State Historic Preservation Grants Awarded for Rural Historic Rehabilitation Projects

The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) is pleased to announce grant awards for historic rehabilitation projects with housing or lodging components in Hoquiam, Harrington, and Port Townsend.  DAHP has received this generous funding through the National Park Service Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program.

The Hotel Lincoln in Harrington was constructed in 1902 and once featured 24 large and airy hotel rooms and modern amenities before closing in the 1980s.  The current owners acquired the building in 2008 and have been working diligently on its rehabilitation ever since.  The grant will fund the creation of a manager’s apartment unit and office above a retail space with a long-term vision of turning a building that has been vacant for several decades back into a hotel and eatery in historic downtown Harrington. The community of less than 500 residents are enthusiastic about seeing the hotel up and running once again. 

Built c. 1923, the Modern Woodmen of America Hall in Hoquiam served as offices for numerous labor unions in the Grays Harbor area from the 1920s through the 1950s. Later it was converted into a church, but still retains its original ceremonial lodge and social spaces.  It is currently vacant and owner Ginger Mounts plans on opening a bed and breakfast, small retail space, and create a community gathering space in the historic ceremonial room upstairs.

The Fort Worden Foundation is creating new affordable housing for employees in former Barracks Building 203, addressing a critical problem facing communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. When space is available in the low season, these spaces can also house artists in residence from the adjacent development in "Maker's Square,” a complex of rehabilitated historic buildings for art studio classroom and exhibit space. Building 203 was constructed in 1904 and is a contributing resource to the Fort Worden National Historic Landmark District in Port Townsend.

All of the awarded rehabilitation projects will be economic drivers for their respective communities, turning vacant and underutilized historic buildings into occupied income generating properties that will result in permanent job creation, tax revenue, and offer long-term stability for these significant historic properties.

DAHP is committed to preserving historic resources of all types throughout the state that tell the stories of all Washingtonians.  For more information, please visit www.dahp.wa.gov.