RECORD STAFF

Restoration and improvements to the Deer Lagoon Grange are well under way thanks in large part to the community’s support.

“We have done the major straightening stuff — floors level, walls straight and a regulation foundation,” said Chuck Prochaska, who holds the title of Grange overseer.

There’s still much more to do, but in recognition of progress the community is invited to celebrate at the Deer Lagoon Grange, 5142 Bayview Road, Langley, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2. At the event the Grange will share some of the improvements made to the building over the last several months and their plans for the near and long term. Also, the grange will present its annual “Community Citizen Award” to Drew Kampion developer of Drew’s List.

In 2011, members of Deer Lagoon Grange recognized that their historic building built in 1904 was in urgent need of major repair and modernization.

The problem was that the group did not have the resources to necessary work. The decision was made to ask the South Whidbey community to come forward with help to preserve this important building for future generations to use much like they have for the last century.

“We believe that the Grange Hall is the oldest, non-residential, non-farm building in Bayview,” Prochaska said.

Collectively, the Grange and community raised in excess of $22,000, nearly half of the original goal. Significant donors are recognized on the Grange website, www.deerlagoongrange.com.

“This amounts to a great beginning, but much more remains to be accomplished,” Prochaska said. Still on the work agenda: repair the roof, re-sheath the stairwell, upgrade the heating system, replace the single pane windows in the kitchen, upgrade the stove/oven area, rebuild the sink counter, upgrade the wiring, and more.

“The Grange would like to renew our appeal to the community to help us get the job done so this structure can continue to be a preferred place for the community to use long into the next century,” Prochaska said.

Anyone who wants to help keep this piece of Bayview’s history going may donate to the Deer Lagoon Building Repair Fund at www.deerlagoongrange.com.

The Grange building next to Lone Lake was originally constructed as a Lutheran church. The Grange purchased the building along with two acres in 1936 for $300, Prochaska said. Included is six-feet of Lone Lake waterfront.