Sequim Museum & Arts Center’s Christmas Tea
When: 1-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6
Where: Dungeness Schoolhouse, 2781 Towne Road
Includes: Free Victorian Tea, Christmas gift sale, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, car show, tours and more
More info: sequimmuseum@olypen.com, sequimmuseum.com, 681-2257 (leave message)
The Dungeness Schoolhouse is now fully accessible to visitors of all ages and levels of mobility.
Volunteers recently learned that the schoolhouse’s new elevator lift received its necessary permits for operation. Gone are the days of using the chairlift, aka “Galloping Gerdy” known for shaking halfway up the stairs and taking three round trips before stopping for the day.
Volunteers said the limited access to the second floor has deterred many event-goers over the years but not anymore.
The new elevator meets ADA requirements and helps those with mobility issues travel with ease from the former cloak room downstairs to the closet upstairs next to the main meeting room.
Project manager Louie Rychlik said they received construction permits on May 21, began construction that day and received their final Clallam County inspection on Nov. 9.
An effort to install a new elevator dates back to September 2013, says Judy Stipe, executive director of the Museum & Arts Center, which owns and operates the schoolhouse.
“With the existing restrooms, now it’s user-friendly for all schoolhouse patrons,” she said.
Volunteers said they’ll transport passengers with limited mobility in the elevator including those with wheelchairs. It can hold up to 750 pounds.
Rychlik said there will be an operator for events to ensure it is used properly.
Fundraising for the elevator began last year with the museum contributing $1,000 followed by a donation from the Albert Haller Foundation of $20,000. Local performer Shelley Taylor organized a performance in November 2014 collaborating with Readers Theatre Plus to raise $2,400 and local patrons contributed another $3,000 in the following weeks.
The construction cost for labor was donated by Daniel L. Smith of Dan Smith Construction with Thomas Building Center providing a discount on building materials and Bill Littlejohn donating half of them.
Rychlik donated his time with Smith installing the trim, supports and carpentry to ready the shaft for the lift. Both men come from Sequim-Dungeness pioneer families and have strong backgrounds here with Smith of the Sprague Pioneer Family and Rychlik a student at the schoolhouse.
Stipe said Smith and Rychlik saved the museum about $30,000 with their pro-bono work. “There’s a million remarks we could have about how important he (Smith) was to this project,” Stipe said. “It’s amazing. If we didn’t have him, this would not be done.”
While a majority of the project is paid for, including the elevator, some debt remains along with annual inspections and certifications that must be paid for through donations and special events.
Christmas Tea
Installation for the new elevator had perfect timing with the museum hosting its annual Christmas Tea from 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6. The free event that’s run for more than four decades features an old-fashioned Victorian tea upstairs and a bake sale, Christmas gift sale, appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, an antique car show outside and tours of the old school rooms.
Volunteers say the tea is the museum’s biggest annual fundraiser for the schoolhouse through donations.
Vendor space is available by contacting the museum at 681-2257 or sequimmuseum@olypen.com.
Overall, the schoolhouse serves an important role for the museum, volunteers said.
Stipe said rentals for the building subsidize utilities and insurance for the museum’s DeWitt Administration Building, Exhibit Building and the schoolhouse.
Bob Stipe, schoolhouse manager and museum board of trustees’ secretary, said they average at least five regular renters each week and they’ve seen a significant increase in revenue from the schoolhouse.
“We saw a 70 percent increase in the amount of renters and revenue in just three months in March 2014 compared to all of 2013,” he said.
The schoolhouse opened in 1893 and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Brochures on the schoolhouse are available outside the building and online at sequimmuseum.com.
