In June of 2017, an article about the Wells Depot Museum was published in the Wells Mirror. The headline said “You did it! We did it!”
The original article said that the Wells Historical Society had just purchased the lunchroom café next to the Depot Museum. It also said, “We look forward to taking possession, restoring and decorating our new space.” The article explained that the next step for the WHS was to begin applying for grants to help with restoration costs and thanked everyone in the community for their help.
The Wells Historical Society was awarded a $125,000 grant from the Blandin Foundation. A contract was signed with Eagle Ridge Construction to work on the outside of the building. They will concentrate on fixing the deteriorating soffits and restoring the doors and windows of the lunchroom to the original locations. The grant was to be spent in the calendar year 2023.
Volunteers removed the deck and the wooden lean-to that had been added to the south side of the brick building.
Then it was time for Eagle Ridge Construction to move in. Soffits were replaced and the roof was repaired. Doors and windows were replaced back to where they were originally located when the lunchroom was built in 1903.
Phase I of the restoration project on the depot lunchroom was almost complete last fall before cold weather set in. The lunchroom has been wrapped in plastic for the past few months, but spring is here and days will be getting warmer.
Eagle Ridge Construction will be completing a few unfinished items on Phase I, and then we will start on Phase II, to insulate the building and make sure all bricks and the foundation are secure. Meanwhile, the Wells Historical Society is continuing to work on fundraisers, and museum staff are researching and applying for grants to help with project costs.
