Pictures, Progress & Presentations
Exterior Restoration Pictures: Summer 2012
A view of Hurlbut Mansion in early 2012, before restoration work begins.
The building had suffered extensive water damage. How much could be saved?
A groundbreaking party at the mansion for the start of restoration.
In order to rebuild the porch, the columns are carefully removed.
One of the plaster, Ionic caps is removed from a column.
Temporary posts have been installed, until the columns can be restored.
Contractor Chris Dickamore and LCECP
The team from Midland Construction restores the porch roof.
The rebuilt porch roof, ready for roofing.
The dormers all get new crown moulding.
The crew rebuilds the once-beautiful bay window.
Both of the mansion's fire escapes have been taken down.
The back shed of the mansion, before restoration.
The Midland crew dismantles the back shed.
The shed has been taken back to the original back porch. Look, a door!
Milestones
Model built of Hurlbut Mansion
Foundation match challenge offered for Hurlbut Mansion project
U.S. Bancorp Foundation supports Hurlbut Mansion project with a grant
Swift Charities supports Hurlbut Mansion project
Idaho Heritage Trust supports Hurlbut Mansion project with a grant
Preservation Idaho designates Hurlbut Mansion a threatened building
Morrison match challenge met, roof restoration to begin May 21
The restoration of Hurlbut Mansion begins
Avista Powers Hurlbut Mansion project with $10,000 grant
Hurlbut Mansion restoration hits the headlines
Community Bank donates $1,000 to Hurlbut Mansion restoration project
Community Presentations, Meetings
Vision for Hurlbut Mansion described at Rotary Club meeting
Lewiston Orchards Kiwanis hears plan for saving Hurlbut Mansion
National Trust supportive of saving Hurlbut Mansion
Idaho Heritage Trust visits Hurlbut Mansion
Thanks to Daughters of the American Revolution, Beautiful Downtown Lewiston
LCECP ‘rocks the vest’ with the Lewiston Lions Club
Lewis Clark Association of Realtors welcomes Hurlbut Mansion presentation
Thank you, Lewis-Clark Valley Christian Ministerial Association
Hurlbut Mansion project heads to Lewiston Home, Garden & Outdoor Show
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
How do I find out more about
who Wendell Hurlbut was?
Did he have relatives in Seattle?
Thank you very much for
any information about Wendell Hurlbut.
Great questions! The information I have about Wendell Hurlbut comes from Daniel Miller, local historian and author of “Little Patch of Idaho: A History of the Craig Mountain Region” (may be available online). Miller writes: “Wendell Hurlbut was born in Wisconsin in 1859, married Sadie Wellman in 1883 and lived in Duluth, where he was listed in a business directory in 1893 as a real estate agent. He arrived in Lewiston in 1899, probably by train.” Hurlbut established several banks in Lewiston and served as manager of a mining and milling company, and he built a 16-block housing development before building the mansion. Hurlbut’s commercial dreams soon went sour, the high cost of the mansion probably a factor. As Miller notes, the 1910 census finds him in Brooklyn, and the 1930 census finds him renting a house in Spokane, WA. That’s all the information I have before me — census records and genealogy sites may be able to tell you more about Hurlbut’s Seattle connections, if any. It’s a fascinating story, one that probably deserves a longer post. Hope that helps, and thanks for the question!
I spoke too soon, apparently. In preparing a page for the website about “Who was Wendell Hurlbut?”, I’ve come across records that show Wendell Hurlbut’s son, Wendell Phillips Hurlbut Jr., did indeed live in the Seattle area. He was a manager at Frederick & Nelson department store, and he lived for a long time in the area. His descendants have since stayed active in the business and cultural life of the region. I’ll detail more of the life and times of the turn-of-the-century Hurlbuts in a separate page for the website soon, including more information about early Lewiston. Stay tuned, and thanks for your question! — Brian