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.

Covid vs. Non-Profits

What Stay at Home means for Non-Profits.

Like most nonprofits, we rely on events, programs and social contact to inspire financial support from our community - all of which is not currently possible. Despite our recent windfall of capital grants, we still rely 100% on our supporters to fund operations - the command center for obtaining and managing those capital grants.  These grants DO NOT cover administration.

We understand people are skittish about giving at this time. So does Congress! The recent legislation passed by Congress, the CARES Act, includes provisions to encourage giving even when people are tightening their belts. It provides the following temporary incentives:

  • Donors, even those who do not itemize, can now claim an above-the-line deduction up to $300 for donations made to 501(c)3 organizations - through 2020.

  • the Act also raises the deduction limitation on individual taxpayers from 60 percent of adjusted gross income to 100 percent.

Please consider taking advantage of these temporary incentives to keep the Haller House rehab moving forward! No gift is too small.

Donor Appreciation Event Cancelled

Just as we sent out our invitations for our annual donor appreciation event the first U.S. death occurred from COVID-19. Due to the ongoing struggle with containing this disease our Board of Directors have decided to cancel this years event. We will be looking at rescheduling the event for the future, only after more is known about this virus and how it can be contained.

We thank everyone and their understanding in this decision. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us here.

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.