Originally published Monday, July 6, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
Share
Lyman's landmark Minkler mansion to become town hall
Lyman will celebrate its 100th birthday Saturday at an old landmark the town hopes will become the new center of its identity.
Skagit Valley Herald
LYMAN, Skagit County — Lyman will celebrate its 100th birthday Saturday at an old landmark the town hopes will become the new center of its identity.
The Minkler mansion, built in 1891 and the only building in town on the National Register of Historic Places, has been converted in the past year from a private residence to the town hall.
But the town doesn't own the well-preserved Victorian house just yet. The deed belongs to Skagit County, which paid $393,000 for the property on Lyman's behalf last July. Lyman didn't have all the grant money it needed at the time to meet the property owner's deadline for the sale.
The town received a $200,000 grant from the state just before the sale and netted $125,200 from the sale of a city property in the past few weeks, Mayor Debra Heinzman said.
But it's still not enough. The town is obligated by a contract with the county to pay the full purchase price plus a fee, totaling $407,737, by July 29.
Heinzman said she will ask the county for an extension.
She said the town continues to pursue more grants but has high hopes for a $500,000 federal earmark requested by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen for the mansion. The money would go toward purchase and renovation of the building.
The town will make a push during the centennial celebration on Saturday to raise money for the mansion by selling pavers engraved with donors' names, Heinzman said.
Lyman is taking pains to recognize its 100th birthday with a nod to its history and with something new to take into the next century.
The honorary guest at a flag-raising ceremony is Eleanor Minkler Aiken, 92. Aiken is a granddaughter of Birdsey Minkler, the mill owner and politician who built the mansion.
For the occasion, the town has a new 38-foot flagpole, donated by the city of Sedro-Woolley.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
![]()
UPDATE - 09:46 AM
Exxon Mobil wins ruling in Alaska oil spill case
NEW - 7:51 AM
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview mill spills bleach into Columbia River
NEW - 8:00 AM
More extensive TSA searches in Sea-Tac Airport rattle some travelers

nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
434 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
346 - Sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call
282 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
235 - Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement
208 - Oregon live game thread
153 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - Lakewood cop accused of taking donations for slain officers' families
114 - Department of Justice owes the Seattle Police Department an apology
88 - Thursday morning links --- and a video!!!
72
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- UW opening incubator facility for startups
- Controversial principal at Lowell Elementary takes job in Tacoma
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families







