Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center (MHIC) is taking possession of the of the log building that was the last remaining structure of the logging town above Wallowa. MHIC Executive Director Gwen Trice says the center has other good news to report as well. State Sen. Bill Hansell dropped by recently to express his support for MHIC and said he is working on building funding or the center.

With respect to the Maxville log building, Trice said, “We just signed a contract with Hancock Timber, and they’re giving us the building and permission to move it and restore it. We’re determining the site now, and considering our site options from Joseph to Wallowa.” She added that MHIC already has a $20,000 Kinsman Foundation grant to get that project started.

Clatsop Community College recently mapped and diagrammed the log building inside and out over Memorial Day weekend and just sent the center the final revised documents. “We hope to continue working with them, as well as Eastern Oregon University. We’re also interested in involving the University or Oregon and Oregon State University because of their full archaeology programs,” Trice said. She added that the center is also looking at some of the local successful historical restorations for ideas.

MHIC recently received two grants: an Oregon Heritage grant, which amounted to $6,500, and a $5,000 grant from US Bank in La Grande. The OH grant is an interpretive and display grant for the purposes of consultant support to create an interpretive plan that will situate MHIC in county-wide and statewide contexts. The U.S. Bank grant is funding for general operations.

At press time, an Aug. 11 meeting facilitated by Alice Parman of the Oregon Heritage Foundation was expected to gather input from attendees on the direction and scope of the center’s mission. “There’s all these pieces that everyone can bring to the table for Alice to put together. It’s a strong opportunity for brainstorming, and we expect people from all over to attend,” Trice said.

Maxville Heritage is quickly creating both a regional and national presence on the historic preservation scene. As proof, Trice disclosed that MHIC is giving several presentations and a showing of the film “The Logger’s Daughter” at a Community Starbucks in Seattle. A Community Starbucks is a special designation given to only four Starbucks in the world and is built inside a local cultural community. “We didn’t solicit them; they came to us,” Trice said. Trice is working on a similar presentation and display for the Starbucks in La Grande.

Trice also said MHIC has openings for paying internships with a focus on students over 16 years of age. “We have grant money sitting in the kitty waiting to get paid out to high school and college students. The money’s there,” Trice said.