Edna's Beach Cafe is named after Edna James Olson, the designer of Lynwood Center. Miss Edna James was raised in San Francisco and moved to Seattle after the great earthquake. Soon after meeting Emmanuel Olson, a Seattle mail carrier and boat builder, aboard his yacht she married the Bainbridge bachelor and he brought her to Bainbridge Island. They later inherited the manor house from Olson's parents. Edna persuaded Emmanuel to build shops on the south edge of the property to serve the growing community. They started with a butcher shop and later added a variety store, a restaurant, a hardware store, a garage, and theatre. During the construction, Edna often pitched in and helped the workers. She was the creative genius behind the project, but wasn't above doing dirty work.

Once the center was complete, the Olsons held a contest to name their creation. Nancy Foss, who was 15 at the time, suggested "Lynwood" to commemorate the English poplar-like linden trees that grew on the property. Lynwood Theatre, which opened in 1936 and is still open today, was a major addition to the island's cultural life.

Besides her building activities, Edna was involved in a number of civic projects. She organized the first island blood bank, founded a nursing home and her custom of providing food and clothing for needy families eventually became the basis for the island's Helpline organization. Her husband Emmanuel was one of the 15 founding members of Bainbridge Island Rotary in 1947. Edna was a charter member of American Marine Bank and was instrumental in getting the Agate Passage Bridge built in the 50's. Because of her contributions to the island, Edna was honored in 1956 as Woman of the Year. Since the manor house had 7 bedrooms, some were rented to boarders, primarily to teachers who taught next door at the Pleasant Beach School. According to Edna's adopted son Dave Parkins, Edna also took a woman named May out of an insane asylum and brought her to the manor house to live and work as a cook. Some unexplained occurrences suggest that May's spirit is still living in the house and since most of the activity has been reported in the kitchen, she seems to be pleased with the upgrades!