USDA grant caps fund for Endicott library redo

Renovation of the Endicott library could begin as soon as this fall, after the town received a $76,500 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development division.

The grant brings the town’s fund for the remodel to $125,500, well over the anticipated cost of $118,000.

“Isn’t that wonderful? I’m so excited,” said Librarian Caroline Morasch.

Plans call for moisture control in the basement, installation of an air filtration system, new windows, insulation, sheet rock, carpet and doors and a restroom that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The library, once the town’s city hall and jail, is the busiest per hour library in the county system, said Kristie Kirkpatrick director of the Whitman County Library system.

“It’s so busy out there for as often as she’s open,” said Kirkpatrick. “I’m so excited this is going to get done.”

Earliest recorded history of the building is in a directory of Whitman County town halls in 1939 that was published in the Bunchgrass Historian.

Endicott owns the building, as per a mutual agreement that requires the town provide the library a public building.

Mayor Verne Strader said the remodel would not have been possible without the USDA grant.

“We looked at getting a loan, but there was just no way we could afford another loan payment,” said Strader.

The town already has outstanding loans with the USDA for recent rebuilds of its water and sewer systems.

Along with the USDA grant, Endicott has received grants of $30,000 from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and $7,500 from Avista.

Another $11,500 was raised through a community fundraising drive, a raffle by the Friends of Whitman County Library and the Endicott Community Club, who donated proceeds from last fall’s German dinner to the remodel project.

Barbara Strader, chair of the fundraising committee, said she cried with joy when she heard about the USDA grant.

“We need it. The town needs it,” she said. “But the town just didn’t have the money to pay for it”

Kirkpatrick said she will soon begin formalizing plans for the remodel with architect Larry Kom, the architect who designed last year’s remodel of the Colfax library building. He has drawn up preliminary plans for Endicott.

Once plans are formalized, the library will put the project out for bids. Kirkpatrick said construction is estimated to take six weeks.