Bayview Hall getting spruced up this fall

“Honey, we’re gonna paint the town tonight.”

That expression has no doubt been uttered countless times in the decades that Bayview Community Hall has served as a center of life and activity in South Whidbey. Since 1928, the hall has been the place where couples swing, sway and dance the night away; families gather for weddings and graduation parties; and community issues are hashed out over coffee and conversation.

Now, it’s finally time for the aging belle of the Bayview ball to get her own much-needed painting and facelift.

As a piece of local history and owned entirely by the community, there are no wealthy landlord or investors to infuse cash into its restoration and upkeep. But that hasn’t stopped locals from protecting their heritage and ensuring future generations will still have a place to call “home base” in the midst of hectic lifestyles.

After months of fundraising events, hall dances, giving jars and donations from organizations and businesses with deep ties to South Whidbey and Bayview, the aptly named “Paint the Hall” fund has finally reached its goal, and the work will take place throughout September — as long as it stops raining long enough.

Thanks to a $25,000 community challenge grant from Goosefoot, the amount raised was doubled – and then some. The two-tiered challenge included a Goosefoot match of all cash donations up to $15,000 and a match of up to $10,000 in donated labor, supplies and equipment.

Jill Yomnick, a major force behind the restoration and painting project, stresses how important the Goosefoot effort was in mobilizing and structuring the funding portion of the project. The needs are many, including professional lead abatement, siding repairs, cedar shake replacement and painting.

Community members met and exceeded their portion of the challenge, and dozens of volunteers and contractors signed on early, pledging their hands-on assistance as the work moves forward.

Goosefoot’s Executive Director Sandy Whiting recalls being at her organization’s board meeting for the unanimous vote in support of the special $25,000 matching grant for Bayview Hall.

“Goosefoot’s mission is to bring neighbors together to nurture a sense of place and community, preserve rural character and enhance local commerce,” Whiting said. “Helping to preserve Bayview Hall covers two out of three of our mission points. Our board jumped at the opportunity to not only help, but help in a way that would bring the community together with a common goal of helping the hall – their hall.”

The prep work began earlier this month, and Yomnick estimates the project will stretch through the month of September and possibly into October, depending primarily on the weather. First up is the lead abatement, which requires tenting the building and removing existing paint. A contractor will then bring crews for repairs, replacements and paint preparation.

When it’s time for the actual painting to take place, the entire community is invited to don their dungarees, grab a brush or roller and pitch in to get the job done. As one contributor to the fundraising site “GoFundMe” posted, “The hall is an icon of our community. She is the responsibility of us all.”

Another contributor to the online funding site, Rene Vaughan, reminisced about “memories of summer, sleeping with my window open and the sounds of the Bayview dance.” And Vicki Robin May summed up the sentiments by posting, “May the dance continue for a hundred more years.”

Volunteers of all skill levels can reach out by email to scheduling@bayviewhall.org