You know that old saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”? That sentiment pretty much sums up how we got started—and what continues to motivate us today.
Back in 1983, the Intermountain Cultural Center and Museum (ICC&M) had been operating in Hooker Hall—the former administration building for the Intermountain Institute—for just a few years. Previously known as the “Washington County Museum,” it was originally located downtown on the former site of the Vendome Hotel, now home to the Vendome Center. With the larger space at Hooker Hall, the museum expanded its offerings and operated through several volunteer committees, including a theater committee led by Marvin Triguiero and Blake Coats.
That fall, a fire destroyed a corner building in downtown Weiser, prompting several of us on the ICC&M board to jump into action. The building featured the last remaining turret on a commercial structure in town—something we were determined to save. We worked with the owner, Al Lightfield, to try to preserve it. Unfortunately, city officials, still wary from the aftermath of the Hotel Washington fire a few years earlier, deemed the structure unsafe and ordered the second floor to be demolished. Mr. Lightfield agreed not to raze the entire building, and a portion of it still stands today.
That moment was a wake-up call. Across the country, historic preservation was gaining traction in the 1970s, and we realized Weiser was already losing much of its architectural legacy. To focus our efforts, we formed a formal subcommittee of the museum dedicated to preservation: the Weiser Architectural Preservation Committee (WAPC). And we weren’t a moment too soon.
In 1985, we got word from a fellow preservationist in Payette that the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) had just demolished their depot—and Weiser’s was next. While the writing had been on the wall—passenger service had long been discontinued, and the depot was run by a skeleton crew—we acted fast. Within 24 hours, we entered into negotiations with UPRR to save the building. We began fundraising and hired a professional planner to design a site proposal, which included the park grounds you see today.
Negotiating with UPRR was like working with a foreign government. Bureaucratic and slow. After two years, they agreed to donate the building and lease the land, but only to the City of Weiser—not to us. Past experiences had made them wary of dealing with private groups. Though the museum had a long history, we didn’t meet their criteria. So, we convinced the city to accept the deal and then transfer the deed and lease to WAPC. In 1987, the official transfer took place, and WAPC got to work—raising funds, making repairs, applying for grants, and hosting community events. We launched historic walking tours, seasonal home tours, and more. All the while, the depot patiently waited for its second act. We believed a restored depot could be a catalyst for downtown revitalization. We were right.
Around this time, WAPC urged both City and County officials to adopt historic preservation ordinances, allowing the creation of official preservation commissions. This opened the door to grant funding for restoration projects. Over the years, WAPC has provided the matching funds or in-kind services for many of these. While some confusion exists between the city- and county-appointed commissions and our nonprofit committee, the difference is simple: the commissions are the official government entities, and WAPC is the private, nonprofit partner. Together, we share a common mission.
Then, in 1997, disaster struck again. A fire broke out at ICC&M’s Hooker Hall. Thankfully, the damage was limited, but it dealt a heavy blow to the museum’s future. The depot became a temporary storage and sorting site for artifacts. With the museum’s fate uncertain, WAPC, still going strong, decided to officially separate. We incorporated as a nonprofit and became WAPC, Inc.
While the museum worked to regroup, downtown Weiser was undergoing a transformation. In 2000, the city launched a revitalization effort, including $200,000 in improvements at the depot site—street work, a new roof, and exterior painting. Things were looking up. The city also built the Vendome Center just a block away.
Around this time, the Knights of Pythias in Weiser disbanded. Concerned for the fate of their landmark building—one of the most iconic in the state—they approached WAPC to take ownership. We gladly accepted the donation around 1999 and continue to own it today. For many years, Mel’s Trading Post occupied the ground floor. Mel and his business were community fixtures, but he retired shortly after. Finding a compatible and preservation-minded tenant wasn’t always easy, but we got lucky when the Coopers leased the space and opened Bee Tree, an educational center. We’ve made numerous improvements over the years: a new roof, masonry repairs, structural assessments, and more. Currently, we’re preparing to repair damage caused by a neighboring building fire. Thankfully, it was minor and no historic materials were lost.
In 2005, we secured a $1 million grant to restore the depot’s interior, recreate roof dormers, and install an HVAC system. This enabled us to begin renting the space for private events, which continues today. Around 2012, we partnered with a local organization to host a farmers market on the depot grounds—a tradition that also continues. The site has become a favorite for photography, and even a nostalgic place to “flip the cookie,” just like the kids used to do in the 1950s.
The pandemic in 2020 disrupted our operations, like it did for so many. We paused rentals and events, but our board never stopped meeting. For over 35 years, we’ve continued monthly meetings, kept membership dues affordable, and stayed true to our mission.
By 2022, we were returning to public life with a train enthusiast visit and a historic walking tour in May. We also launched a new project encouraging members to share their personal stories to build connection and community awareness.
You don’t have to own a historic property to be part of WAPC—but when you join, you become a part owner of two! If you appreciate local history, value preservation, or just want to give back to the community, you’ll fit right in. A membership form is available on this website—we’d love to have you with us.
By Founding Member Tony Edmondson
September 12, 2022