Harrington News

Harrington Nazarene program

With about 25 people attending, the Nazarene Church sanctuary was lit only with tree lights and a few holiday lights. Kristian Beattie and Bella Mattozi lit candles and the congregation sang Christmas songs led by Sonia Beattie with Billie Herron at the piano. Pastor Jim Beattie left during the singing and returned with a Santa suit on, but with the Grinch’s face. The audience listened as he acted out the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” The Grinch went about stealing Christmas symbols and finally made his way to the Christmas tree where a box for the needy had been placed. When he went to steal from that box, little Bella shouted out “No!” very loudly, which was not part of the script. Bella is in kindergarten. Toward the end of the skit, the pastor read from the book of Matthew about how Christ loves us, and came to the earth for us and how that saved poor Mr. Grinch. Christ’s love made his heart grow, Beattie said, and Mr. Grinch began giving out presents. The evening service closed with a candle distributed to each person and the singing of Silent Night, followed by a prayer.

Harrington School newsletter

The Harrington School District’s monthly newsletter is soliciting community support: “The task of producing the annual is very educational, as well as fun, and students develop many skills through the process. We need your support to keep the annual affordable to the students and community.” The annual staff is seeking individual sponsors or agricultural sponsors for $25 each or both for $40. Sponsors will be recognized on a sponsor page.

Harrington principal Jacob Bang commended the entire school for its enthusiasm and success in collecting over 3,700 items (including money) that was donated to the Harrington Food Bank.

The winter break will continue through Friday, January 3, with basketball games on Saturday, January 4, and classes resuming on January 6.

Harrington Opera House

The Harrington Opera House Society has decided to cancel the January rummage sale but monthly sales will resume in February. Members are insulating the room and finishing the walls in January, organizing items and creating new themes for each sale. The pre-Christmas sale netted nearly $200 toward the elevator project. Toward the end of the day, generosity was flowing in both directions, as an Odessa buyer gave all of her cash on hand for her items, then asked to have an item held back for the next sale. The item was nevertheless carried out to her car with a “Merry Christmas” before she left.”

Hotels in Harrington, Part 5

“The Grantor, Paul Hanes and Ava Lee Hanes, husband and wife, for and in consideration of Twenty Thousand and no/100 ($20,000.00) Dollars, in hand paid, convey and warrant to Gordon R. Herron and Billie A. Herron, husband and wife, the Grantee, the following described real property, situate in the County of Lincoln and State of Washington, to wit: Lots 7, 8 and 9, Block 46, Plat of Harrington, as per plat thereof recorded in Book A of Plats, page 91. Subject to: Real Property Taxes for 1996. Subject to: rights reserved in federal patents or state deeds, reservations, restrictions, land use and zoning laws, plat dedications, and restrictive and protective covenants, easements and rights-of-way of record or in apparent use; and existing or future municipal, county, state or other governmental or quasi-governmental assessments. Dated this 15th day of February, 1996. Grantor: Paul Hanes by Ava Lee Hanes, Attorney-in-fact, Ava Lee Hanes.” (Lincoln Co Auditor: Warranty Deeds Vol. 66 Pate 638)

During the years that the Varniers and Hanes families operated the hotel, there was little or no advertising. This was perhaps due to the discontinuance of the hotel as a hotel when it was remodeled into apartments. During the latter years, the Haneses were retired. Paul Hanes died in February of 1997 at the age of 80. He was survived by his wife and by two daughters, Gayle Gustafson of Tacoma and Nancy Aho of Portland, Ore. and their offspring, his brothers and one sister. None of his survivors was interested in the hotel.

“Hotel Gets New Lease on Life. Everywhere they look, the Herrons see work. They also see a need,” read the headline. “There is a tremendous need for senior housing in Harrington,” says Billie, who along with husband Gordon, is the new owner of the historic Electric Hotel. Planning to restore the once grand hotel to its former elegance, the Herrons feel they can make top-notch, two-bedroom apartments for high income seniors. “Our goal is to do it first class. We decided not to use it for low-income housing because we see a need for retired people staying in their homes who need a place to live that’s easier to manage. It also frees up homes for families.” Billie and Gordon feel they can restore and furnish the apartments for those used to having nice things, and if the treasures found in the hotel itself are any indication, this project should be fun. “There is a lot of junk, but we’ve found complete bedroom sets, library tables, oak chairs and dressers. We’ve had a good time looking around,” says Gordon, discovering a Mission-style loveseat and matching chair in the lobby. Although all the furniture will need to be restored, wood stripped and upholstery reworked, the Herrons say they are gluttons for punishment.

“There’s so much to do. Thank God, Gordon is a contractor and knows where to start,” Billie laughs. And that starting place is on the roof. Leaking for several years, Gordon says he will replace the roof, taking care to preserve the two giant skylights which provide natural light to the top floor. After this come the glamorous jobs of rewiring, knocking down plaster and replumbing. “The building is structurally sound and a lot of historical items are still here, so we’re really excited,” says Billie, who’s looking at the broader picture and dreaming of chandeliers, floral carpets and a baby grand piano in the corner of an elegant lobby. And the lobby will take quite a bit of work itself. Over the years, the giant room was partitioned off into a small reception area and a larger dining room. Billie wants to knock down the wall between the two so guests entering may see the staircase, which Billie plans to strip by hand, and the reception desk with original mail cubby holes. “We could also use the room for recitals, receptions and intimate weddings,” she muses, fingering the dusty plastic curtains. Originally built to offer 52 rentable rooms, the hotel will be renovated to 10 sizeable two-bedroom suites with plenty of storage and a yard out back. Billie and Gordon plan to have the structural work, the lobby and two apartments finished the first year, and hope to get the remaining suites in order over the next 10 years. “We’re private citizens doing this with our own money – we don’t qualify for grants although there are some low-interest loans available. We really hope people will be patient.” Excited about their new endeavor and how it fits in with the goals of Harrington 2000 Plus plans to refurbish the downtown area in a turn of the century theme, the Herrons also hope the community will be supportive of their efforts to bring this landmark back to life. “We don’t expect people to pay for what’s ours, but if they want to revitalize Main Street, we hope they’re willing to give us a hand with the legwork.” Legwork, Billie explains, is much different than elbow grease. “If we, or some of the citizens, have ideas for how to make this happen, we hope they will share them and through Harrington 2000 Plus, can help us find ways to accomplish some of this.” And a good place to start, says Billie, is with information. Although it is rumored to be the first building with electricity in Harrington, the Herrons are not sure if that is fact or fiction. If anyone has pictures or information, the couple is hoping to get as much as they can to rebuild some of the lost history. “We have a lot of research to do and anything that people can tell us will be much appreciated.” The hotel, formerly owned by Paul and Ava Lee Hanes, was last occupied in the late 1970s. It stands across the street from another local landmark, the original Harrington City Hall. Up for sale, the Herrons think the architecturally interesting brick building, along with a refurbished hotel, would make a wonderful south entrance onto Main Street… any takers?” (Harrington page in the Davenport Times: 3-14-1996; article had photo of Herrons on hotel stairway.)

One can almost sense the excitement of the Herrons at the potential of the hotel and the plans that they would undertake. The arrangements with Ava Lee Hanes, long time friends of the Herrons, were that Gordon and Billie would go through the items left behind, including tools, some family belongings, and a few specific pieces that the Herrons were to deliver to Salem, Ore., an 800-mile round trip following countless hours of searching, locating and preparing for travel the items wanted by family members. During the years that the Herrons owned the hotel, the primary concern was to keep and preserve the hotel, with work on the roof, a considerable amount of brick work to secure the building, and necessary plumbing repairs.

Local historical memorabilia was found in many of the rooms and cleaned and protected for the local Harrington museum. Billie used one room for an upholstery shop and another for doing her bookkeeping. At some point prior to 2008, it became obvious to the Herrons that they had too many projects going and that the sale of the hotel would be better than fulfilling their dream. Gordon and Billie sold the Hotel on lots 7, 8, and 9 in Block 46 to Jerry B. and Karen A. Allen, husband and wife, and Archie D. Staley for the consideration of $80,000 on October 27, 2008. Apparently the new owners wanted the building emptied of all items to make it ready for immediate renovation. Weeks were needed to remove the remaining articles from the hotel, and even a large sale took place in an effort to have the premises emptied by the specified date. Ava Lee Hanes had left most of her kitchen and household items as her other home in Oregon was fully furnished. Most of the rooms had furniture, glassware and pictures on the walls. The dream of the hotel to be renovated is now the process and project of the Allens and Archie Staley.

From 2008 to the present, the new owners began working to see the Hotel Lincoln restored to its former glory. Watch for Part 6 of Hotels in Harrington in the Odessa Record.