Remembering Ed Musgrove: architect and friend

Ed Musgrove was an architect and a good one. He got more calls to donate his talents than most, and fortunately for us, he had more talent than most to give.

So that’s what he did, and if you take the time to look around La Conner, you’ll note many examples of his talent as well as results of that spirit of generosity.

Ed and I came together to create and help build the public restroom on Morris Street. Ed said he would design it, and I agreed to lead the construction effort. We were following an example set by Bud Moore, who in 1982 led the charge in creating “One Moore Outhouse” when he aptly served the town as it’s Mayor.

With the help of the La Conner Kiwanis, the Town of La Conner and other generous donors, Ed’s design of the “Morris Street Restroom” became a reality and opened for service in 1996.

All who participated were pleased as punch when the last nail was pounded, and we were patting each other on the back when Ed said, “Not so fast.” He reminded us of the weather vane that was part of the original design intended to be the crown on the throne(s) of his Morris Street effort.

I found myself walking down First Street one morning shortly after the completion of the project when Ed saw me and crossed the street to ask me when I was going to put up the weather vane. Knowing that the best defense is sometimes the best offense, I said “I thought you were going to put it up!” Ed looked at me with a questioning glint in his eye, then just smiled and silently walked away.

We were friends, and over the years worked on other projects together. It was rare when one of us wouldn’t ask the other “Have you put up the weather vane yet?” The response was always the same, “not yet” no matter which one of us was providing the answer.

Well, we lost our friend Ed Musgrove on Sept. 12, and he will be missed, but not forgotten. Unfortunately, I won’t be asked again by my friend, “Is the weather vane up yet?” But if I was, I’d be able to say, “Yes Ed it is, and exactly as you designed it.”

P.S. Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Ramon Hayes and the Town of La Conner Department of Public Works for Ed’s “Weather Vane” installation.