About Us
How We Started
During the winter of 2009 a group of Washburn residents organized and incorporated the Washburn Heritage Association as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Our initial concern was to save the Washburn Civic Center from demolition. This project attracted a buyer with an appreciation for and experience in historic preservation, and successful rehabilitation of the building is underway.
Now we turn our energies to promoting thoughtful preservation and reuse of other critical areas of our legacy from Washburn’s history.
Washburn Heritage Association Board of Directors
- Mary Gruhl, President
- Matt Simoneau, Vice President
- Karen Novachek, Treasurer
- Jamey Penney-Ritter, Secretary
- Lynn Adams
- Aaron Austin
- Mary Cook
- Ella Cross
- Andrew Grimm
- Patra Holter
- Sandy Johnson
- Ginny Pedersen
- Lucille Sells
- Sharon Stewart
Advisory Board
- Carla Bremner
- Gary Holman
Goals
These goals will help to preserve the local heritage that we cherish:
- Conduct research, historic preservation planning and education
- Promote community and neighborhood revitalization and sustainable adaptive reuse of vital and irreplaceable parts of Washburn
WHA Projects & Accomplishments
- Halted demolition of the Civic Center/DuPont Club
- Created a Kiosk showcasing Washburn's History
- Provided major support to the Historic preservation commission for the establishment of a National Register Historic District
- Host Annual Brownstone Days History Tours
- Co-sponsor the Tony Woiak History Festival Lecture Series
- Consult with business owners about improvements to Main Street Facades
- Provide Facade Enhancement Awards to Local
- Provide Historic Placemats to local Restaurants to Promote Washburn