Pullman Depot awarded grant

PULLMAN–The Pullman Depot Heritage Center was selected as one of 36 out of 40 applicants to be awarded funds through the Washington State Historical Society’s Heritage Capital Grant program. Non-profits throughout the state can apply for WSHS preservation funds every two years. These 36 projects, totaling nearly $10 million dollars, will be forwarded to the legislature for final approval next January.

This is the first time any possession of the Whitman County Historical Society has applied. The group asked for $265,740 to support its plans to restore the exterior of the depot, which is estimated to cost $400,000. A provision of the grant is that the applicant must match any state funds with twice as much of their own. Generous donors have already provided more than $300,000 to cover the purchase of the building. That amount, plus other donations, grants and volunteer hours brought PDHS match to $542,700.

The reviewers were impressed with community support for the Pullman Depot, ranking it at #25. Having 40 applications was a record and included many smaller requests from rural areas. The bulk of the projects come from west of the mountains, but eastern Washington made a good showing with other grants going to Friends of Gladish, the rock houses in LaCrosse, the Cheney depot and City of Waitsburg.

To support these efforts to restore the depot’s exterior, the Pullman Depot Heritage Center is launching a ‘Fix the Bricks’ campaign with a goal of raising $135,000 to help meet the total costs. PDHC plans to initiate Stage 1 of its Facility Master Plan, developed in cooperation with Design West Architects, starting in the summer of 2021.

Relocation of two rail cars exposed the front of the building, emphasizing the need for masonry repair, repointing and replacing damaged or missing bricks and restoring stone features. New roofing materials will replicate the original clay tile in scale, texture and color. The group hopes to achieve the five-stage restoration, preservation and rehabilitation plan, estimated to total $4 million, over the next several years.

More information can be found at http://www.pullmandepot.org and Facebook at Pullman-Depot-Heritage-Center.