2020 was a great year for the Hotel Lincoln. In February the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation awarded three grants to rural projects in Washington State. The Hotel Lincoln was fortunate to be one of those chosen for the Preserving Washington Works fund. The grant award was for $70,000 to be used to complete the structural steel work in the north 1/3 of the building. This important work completes the structural retrofit and helps to bridge the gap to financing finishing this area and create two spaces: a managers quarters, and a retail storefront. The work started in July and was completed in September. Steel was placed and secured in the storefront area and the mezzanine to finish strengthening and stabilizing the building. Additionally, windows were restored and installed for these spaces. The exterior decorative cornice on the building was cleaned and stabilized as part of the grant work. It will be repaired and painted in the spring. We are grateful for the grant and what it accomplished!
More happening…
So much more going on that is a positive move forward! Local artist and retired farmer, Leslie LePere, raised funds to restore five local ghost signs. The Hotel Lincoln has two and they were both restored through this funding by artist and farmer, Gavin Wagner. Ghost signs are an art form meant to draw attention to a business or product. With this fresh look, the Hotel Lincoln is turning heads proving the signs work! Add the vintage neon “Electric Hotel” sign and you can’t pass without looking or stopping. Mr. LePere was a vital part of connecting us with our contractor, restoring the ghost signs, assisting with tools, restoring the steel beam above the storefront with eye catching color, and often times supplied lunch for us while we were working. The friendship and support from Les and many others, is priceless.
The buck did not stop there…we were very enthusiastic about engaging a local contractor to do the structural work. Greg Bowman, U&I Remodeling, Inc. and his crew did a great job safely, on time and within budget. This allowed for some additional work to be done that was written in the grant as “in-kind” which we planned to do ourselves as part of the required match. They were able to rough-in the storefront facade! At the end of the project, the Hotel Lincoln has all of the windows purchased for the storefront, beautiful new fir doors for the front and a new door for the back. This was more than we could have hoped for. It was a great summer/fall, and we continue to work towards the complete restoration of the building.
Our sincere appreciation goes out to you for your support and assistance in our project. We could not have done it without you!
