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Author: Town of Oakesdale

December 12, 2024 in Development

Community Heart & Soul

We were thrilled with the great turn out for our Community Heart & Soul launch on November 21st at the Oakesdale Fire Station!  53 folks visited, enjoyed a chili dinner, and were introduced to our coach, Brent Baker, who gave a presentation on the framework of our grant! Also present was Joshua Kaiel, Community Development Director of the Community Heart & Soul program for Innovia.

Our goal is to bring people together to learn each other’s stories, develop connections through conversation, and discover what people love about Oakesdale as well as what they would like to see in our future! This program will foster that as well as give us the tools to make it happen using our $30,000.00 grant as seed money!

Please stay tuned for the specific date and time of our January meeting! We will also meet our second coach, Dig! Come join us!! Bring your kids!!!

October 29, 2024 in DevelopmentTourism (1 Comment)

The Old Mill

A historic flour mill on the Palouse was saved by a community effort to purchase it after it went on the market. Now begins the road to restore it.

Built in 1890, the J.C. Barron Mill is the last surviving mill of its kind in Whitman County, about 40 miles south of Spokane.

Towering four stories over the center of Oakesdale, the wooden structure remains an important symbol for the town whose summer festival, Old Mill Days, is named after it. Aside from occasional tours by former owners, its doors have been shut since 1960.

With the help of community donors, Spokane-based Innovia Foundation bought the property in May from MaryJane Butters, an organic farmer in Moscow, Idaho. The property was listed for $217,000.