Monday, Mar. 30, 2009

Dayton group to be honored for restoring historic home

By Loretto J. Hulse, Herald food writer

DAYTON -- Years of hard work and dedication are paying off for the volunteers involved with the Dayton Historical Depot Society.

The group is one of nine individuals and organizations that will be recognized by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation during May, National Historic Preservation Month.

The volunteers will receive a State Historic Preservation Officer's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation for their work and dedication on restoring a 1880 Queen Anne Victorian-style home, the Brining/Boldman House. The house, commonly called the Boldman House, is listed on the local, state and national Register of Historic Places.

"The award itself is very surprising. We didn't expect it at all," said Mary Laughery, a member of the society board and one of the many volunteers who worked on the Boldman House.

The home was bequeathed to the society by Gladys Boldman, the last surviving family member, in 1999. As stipulated in her will, the home has been restored to replicate a 1910-20 era urban American home and garden.

"Everything -- furnishings, light fixtures, even dishes -- came from the house." said Laughery, explaining that the society's rule has been "nothing in, nothing out."

The only exception is some of the wallpaper.

"What's in the parlor and music room is vintage, original to the house," said Mary Byrd, manager of the Dayton Historical Depot, which also is run by the Dayton Historical Depot Society board.

Elsewhere in the house the original wallpaper has been replaced by exact reproductions.

"So it's authentic and brand new and gorgeous," Byrd said.

And if you fall in love with it, you can order the wallpaper from the manufacturer. Just visit Gary's Paint and Decorating, 114 S. Second Ave. in Walla Walla and ask to see the order book.

"What's great is the manufacturer sends the Boldman House a donation for each order. It's small but it helps," Byrd said.

In addition to preserving the house itself, society members have dedicated themselves to documenting and cataloguing the vast collection of heirlooms left by the Boldman estate.

"We're always finding something new. The Boldmans kept everything down to sales slips from grocery stores. They even used the back of fliers to make rough drafts of their letters, and they kept them too," Laughery said.

The Boldman House will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. each Saturday in June and other times by appointment only. Call the Dayton Historical Depot Society, 509-382-2026, for more information or to arrange a tour.

On May 5 several members of the Dayton Historical Depot Society will accept the award during a special ceremony in the Legislative Building in Olympia. For more information on the other award recipients, go to www.dahp.wa.gov.