Old Schoolhouse’ sets sights on window restoration

On Nov. 7, it will be three years since a group of Creswell citizens who were concerned about the fate of Creswell’s old schoolhouse attended a City Council meeting to express that concern. At that meeting, the city council deferred action on the building and following the meeting, the Creswell Heritage Foundation (CHF) organized with its first goal the restoration of the building.
Fast forward to today: The old schoolhouse has a new foundation and porch and plans are in place to restore the exterior of the building in 2020. The exterior restoration involves several projects. The back room, which will eventually house an Americans with Disabilities Act- compliant bathroom, will get a new roof. A new deck will be built at the back entrance to serve as a landing for the eventual ADA ramp.
The south side, which has been covered with fabric since March 2018, will get new siding milled to match the north side, which is original to the 1875 construction. Original exterior trim will be restored. All the windows in the main room and kitchen will be restored. It is the goal of CHF to restore the building in accordance with the guidelines for buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Window restoration is a labor-intensive task performed by a window restoration specialist. The cost is estimated to average $1,500 each for the nine windows. CHF has invited individuals and groups to sponsor window restorations. Plaques recognizing the sponsor will be hung beside each window. The Creswell Lions Club was the first to sponsor a window with their donation when they disbanded in June. Five more individuals and families have pledged a sponsorship. CHF wants one of the remaining sponsorships to recognize the volunteers of the old volunteer library.
We invite anyone who was a volunteer or a family member of a volunteer at the old library to contribute to sponsoring a window recognizing their role in providing library service to Creswell before 2006. We also invite the public, especially those who were patrons of the old library, to contribute to that recognition.
This sponsorship was started by Len Campbell, daughter of Joan Campbell, who was head librarian from 1967 to ‘97, with a contribution of $250. Contributions of any amount can be sent to CHF at P.O. Box 1092, Creswell, OR, or through PayPal at our website creswellheritagefoundation.org. We invite donors to tell us their connection to the old library. Any money beyond the window restoration will be applied to the other costs of the exterior restoration.
Creswell Heritage Foundation thanks all who have supported us with their time, money, materials, and words of encouragement as we work to restore the oldest public building in Creswell to its role as a community asset that links us to our past and is a source of community pride.

Verlean McCoy is president of the Creswell Heritage Foundation. You can reach her at 541-895-3726 or [email protected].