By SCOTT WILBANKS
Contributor 

Support needed for restoration, maintenance of Cheney's historic Sterling-Moorman House

 

Last updated 2/18/2016 at 7:48am

The next time you go to the Cheney Post Office, glance to your right before entering the building. You will see a tidy little white house with a bench in the front yard.

This is the Sterling-Moorman House. Built in 1883, it is one of the last standing houses from the early days of Cheney. It is a rare example of a 19th century house with Gothic Revival elements - the vertical lines, lack of ornamentation and the symmetrical spacing of windows are all characteristics of that architectural style. 

Restoring the house has become a community project. All work has been completed entirely by donations of time, labor and materials. Community members have done everything from hand scraping the siding to rebuilding the chimney.

The building looks pretty good from the outside but still needs a great deal of work on the inside. Recently, a period "carriage house" has been offered that could accommodate modern services, such as restrooms and a kitchen. The catch is the carriage house must first be disassembled, moved from its current location and rebuilt to new specifications behind the Sterling-Moorman House. The next phase of the carriage house project will get underway this spring. 

The Sterling-Moorman House Foundation is very grateful for the community's response thus far, and will have other opportunities for community members to become involved. Donating time serves a double purpose by directly helping in the preservation and appearance of the house and grounds and allowing the Foundation to apply for matching funds for grants. 

Another option for participating is helping with funding. Annual membership in the Sterling-Moorman House Foundation is just $10 per individual, $20 for a family and $100 for corporate membership. Memberships and donations are gratefully accepted online at http://www.sterlingmoorman.org, or by check mailed to Sterling-Moorman House, 112 Anderson Road., Cheney, WA 99004. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, so contributions are tax deductible.

If you have an interest in local history and a desire to contribute to the community, consider taking a leadership role on the board of directors. Commitments of 1 – 3 years would round out the board and provide experience with event planning, grant writing, visual communications, construction, civic engagement and so much more!

The old house actually belongs to the people of Cheney.It represents the pioneer spirit and determination that founded Cheney in 1883, the way ordinary people lived and the type of home they lived in. Please join in the preservation effort.

Scott Wilbanks serves on the Sterling-Moorman House Foundation board of directors and is a member of the Cheney Historical Preservation Commission.

 

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