Harrington News

Art book for library

Local artist Les LePere has produced a book of a portion of his art work. A copy was purchased by his classmate Jasper Womach (Class of 1964) and donated to the Harrington Public Library. The book “Magic of the Objects” is a collection of 68 artistic drawings. Some of his titles are as unique and unexpected as the artwork itself. His earliest piece, Snowman, was created in 1953, and is less intense than any of his other pieces.

“Les sees things through a draftsman’s lens. Every object is a potential; every thought or nuanced feeling reveals itself as a series of curlicues, loops and Pointillists’ dots,” says the Introduction by Karen Lohrke Kaiser, curator of Education, Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, MFA 2000, Washington State University. Les had his artwork on display at the Jundt Art Museum in Spokane this fall to mid-December. He said it was a most successful showing. More about Les LePere and his art work can be found at pencilfarmstudio.com.

Harrington City Council

Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., the mayor, clerk, maintenance man and four of the five city council members held their regularly scheduled meeting. Visitors present were Sharon Schultz on the dog committee, Ashley Schenk, Marge Womach, Lincoln County Undersheriff Kelly Watkins, Don Timm of the Lions Club and three high school seniors: Debra Armstrong, Karen Kennedy and Ellie Hedreen. The three seniors were from Mike Cronrath’s Current World History class and as an assignment were to take notes on the meeting and procedures and write a report.

With the recent restroom project in the city park, Don Timm on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club presented the mayor and council with a certificate for the city’s cooperation on the project. Timm also commented on how well kept the restrooms have been. The mayor also presented a certificate of appreciation to the Lions Club.

Continuing work on the dog ordinance was discussed following receipt of recommendations from the city attorney. The committee will review them and begin drawing up a new ordinance.

Junk, unlicensed and abandoned vehicles were discussed again with recommendation by the Undersheriff to change the present city ordinance after making comparisons of the RCWs, city ordinance and Lincoln County regulations.

The mayor informed the council that the law enforcement contract with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was signed for 2014.

Discussion was held on the proper manner of disposing of the newer mercury laden fluorescent bulbs.

Following the meeting the three high school students, Peter Davenport (ufologist) and Mike Cronrath discussed their trip to the missile site that Davenport owns. The students were still excited about the trip and Davenport expressed his pleasure in having such a well behaved group to visit and extended an invitation for them to return to the site by appointment. Ellie Hedreen said that her grandfather was involved in the building of the silo and Davenport made a special invitation for him to visit the missile site.

Hotels in Harrington: Part 6

The original Hotel Lincoln reportedly had 52 rooms, but that number was actually 24 as shown in the January 24, 1902 edition of the Harrington Citizen. The hotel over the past 112 years went through many changes, each owner following his own plan, improvement or design, until the hotel became an apartment complex. Later the hotel and its owner went into retirement. Following the hotel’s closure by the Hanes family, the Herrons had a dream or vision of what they might do with the hotel which did not manifest. Harrington is privileged to have the new owners of the hotel with a well thought-out and researched plan. The hotel will have 12 suites on the upper floor, with one long-term stay suite in the mezzanine, a commercial kitchen, a dining room that will accommodate more than 60 guests, a lobby bar, a high-tech room for meetings or private gatherings, a storefront for retail space and an elevator. This plan has platted the veranda back on the exterior, as originally designed in 1901.

“Statutory Warranty Deed. The Grantors, Gordon R. Herron and Billie A. Herron, husband and wife, for and in consideration of Ten Dollars and Other Good and Valuable Consideration in hand paid, conveys and warrants to Jerry B. Allen and Karen A. Allen, husband and wife, and Archie D. Staley, Trustee of the Archie & Mary Alene Staley Living Trust, Grantee, the following described real estate, situated in the County of Lincoln, State of Washington. Abbreviated Legal: Lots 7, 8, & 9, Blk 46, Harrington, Lincoln County, Washington. For Full Legal See Attached Exhibit ‘A’. Tax Parcel Numbers(s): 0401-046-004000. This deed is given in fulfillment of that certain Real Estate Contract dated 10-27-08, with statutory covenants on the part of the Grantor only as of the date hereof. Dated Oct 27, 2008. Gordon R. Herron, Billie A. Herron.”

In 2008, the Lincoln County Treasurer recorded the sale of this property at $80,000. Billie Herron was careful to keep all of the papers pertaining to the hotel’s history together with ledgers that Ava Lee Hanes had preserved and given to her. With the deed, these priceless pieces of history were also given to Jerry Allen.

Archie Staley and the Allens began their project of restoration of the Hotel Lincoln with a process called “deconstruction.” By October 2009, their progress report stated that, “The interior of the hotel is completely deconstructed and we had hoped to be able to allow the public in to see the progress during the Fall Festival. The work we have done is structural in nature and has been more involved than anticipated. There is a lot of structural steel going in to correct the building’s structural concerns and it is our hope that the steel will be in place within the next month and a half. Once that stage of work is complete, the reconstruction can begin. This project is very involved, and the estimated time of completion is 30-48 months.”

The Hotel Lincoln “progress report” of April 16, 2010, stated, “Currently, we are collecting all cost information pertaining to the rehabilitation of the Hotel Lincoln. We are doing jobs that we, as owners, can do ourselves to save on costs. In addition, we are rethinking some methods concerning the historic rehabilitation that we are learning more about. We feel that the methods and materials used on the hotel, could be helpful as examples for other projects in Harrington in relation to historic preservation. At this time the structural corrections are 75% complete. The structural work is the most intense work that will take place and will not be visible when the building is done. The final 25% of the structural work will be in the north 1/3 of the building and will be the most challenging part yet to be done. Once we have a cost analysis for the entire scope of work, we will resume work with sub-contractors at an increased pace.”

Many Harrington residents witnessed the steel beams being inserted into the hotel as well as the countless number of times Jerry and Karen Allen sat patiently with brick and mortar repairing damaged brick areas of the exterior of the hotel. Several sunny afternoons Karen could be seen sitting high on scaffolding at the north side of the hotel. Just as during the 12 years that Herrons held the hotel property, there is always the need to prevent a structure from falling into an unstable condition. The Allens keep abreast of nearby old buildings such as the Ritzville school building that was lost due to neglect and that historic structure is but a memory. There was the recent collapse of the roof of a Sprague business that so greatly affected four businesses and created a detour of traffic from the downtown area.

Jerry Allen in younger years tackled several restoration projects in the region, houses that were in need of major rehabilitation. In one house, he lived in portions of the house while working in others. Once completed, the house positively improved the neighborhood and others in the area followed Jerry’s lead. Since the mid-1970s, Jerry believes that he has worked on 30 to 40 projects, in part or in the whole, including bridges and tunnels. As Jerry readily admits, this hotel restoration challenges all of his previous work experience. His careful attention to detail keeps him busy at research as he is adamant that he is not intending any “re-do” once an area has been worked on.

Although the town is not currently seeing visible progress, the Allens have not lost sight of their goal and are working tirelessly at other issues influencing the completion of the hotel. The building will retain its original historic look and luster with an operating hotel and restaurant. There will be additional commercial space for business.

Karen Allen explained: “The Hotel Lincoln (the original name, and current name) when funded will have a restaurant. Since the building is on the state, local and National Register of historic places, it will be rehabilitated to it’s original early-1900s look. The hotel was built and financed by the Harrington Improvement Company, made up of local farmers, ranchers and businessmen. The doors opened in January of 1902. It is all about preserving our grand old structure, which takes lots of money, time and attention to details. Our application for the tax credit is a three-part application. Its starts with the nomination to the National Register, then application for the tax credit to the National Park Service once the building is on the register (this is where you tell them what you will be doing precisely to the building and they have to approve that). Then when you are done, there is part three and that is … Did you do everything exactly as you said you would? That has to be approved by the NPS.”

“Being on the National Register of Historic Places makes the Hotel Lincoln eligible for a 20 percent federal preservation tax credit. The Hotel Lincoln is also on the local register of historic places which allows for special tax valuation in Lincoln County. Both tax incentives are part of the financing plan. The total amount needed to finish the project is 1.2 million. This would pay for the rehabilitation of the hotel and make the hotel and restaurant operational. We are currently seeking funding to move forward on the project. This has been our complete focus for the past year. This kind of project is challenging to fund, as it not your typical Motel 6 along a major interstate. It needs local and regional support and a unified vision for historic preservation in the community.”

Jerry and Karen Allen spoke of the terrific example of community support they sensed when the Harrington Historic Preservation Commission applied for the Lincoln County Rural Development Fund Grant. The grant was awarded to the HHPC and will be used to update the Harrington 2000+ Plan that was written in 1997 for the redevelopment of the central business district in Harrington. This involves a year-long effort with Eastern Washington University urban planning professionals and students. The Allens also sensed the support of the community as the Harrington Opera House was also awarded the LCRDF grant which the Allens say “fully demonstrates the unity needed to protect and preserve Harrington’s greatest economic assets, it’s historic building environment”.

In speaking at length with Jerry Allen, one sees that he is clear-minded in his approach to the completion of the hotel with its restaurant and considers his present job that of promoting the hotel and acquiring additional financing. With about $350,000 into the Hotel Lincoln project plus the $80,000 purchase, and needing an additional 1.2 million for its completion, Jerry is confident that this project is worthy of the entire investment of time, money and delays.

“The project is a long-term investment and a flagship for continued economic development in Harrington and Lincoln County. The end result envisioned is a place for community and visitors to relax and enjoy the ambience and the great assets this area has to offer. As a newcomer, I can clearly see Harrington’s potential as a small town Americana destination. I think others citizens see this vision as well. It is about people and how communities can sustain themselves long term. There are many towns in Washington that have successfully re-invented themselves through community effort and re-use of existing resources.” Inquiries concerning opportunities and further information can be directed to Jerry Allen at 509-844-3917.