It is All Because of You…

We began this year with remarkable momentum when we received $202,000 collectively with three grant awards. These robust endorsements from both local and state organizations has reminded us that there are those who want to preserve our local history and that others see the hidden potential as the Haller House comes to light.

This support positions us to launch efforts in earnest. We have begun work on the windows and look forward to begin working on the foundation, doors, and chimney’s. Although this all is a cause for celebration, this is no time to rest. In order to move forward, we need your continued generosity and partnership in two distinct ways:

  1. Operating Support: These generous grants enable us to fund materials and labor. They do not pay for the administration or infrastructure required to direct the work. To do this we rely 100% on donations from our family of donors. Please consider donating below to help us keep Historic Whidbey’s lights on.

  2. Capital Fund Gifts & Pledges: The remarkable momentum we have established positions us to be very competitive in a game-changing matching grant from the State Legislature’s Heritage Capital Projects Fund. This biennial matching grant with a proposal due date of June 23, 2020, has the potential to bring this project more than halfway home. Yet, our request for support is limited by the commitments we have on hand to match the award. We must demonstrate gifts and pledges in hand for every dollar they award. Pledges of support for this grant will not be due for redemption until the summer of 2021. The more money and pledges we have in hand, the more funding we can apply for.

A donation now or a pledge for further support in 2021 will insure our success and secure the future of the Haller House. Let us make history, together.

You can donate directly here - or - make a pledge here

Prime Sash

Watch the window restoration process by following along the blog at “Prime Sash”, who is doing all this magnificent work. We can’t wait to see all that they do with the original windows from the home.

Click here for their first post

about the Haller House on their blog.

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Spring Bolt

Original spring bolt found on a window that was recently taken from the house. This little piece of metal would hold the window open.

Image by Ian Baldwin of Prime Sash

Gone with the Wind-ows

Help us keep moving forward by donating now!

Even during quarantine we don’t slow down.

The window company we’ve hired has come in has begun removing windows, so that they can refinish the framing and remove the asbestos glazing. It is easy for them to follow isolation orders because it is a dedicated husband and wife team. They will remove a few windows at a time, take them back to their workshop and begin the arduous restoration of the wooden frame and removing the asbestos glazing.

We were lucky to catch them working at the house on our newly released video.

Stay updated with all of our projects by signing up for our email list.

Let those Walls Come Down

As we move toward Spring, our team of volunteers came together to help us prepared the house for lifting by removing the decrepit plaster and drywall from the walls to see the inner working of the house.

As the walls came down beautiful craftsmanship was revealed with the balloon framed walls and diagonal placed sheathing. With this new access we can protect the chimney during the lifting process as well as plan for new utilities to be run throughout the house to make it accessible for modern use.

Grant Awarded

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During the discussions on Washington State’s 2020 budget, Governor Jay Inslee sought an additional $1 million dollars in grant money to support the preservation of the historically significant buildings of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. This one-time grant program, to be administered through the State’s Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and Ebey’s Reserve, was approved by the State Legislature for the 2020 biennium.

A dozen qualifying historic property owners received grants under this program, and on January 21st, Kristen Griffin, manager of Ebey’s Reserve, announced that Historic Whidbey would be receiving $196,940 towards a new foundation, structural stabilization and rehabilitation work on the windows and doors of the Haller-Brunn House.

We at Historic Whidbey are very thankful to all those who worked to make this grant program a reality, especially the staff at Ebey’s Reserve, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the State Legislature, Governor Inslee and his staff. With this generous funding, our vision of a Territorial Heritage Center in the Haller House is much closer to becoming a reality