Saving history can be pricey

DARRINGTON – As Valentine’s Day approaches, residents here are going to have to decide just how big a heart they have, and how much memories are worth.

Town officials want to hear what residents want done with Darrington’s old, run-down city hall building.

To make the old city hall structurally sound would cost $190,000. To bring it up to code would cost $422,000. To replace it would cost $775,000 or more.

For a town with an annual budget of $1.5 million, that’s a big price tag.

Some residents have expressed interest in saving the 1940s-era building, even though it was replaced by the new City Hall and library on the other side of town in 1990.

For many, it was the place where they met their sweetheart for a first dance. Others remember it as the old fire hall and jail. More recently, it served as a food bank and a haunted house on Halloween.

The years have worn the concrete-block building, and the 2001 Nisqually earthquake was the final blow that shut it down because of structural concerns.

Residents will have the chance to offer their opinions at a meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Darrington Community Center, 570 Sauk Ave.

In 2004, engineers told the Darrington Town Council that demolishing the 6,000-square-foot hall and building a new community hall would cost at least $775,000.

The engineers said the structural problems could also be fixed by renovating the building for $190,000.

But other repairs to bring the building up to electric and fire codes, plus providing handicapped access and paying for design fees, would jack up the total renovation cost to $422,000.

Still, the sentimental ties are strong enough that some people have been brainstorming ways to raise the money.

Lavinia Bryson, a former town council member who serves on the Darrington Planning Commission, said some officials are looking into community development block grants from the federal government.

A variety of groups have expressed interest in using the building if it is rehabilitated.

“We’ve sort of been kicking around if people wanted to save it with village atmosphere with the historical society, the family resource center, the food bank, DJAA (the Darrington Junior Athletic Association), Darrington Performing and Visual Arts – whoever is interested at this point,” Bryson said.

Despite the building’s wear and tear, engineers said it is salvageable.

“Overall, except for the leaks in the roof on the southwest corner of the building, the structure is in relatively serviceable condition,” Gary Parkinson, an Everett-based architectural consultant, wrote in a letter last summer.

The roof should be repaired immediately, he added, since water damage is affecting all three levels of the wood framing. Other than that leaky area, Parkinson said the rest of the roof is sound.

Mayor Joyce Jones said a temporary patch was applied to the roof recently to prevent further damage while the town considers its options.

Bryson acknowledged that while the old building might be a diamond in the rough to some people, others see it as a blight not worth resurrecting. She hopes the meeting in February will give town officials a clearer idea of what people want.

“We definitely want to go forward with what the majority of the city wants us to do with that building,” Bryson said.

Jones said she wouldn’t be surprised if residents find a way to save the building.

“Darrington might be a small town, but we have a big heart,” she said.

Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A pedestrian struck and killed by vehicle Wednesday in Everett

The pedestrian was a man in his 60s. The collision happened at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Want coffee? Drink some with the Marysville mayor.

A casual question-and-answer session between mayor and constituents is planned for March 24.

Judge sentences man for role in human smuggling ring

Jesus Ortiz-Plata was arrested in Everett in May 2024. A U.S. District Court judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Bill Wood, right, Donnie Griffin, center right, and Steve Hatzenbeler, left, listen and talk with South County Fire Chief Bob Eastman, center left, during an Edmonds Civic Roundtable event to discuss the RFA annexation on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds community discusses annexation into the regional fire authority

About 100 residents attended the Edmonds Civic Roundtable discussion in preparation for the April special election.

Timothy Evans, a volunteer at the east Everett cold weather shelter, with his dog Hammer on Monday, Feb. 10 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Temporary shelter opens in Everett during unusually cold weather

The shelter will open nightly until Feb. 14. Help is needed at the new location, as well as six others across the county.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.