Charleston Newsletter, Volume 3, Issue 1
Don Feldman – Owner of Typewriter Fever
Don Feldman, owner of Typewriter Fever, has lived a life shaped by curiosity, craftsmanship, and a strong sense of adventure. A retired Washington State Ferries engineer, Don was born in Arizona and spent his early childhood in Long Beach, California. When his father—an air traffic controller—was diagnosed with a medical condition that ended his ability to control traffic, the family relocated to Oklahoma in 1970. The move was short-lived. Within a year, Don’s mother famously told her husband, “Get me out of here,” prompting another relocation—this time to Maple Valley, Washington, in 1971.
That final move came during Don’s senior year of high school and was not met with enthusiasm, particularly given Washington’s rainy climate. Eager to see the world, Don joined the U.S. Navy after graduation and spent four years as a boiler technician. After leaving the Navy, he briefly remained in California before returning to Washington in 1978, where he took a job at Valley General Hospital.
Don’s wanderlust never faded. He took a 3 month leave of absence to work for NOAA, continuing his travels, and later worked as a machinist for PACCAR—where he still recalls working outdoors in 17-degree weather. A chance encounter while helping a neighbor wire houses led him to meet a Washington State Ferries employee who described the appealing schedule of one week on, one week off. Intrigued, Don added his name to the union list and, just three months later, received a call from Mary Luska offering him a position. After a thoughtful 30-minute conversation—and following Mary’s simple advice, “I would take the job”—Don accepted. He was hired in August 1980, became a full-time employee within months, and began his ferry career aboard the Walla Walla. Thirty-five years later, he retired in 2016—fittingly, from the same vessel.
Throughout his ferry career, Don continued to travel extensively. He once took a four-month leave of absence to explore Australia and later returned with hopes of immigrating. During that trip, he ventured to Indonesia, where he joined fellow travelers aboard a small boat delivering Coca-Cola to re-mote islands. The journey ended in Bali, where Don fell in love with the island and eventually opened an import business selling handcrafted goods in the U.S., including a retail store in Silverdale. Balancing a full-time career with the business eventually took its toll, and Don closed the shop, donating all remaining inventory to St. Vincent de Paul.
In 2000, Don took ballroom dance lessons—where he met Britt. The two married in 2002. Don’s fascination with typewriters began in 1999 when he purchased a 1930s Woodstock typewriter for $35 at St. Vincent de Paul in Bremerton. Though he quickly discovered it wasn’t rare, he was captivated by the machine itself and wondered what it would cost to manufacture one today. That curiosity turned into a passion. A visit to St. Vincent de Paul in Tacoma introduced him to a retired typewriter repairman, and six weeks later Don purchased twelve machines at once. He devoured Darryl Rehr’s Antique Typewriters and Office Collectibles, placed ads in The Seattle Times, and joined a global Yahoo typewriter collectors group that welcomed him enthusiastically.
As the collection grew, Britt wisely encouraged Don to sell some machines to fund others—and reclaim space. A successful day at the Fremont Market led to encouragement from Paul Lundy of Bremerton Office Machines to sell next door on 4th Street. After three successful years, Don considered winding down, but Britt urged him forward. A Sunday drive down Callow Avenue revealed a handwritten “For Sale” sign. After a few emails, Don connected with Dick Maurice, and within months the building refurbishment began—leading to the creation of Typewriter Fever.
Today, Typewriter Fever draws a wide range of visitors: the curious, the nostalgic, writers, artists, engineers, and younger generations drawn to the “heavy metal” of analog creativity. Don has received a typewritten letter from Tom Hanks, sold a typewriter to Climate Pledge Arena for John Mayer, and welcomes visitors from around the world.
Don loves being in the shop—surrounded by machines, stories, and people. His engineering mind thrives on the challenge of restoring typewriters, and he continues to learn something new every day. He feels deeply fortunate to be part of the Charleston Business District, which he describes as a phoenix rising—revitalized beyond its 1940s heyday. He values the camaraderie among business owners, the eclectic storefronts, and even likens the district to a living film noir. Looking ahead, Don hopes to see improved lighting for safety and ambiance, more music venues, and expanded nightlife through initiatives like Callow Nights. He envisions a “mini Greenwich Village”—a haven for artists, dreamers, and unconventional thinkers.
For Don, Typewriter Fever is more than a business. It is a second home—a place of purpose, productivity, and joy, not only for him, but for the many who walk through its doors.
2025 was an outstanding year for the Charleston Business District!
We invite you to watch our year-in-review video highlighting the many accomplishments made possible through the dedication and support of our community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed their time, energy, and resources to support the district and our events throughout the year. Building on this momentum, the CBD is proud to move into 2026 with an engaged and enthusiastic Board of Directors ready to focus on new opportunities to strengthen and grow our community. Board members are actively leading our working groups and welcome volunteers who would like to get involved. If you are interested in supporting one or more of our committees—Marketing; Social Media & Outreach; Promotions & Events; Beautification/Projects; or Safety & Transportation—please reach out to us at thecharlestondistrict@gmail.com.
We are also excited to announce the launch of our annual membership program. Membership allows participants to vote on district concerns and initiatives while receiving increased visibility and recognition for their contributions to the Charleston Business District. Annual dues are $99 per business or $45 for individuals. Payments may be made by check payable to Charleston Business District and mailed to P.O. Box 4184, Bremerton, WA 98312, or via Venmo.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Charleston Business District would like to extend our sincere thanks to Kelly McKinley for her time and service as Secretary of the CBD. Due to an increasingly demanding schedule, Kelly has made the difficult decision to step down from her role. During her time with the organization, she brought great enthusiasm, positive energy, and thoughtful ideas that contributed meaningfully to our work. We are grateful for her dedication and wish her continued success, with hopes that she may be able to rejoin us in the future. As we move forward, the Charleston Business District is seeking a volunteer to fill the Secretary position. This role is a vital link in keeping our members informed, maintaining organization, and supporting the continued progress of the district. In addition, we are also looking for a volunteer who can assist with setting up and maintaining our district webpage. If you are interested in either—or both—of these opportunities, please contact Britt Feldman at 360.620.5001 or brittfeldman@comcast.net. We would love to hear from you.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Charleston Business District has an exciting year ahead in 2026! We are pleased to continue offering a variety of events designed to bring families, neighbors, and the greater community together. We invite you to mark your calendars and join us as we build connections, celebrate our district, and create memorable experiences throughout the year.
Feb- Cupid Crawl
Mar- St Patrick's Parade
Apr- Spring Fling
May- Armed Forces Day
Sep- Cars on Callow
Oct- Calloween
Dec- Krampus