Shaw Island's renowned nuns saying farewell

For 27 years, Franciscan nuns have faithfully rung up everything from baby diapers to hardware nails in their Little Portion Store, the only commercial property on Shaw Island.

The sisters, who also operate the island's ferry dock, have become synonymous with Shaw. They're mentioned in much of the literature and information about its 7.7 square miles in the San Juan Island chain.

But the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist have put their property up for sale — and the three nuns who live on Shaw are steeling themselves to leave the island they love.

"It has been a very joyful, very good experience," said Sister Catherine Biehl, who goes by Sister Catherine. She has been on Shaw for about a dozen years and has been a nun for about 52 years. "But it's a big job, and it's getting a little hard for us, to be truthful. We know it's time for a change."

The sisters are asking $1.4 million for two parcels that total 1.8 acres. The property includes the store, with a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment above it, and an adjacent lot with a two-bedroom, one-bath cottage. The buyer would also get a marina with 269 feet of docking space.

The property has been on the market for nearly two weeks, said Sam Buck, Coldwell Banker real-estate agent. They received one offer last week that was too low to consider, and this week the same bidders increased their offer, said Buck, who declined to give specific numbers. The Franciscan order, based in Connecticut, is planning to counter the offer, Buck said.

"It's a nice piece of land. Everything is on the waterfront," Buck said. "It's obvious when you become aware of the details of the property that it's a good value."

Earlier this month, the sisters sent out a letter to the nearly 200 island residents informing them of the impending move.

"Over the years, it has been our joy and challenge to serve you and to get to know you as a customer, neighbor and a friend. At this time we, together with our larger community, have found it necessary to make the decision that we must bring our present work and service of the Little Portion Store to a close," the letter says.

Where the three nuns will go once the store is sold is still unknown, Sister Catherine said. They may join other Franciscan nuns in Idaho, Oregon, Connecticut or Texas, she said.

"It's just a little too early right now. We don't know," she said.

The Shaw community is waiting to see who will buy the store. The island's land-use plan prohibits any other commercial activity, including booths or vendors. "This could be idyllic for a family that loves that lifestyle of being on Shaw, but has no way to have an income," Buck said. "It's a narrow market, but there is probably fairly intense desire among the few people it appeals to."

Running the island's general store isn't the nuns' only business — they are also contractors for Washington State Ferries. Wearing their habits and bright reflective vests, the nuns work the enormous hydraulic ramps to load and unload vehicles onto the ferries.

The sisters have not formally told the state ferry system that they will be canceling their contract, said Susan Harris-Huether, state ferries spokeswoman. Though ferry officials are aware the nuns are considering leaving, the sisters will need to give a 90-day notice to cancel their $104,000 a year contract, she said. The San Juan Islands are among the few places the ferry system contracts for services, Harris-Huether said.

"The nuns are wonderful people — they're a tourist attraction themselves," she said. "They are delightful people who have added a lot of wonderfulness to Shaw. I'm not sure, personally, how we're going to replace them."

Rachel Tuinstra: 206-464-2580 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com