Exterior Condition Assessment of the Wren Community Hall, 34996 Wren Road, Philomath, Oregon

The Office of Robert Dortignacq

Investigation summary: "SCOPE: The observations and recommendations of this report are intended to provide an assessment, discussion of alternatives, and direction for the necessary work to rehabilitate and preserve the structure and exterior envelope of the Wren Community Hall located on the north side of town. The building is owned and managed by the non profit Wren Community Club and its volunteers. The study’s scope included an examination of the structure, its exterior enclosure’s condition, and the development of recommendations for rehabilitation work. The field investigation and study was conducted during a very hot, dry August, 2015. HISTORY AND BACKGROUND: The Wren Community Hall was constructed in 1939 with donated land and the help of interested community members who volunteered materials and their time to build the hall. A short time after the original construction an addition was built on the north end that provided supplemental space for refreshments. The hall was used for music, dances, school functions, youth basketball, and a variety of community events. By 1974, use and membership of the building had declined substantially leading to its disrepair. The Corvallis Horseshoe Club became involved with the building and installed Oregon’s only interior horseshoe facility with four pits. The group maintained the building until 2005, when new community interest decided to return the building to its original uses. With the help of the horseshoe club they removed the pits, its protective elements, and made other repairs. The volunteers then raised funds for a well, septic system and interior restrooms. In the past ten years there have been a series of improvements. BUILDING USE: The Community Hall consists of the large group space and within the addition a small meeting-refreshment space with an adjoining kitchen work space, and the two single occupancy restrooms. Currently, the building is used for occasional community events, rentals, and Club meetings. It is rented to other groups between six to twelve times a year. More use is anticipated as improvements are provided. Project funding was provided in part by a 2014 Historic Preservation Fund grant to Benton County (project number OR-14-05) administered by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P14AF00096) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Benton County, Oregon is a Certified Local Government.

Exterior Condition Assessment of the Wren Community Hall, 34996 Wren Road, Philomath, Oregon

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