History & Preservation
The Keewaydin Clubhouse was built in 1922 and has since been used as a community gathering place for residents of Mercer Island and surrounding communities. Veterans of VFW Post 5760 purchased the property in 1966 and use the proceeds from rentals of the clubhouse to fund its veterans’ relief programs and upkeep needs of this historic national landmark.
In 2008 the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, but it was starting to show it’s age; so in 2011 the members initiated “Operation Restoration 2011”, which was dedicated to Huston “Hu” Riley, a well known WWII veteran who passed away in 2011. An aggressive fundraising campaign was launched, generating enough funding to provide a new roof, new gutters, new cedar siding covering the entire building, new insulation, original window restoration, and painting the exterior of the building with a designer palette of colors. The Post received the John Spellman award for exemplary achievement in historic preservation in 2013.
Also in 2013 the members decided to create a place of remembrance at the Post in the form of a “Patriots Plaza” that features an plaza of bricks engraved with the names of veterans and friends of the VFW, flag poles and a marker listing the names of those Mercer Island residents lost during the Vietnam conflict. Funds were again raised and the Plaza was dedicated in 2014.
The Mercer Island Masons, who also use the Post as their meeting place, funded a major upgrade to the bar area in 2017 and the members took advantage of the Covid Pandemic hiatus to completely remodel the kitchen.
The clubhouse has played host to a wide variety of events through the years ranging from weddings to birthday parties, remembrance ceremonies to class reunions. Even small businesses have used the clubhouse for a wide range of off- site planning meetings and unique training forums.
The membership is committed to maintaining the facility as the premier event site for the Mercer Island community for years to come.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." - Dwight Eisenhower
Do You Need To Contact the VFW Mercer Island?
vfw.5760@gmail.com
Email is preferred