A sterling record ofsaving, using buildings

Baker City recently added two fine examples to its already impressive record of not only saving, but also using, historic buildings.

And a third is pending.

On Saturday a wedding reception inaugurated Baker County's Community and Events Center. That's the former National Guard armory, on East Street just north of Campbell.

The $540,000 renovation transformed the armory, which the National Guard no longer needs because it has a new and larger headquarters just across East Street, into an ideal spot for large gatherings such as wedding receptions.

This Friday, Baker City's Carnegie Library, a native tuff-stone structure one year shy of a century old, will be formally dedicated as the new Crossroads Art Center.

Friday's gala culminates a campaign even more ambitious than the one that revamped the armory.

The Carnegie project, spearheaded by Kathleen Chaves, raised $1.3 million.

We're particularly pleased with the armory and Carnegie Library renovations because both are publicly owned buildings, a fact that sometimes leads to bureaucratic inertia, which at best stalls a project, and at worst results in the demolition of a significant building.

Fortunately, Baker City boasts a wealth of residents who recognize that significance and, more importantly, are willing to work to find new uses for these old buildings.

Such foresight is not, of course, limited to the public sector.

An example is Churchill School.

Pamela and Jim Van Duyn of Baker City bought the 81-year-old brick building from the Baker School District in 2006.

The National Park Service recently added Churchill to the National Register of Historic Places. The Van Duyns intend to remodel the building into apartments for renters 55 and older.

The former armory, the Carnegie Library and Churchill School each exemplifies why Baker City deserves its reputation as one of Oregon's best preserved and most attractive towns.