The Jack Williams Veterans Resource Center (Camp Jack) has been chosen to qualify for the National Historic Registry.
Camp Jack executive director Matt Russell said, “We received confirmation that Congress had appropriated the funds to remodel and restore the building in March 2022, 16 months ago, and we don’t have a penny yet.”
“Navigating the massive HUD regulations and paperwork necessary to get the money released is not easy and takes a lot of time.” But I do want to commend Wade Phillips and Luke Feighert at the city for the phenomenal work they have done in navigating this process.”
“One of the benefits of being chosen to qualify for the Registry is that HUD will wave the Flood Plain issues. When they give us the OK, our architect can move ahead with preliminary plans. Then when they have completed the detailed plans, we will seek bids,” Russell said.
After a contractor has been chosen, it could be January or February of 2024 before the public sees any work getting started. “It’s very frustrating, but we will keep it together until then,” he said.
When the grant is received, the contractor and volunteers must work even harder to save money wherever they can. Russell said when they first conceived this project, expenses weren’t as high as they are now.
“Building costs were $160 a foot. Now building costs are $360 a foot. We need a new roof which was going to cost $80,000, and now it will be $300,000. It will be another $250,000 to seal the outside of the building. So we will have to work hard to cut costs where we can,” Russell said. “We will find a way! It shouldn’t be this hard to do something good.”
When all the renovation is complete, the space will include a 1950s soda shop. “We will restore the original 1942 entrance. The renovation will include a military museum focused on local veterans and how wartime history affected this community. For example, this was built as an armory. When they shipped the men to war, it turned into a garment factory. There were more than 100 women in here sewing blankets and uniforms for the troops.”
Russell has heard many stories about how special the building is to the community, including the first spanking from a principal (when the school district owned the property) to a first kiss. “This building holds fond memories from the whole community. Not just our veterans.
“We look forward to restoring it to be used and enjoyed another 80 years.”
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