A Brief History

In early 1976, Celeste and Joe approached Dan and Sarah with the idea to create a new restaurant here at Marblemount. It would take some inspiration from the former Ma Greene's, but grow that limited quick take-out concept into a full dine-in facility serving wholesome food, and operate on a collective basis. A benefit would be more local self-directed employment in this small rural community traversed by the recently opened North Cascades Highway.

The word went out, and a small group formed to discuss how to pull resources together and make such a project viable. Between January and April lots happened:  A workers cooperative, SPIRAL, was formed. Issues of ownership, management, financing and operations were worked out in long meetings. Bylaws were created, and members put in funds for their voting shares.  There were now six of us: Celeste, Dan, Eve, Leno, Roger and Sarah. In the first week of June, a piece of property along the highway in the center of town was purchased.

Dan had drawn up plans for the structure, and the county had approved our permit.  So, the members (Joe came on board, replacing Eve) started construction immediately, digging ditches for the building's foundations. Sweat equity, member share investment and two small loans (Dan's parents and Skagit State Bank) created it all. A workday saw all the members and perhaps a few drop-in friends from the up-river community pitch in with the tasks of the day.  Dan and Roger, the two with building experience, oversaw getting tools, materials and supplies on hand and directing the crew.  Lunch break meals were potluck.  We learned how to troubleshoot problems, discuss solutions, and work together as a team.  By year-end the building was roofed and enclosed, and we could move on to working on the interior. 

We installed all the plumbing ourselves but did hire a licensed electrician  to oversee us pulling cables and installing boxes while he wired up the service entrance and panel. The flooring and walls took some additional time due to the winter cold.  By warm weather we had moved on to buildings tables, installing fixtures and equipment, much of which came from attending auctions of out-of-business restaurants in Seattle, and watching the want ads for used commercial gear.  Lots of refurbishing of greasy old gear and refinishing surfaces before we were able to create a functional kitchen and presentable dining area.  With a new well drilled and equipped, a septic system in place and overhead power attached, we could really proceed to the business of being a table-service restaurant.

Mountain Song opened for business in May 1977, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week during the six to eight months of good weather. Several winters, a few members kept the business opened with a limited menu. The restaurant was self-staffed and operated collectively with only co-op members up through 1983. Twenty-four had joined through these years, with sixteen (the largest number) on the crew in 1983. All members received the same wage, and profits for each year were either fully distributed or partially retained as additions to shareholdings. Daily tips were shared every month on a per-hour-worked basis.

A major renovation took place during the winter of 1982-83, with the addition of a second dining room, outside patio seating, front entry, upgraded parking area, and additional large equipment (dishwasher, exhaust hood, ovens). During the winter of 1987-88, we reworked the floor plan to permit partial self-service (salad, soup and beverage bar), and were able to change staffing needs with those alterations.

Our first non-member employees (Heather, Joan, Karin, Paul & Shelley) were hired in 1984.  Thereafter fewer members participated, as those that left moved away or found employment elsewhere. The operation continued, with more employees on staff, and the remaining members splitting their time between managerial and on-the-floor tasks.  All the ex-members were repaid their share investments, in some case over several years. 

In 1992, SPIRAL was converted into an S-corporation, as too few members still remained for it to function as a cooperative. Only Dan, David and Carmen were active at this time.  The business was sold in 1995.  The building still is in seasonal service, and is now known as the Buffalo Run Restaurant.

For those interested in remembering or learning about the unique bill of fare presented by Mountain Song to its many appreciative customers, the links in this blog will take you to specific pages (all eight pages) of the full menu.

We have also included links to some limited offerings: the off-season Winter menu, the Lunch menu for groups, and the Wine List. Notice how meal prices have changed since then, although it's true MSR's were a bit lower than one would have been found in a city at that time.

For those wanting a bit of background, the story and menu for Ma Greene's Drive-In, which preceded MSR by several years and from which some menu items were inherited, is also included as a link in the right-hand column.

We hope there is elaboration of  the history and tales of the upriver community as others chime in with further posts.. Photo albums are hosted at an adjacent site and some images could appear in some later posts, and we would appreciate any photo additions you may have. Documents including recipes, work policies and some of SPIRAL's organizational papers will be linked in posts to follow.