Rebecca's Lodge Honors Starbuck History

STARBUCK-With a year of business under its belt, Rebecca's Lodge restaurant owner Carol Wildman says things are going well. When The Times stopped in on a Thursday afternoon, locals relaxed and chatted in arm chairs at the front of the café while visitors from Walla Walla enjoyed a meal and asked questions about the area.

The restaurant, located at 211 E. Main in Starbuck, is a work of love by Carol and Floyd Wildman, who have operated Aunt Jennie's B&B in Starbuck for more than a decade.

The café itself is airy and open and invites conversation. Chairs and a coffee table with books of local sights fill the front of the restaurant, leaving plenty of room for hungry patrons.

Prices are reasonable, with most breakfasts running between $6 to $8 and lunch burgers and sandwiches running between $8 and $9. The restaurant even offers brown bag breakfasts and lunches. Just stop by and grab your meal to go.

The Wildman's have a love of history and take enjoyment in restoring the building they originally purchased in 1987 and had been using for storage. With Columbia Pulp opening, and no restaurants in Starbuck, they decided last year, to restore the space and create a restaurant.

Wildman's to-go menu includes a brief history of the space. The building, which was erected in 1910, was originally the Starbuck Drug Company. B.A. Whiting, his wife Jennie, and two daughters lived in and operated the store until 1933 when the building was sold. The IOOF Odd Fellows Lodge #158, a fraternal organization, occupied the building until 1946 when they donated it to the Columbia Rebekah Lodge 310.

The words "Starbuck Drug Company" can still be seen if one looks carefully at the front of the building.

The Rebekahs were a very active women's organization that occupied the building until 1987 when it was purchased by the Wildmans.

Carol's mother, Ada Actor, was a long-time member of the Rebekah Lodge No. 310 in Starbuck and was an inspiration in cafés name and décor. The Wildman's named the building after the last occupants, with a change to the spelling.

A framed display, in the front of the café, houses historical documents, honoring the history of the local Rebekahs. Among the memorabilia are: a photo of the Whiting family, the original Rebekah Lodge No. 310 charter (issued April 23, 1926 with names of members listed), sheet music sold at Starbuck Drug Company (found in an old home in Starbuck), a Bible stamped Starbuck Lodge No. 158 IOOF, and more.

Rebecca's Lodge is open Tues. – Fri. from 5:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and on Sat. from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Contact the restaurant at (509) 399-2071 or email RebeccasLodge@gmail.com.