Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Replaces 50 year old hvac units
John Stiles (left) receiving a check for $5,000 from Davenport Lions Club president Jonn Chapman (right) for replacement of two furnaces at the museum's outer exhibition buildings.
DAVENPORT - The Davenport Lions Club presented the Lincoln County Museum with a $5,000 check two weeks ago to support the replacement of two furnaces in the museum's outer exhibition buildings, enabling the facility to complete critical heating and air conditioning upgrades ahead of its seasonal reopening.
The donation, partially raised through the Lions Club's annual Turkey Bingo event, calendar sales and pop can drives, helped the museum reach its fundraising goal after months of efforts and community support.
"We were able to replace all of our heating and air conditioning units," said Lincoln County Museum President John Stiles.
According to Stiles, some of the units were 50 years old.
Stiles said several units were replaced in November, but another heater failed in February and could not be repaired.
The remaining two units had an estimated cost of $10,000, which pushed the museum to its financial limit.
Davenport-based contractor Dave Kysar, who completed the furnace installation, donated nearly $1,000 to help the museum stay within budget.
"Kysar gave us almost a 10% discount," Stiles said. "His bid came in $978 over our budget, and he covered that difference."
Other contributions came from local events and organizations, including proceeds from a Hawk Creek Band guitar auction, a $5,000 grant from the City of Davenport, and donations from individuals.
"We don't have a lot of money, and making this happen was an absolute miracle," Stiles said.
The new furnaces were installed within days of receiving the Lions Club check.
"Once we got the check, it was like, 'Yep, we can afford it,'" Stiles said. "We are so gracious."
The Lions Club has also donated time and labor to the museum on several occasions.
"It's another example of cooperation between both organizations for the benefit of the community," said club president Jonn Chapman.
In addition to new HVAC systems, the museum recently installed 22 LED light fixtures in its open bays-previously unlit-thanks to a donation from a Spokane company that worked on the museum's main building.
"Now everything is well lit, and people can come in the evening," Stiles said.
The museum opens for the season on Wednesday, May 1, and will operate Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. through the end of September.
Several new exhibits are expected this season, and the facility remains open for meetings and events by donation.
"Our goal is to make the museum more accessible," Stiles said. "We want more people to come and use the facility. If you have something going on, you are more than welcome to host it here."
The museum relies heavily on a dedicated group of volunteers-10 of whom have donated over 100 hours, and five more who have given over 50.
To recognize their efforts, the museum will host its third annual volunteer luncheon at noon on Monday, April 21, in the red barn.
"It's just unbelievable the support we've received," Stiles said. "It's very rewarding."
Olivia Harnack is the award-winning managing editor/photographer/videographer/columnist at the Lincoln County Record-Times, with offices in both Davenport and Odessa, Wash. She is a University of Idaho graduate and a U.S. Army National Guardsman.
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