The Odd Fellows Building in downtown Astoria has the chance to nab some hard cash in preservation funding from American Express, in addition to an initial grant of $10,000 to increase public awareness of these historic places and build grassroots support for their Main Street district.
A new campaign, 2019 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets, shines a light on historic buildings and sites celebrating the contributions of women in local communities across the country.
In honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote, Partners in Preservation: Main Streets features 20 sites that each highlight and raise awareness for the often unrecognized contributions of women to American history and society.
The Odd Fellows Building in downtown Astoria was the first building the community chose to rebuild in 1923 after a fire devastated the town. Almost a century later, three local women purchased the building and, with an incredible amount of community support, saved it from developers.
Today, the building houses a gallery, apothecary, art studio, and coffee shop, as well as Astoria’s only nonprofit dance studio and black box theatre—all owned and operated by local women. Funding will restore and weatherize the building’s historic facade and windows to ensure it continues to serve the community for generations to come.
Lost Oregon 