Recap of 2022 at the Electric Hotel
Did you know the Electric Hotel has a boom with a view?
On May 3, 2023, we received a preservation award for the work on the Lincoln from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). Several other preservation projects were recognized at a ceremony in Olympia, WA. What does this mean? It means the restoration of the Lincoln Hotel is recognized as an important preservation effort in the community and state of Washington.
The year 2022 will long be remembered as the shortest year. So much happened during this time. Looking back, in May of 2021, we were awarded the Third Places Grant from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. This grant was used to electrify the Electric Hotel.
With the matching funds we provided, we were able to get a new 800 amp underground service, and wiring to the storefront and manager's suite. The new service is more than ample for the rest of the project as we move forward. In December, 2021 the trenching was done and by January, 2022 Avista installed a new transformer and service to the building.
M&M Harrison Electric started work in January 2022, getting the necessary outdoor boxes and indoor panels installed. This was at a time when our supply chain was affected, but fortunately, M&M was able to procure the necessary parts to get everything going.
Our contractor, Rory Barbre, was instrumental in organizing everything and kept the project rolling at a good pace. He had completed framing in the storefront and manager suite so the electricians, HVAC, and plumbing contractors were all able to get their work done. By March, 2022 all of the rough-in utilities were done.
On weekends, Jerry worked diligently repairing wood floors in the manager suite along with many other jobs that needed to be done. The timing worked to re-finish the wood floors in the manager suite, so Rory got to work on that with some help from us. Once that was done, everything had to be covered on the floors to prepare for drywall.
The month of May 2022, Rory began the work of restoring the decorative metal cornice. Jerry took time off work to help, but this was a monumental task. This involved the following: remove old wood and tin, rebuild structure and deteriorated elements, repoint/relay brick as needed, replace old planking with plywood, attach metal roof material, flashing, seal and the top was done. Now for the underside, the part you can look up and see. Rory power-washed the whole thing, primed it, then painted it. He was done with the last spray of paint at 1:55pm, July 5th, 2022.
In June 2022 it was time to insulate the storefront and managers suite, and after searching and calling around, it was determined that we were going to have to do it ourselves. Thank goodness Rocco Dotson was game to help with this project. Rory, Rocco, and I completed installation just in time for drywall.
Top Notch Drywall was our contractor and they did an excellent job. By August primer and paint were getting done, along with plaster repair, cleanup, and finish elements.
September –November 2022 we worked and focused on the storefront mostly to get that ready for our tenant. December is an important month for retail so we worked hard to finish that space first. We were done by Dec. 5th, with a couple of details left to be done, but the space was finished, inspected, and occupiable. Our tenant, Julia Jacobsen, began moving in December 5th, 2022 and it was nothing short of a miracle what transformed in 3 short days. She did a pop up holiday event and it was magic. She officially opened the Mercantile in Harrington March 1st, 2023 and we are so excited for her future in this restored space.
The manager suite is done and inspected. We are currently working on next steps to get the rest of the building completed.
We could not have achieved this without the efforts of many awesome people. I made a list. You are all on it.
THANK YOU!