after two years of
meticulous craftsmanship. He operates it when he is hired to
play at grand openings, family reunions and conventions. Listening
to the haunting melody of "Amazing Grace", you can
hear the sound of bagpipes in the 97 pipes that make up this
unique instrument. The etched glass screen depicts Norm playing
the pipes in the 1970s, and the hand-carved Drum Major swinging
his baton wears a highland kilt sewn by Sally.
The music room holds an upright grand player piano with an extensive
collection of piano rolls stored in the built-in shelving next
to it. Another upright piano shares the room with an old Victrola
phonograph. In the corner, music tinkles from a tall cabinet
of dark wood, played by the animated figure of a tiny Monk at
the pipe organ, while other monks enter the scene from the left.
Even though it looks like an antique, this is one of Norm Gibson's
creations. Music boxes are displayed in custom built-in shelving
and are added to every year. Norm has a large workshop with many
specialized tools to construct and maintain all of the instruments
throughout their home.
The Gibson's love for nostalgia prompted them to include a soda
fountain on the second floor. The 1920s-style soda fountain area
seats sixteen, with its old-time stools, tables and chairs and
curved counter done up in shades of aqua. There are counter-top
accessories true to the period, such as glass drinking straw
holders and a collection of glasses for serving sodas and sundaes.
Sally and Norm both don white hats and aprons when they serve
ice cream from behind the counter. Norm even sports his bow tie
as he concocts a "green river" or banana split.
Adjoining the soda fountain is the entrance to their movie theatre,
seating fourteen visitors in refurbished movie seats or on a
comfortable couch. As you step under the lighted movie marquee,
you see the sign "no ice cream allowed". That doesn't
apply, however, to the free popcorn from the soda fountain. Once
inside the Art Deco-style theatre, you feel that you are at a
private screening in the home of a Hollywood celebrity. The speakers
come on, the motorized curtains are drawn back from the 6 1/2
foot screen, and the show begins with one of the 250 movies in
their DVD and Laser Disc collection. In contrast to the old-fashioned
décor, the sound system inside this theatre is state-of-the-art.
"When you see an action film and feel the sound through
the transducer under the floor, you feel like you are right there,"
says Norm. He is pleased to give tips on installing and building
home theatres and has advised other homeowners in the area during
their construction.
Norm's original design of a pinball machine stands outside the
theatre, and his hand built Illuminated Stereoscope in the tearoom
includes twenty-one-revolving images. The vintage labels on his
creations carry out the nostalgic theme. The Gibsons collection
of Stereoptic viewers dates from the original black plastic viewer
of 1938, and includes the special commemorative viewer from the
Seattle Worlds Fair. The viewers are on display in a glass case
in the soda fountain area and are backlit to allow a look at
various scenes.
Not all the Gibson's efforts are confined to the interior of
their lovely home.
Their many windows give bird lovers a chance to identify the
chickadees, red-winged blackbirds and stellar jays that visit
the multiple bird feeders. Norm has added more birdfeeders surrounded
by natural vegetation on the canal side of the house for the
enjoyment of those taking tea in the dining room.
"Years ago, if anyone had told me I would be an avid birdwatcher,
I never would have believed him," declares Norm. Now he
and Sally reel off the identities of their feathered visitors
as fast as the birds appear. The deer and squirrels are not neglected
here either, visiting frequently for the salt licks and snacks.
Squirrels keep their paws off the birdfeed, since they have their
own feeders close to the ground.
For the Gibson's private viewing of the wildlife and the canal,
they built a third floor crows nest above their own bedroom,
reached by a wooden ladder. A roomy basket on a rope hauls up
any snacks or supplies to add to their enjoyment while they perch
high above the canal.
Sally and Norm have their license as a Bed and Breakfast. For
the paying guest there is a bedroom decorated in cozy Scottish
plaid on the second floor overlooking the canal, with a private
bathroom steps away. But this B & B offers unusual perks:
an ice cream concoction every evening, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
and the movie of their choice from the movie collection during
the hours of 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., with free popcorn. Breakfast every
morning is included in the room rate, and special rates apply
for multiple nights. Other visitors can enjoy this enchanting
home by taking tea by appointment. Sally serves tea with scones
and other goodies to groups of two to twelve with advance reservations
in her dining room overlooking the water, just off the garden
room. On the Internet, the Gibsons are linked to the website
of the Washington Bed and Breakfast Guild at www.wbbg.com. They
are also linked to the Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce website,
www.oceanshores.org. |
