Submitted by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #21
One of the most visible historic landmarks buildings in Olympia is located on the corner of Plum Street and 4th Avenue in downtown Olympia. Sadly, it has also become one of the most unsightly buildings in our area. The building is home to The Eagles Club and is still a vibrant community center located in what was once a beautiful building. However its façade has faded; its exterior has become dilapidated. The Eagles Club wants to change that and we need our communities help.
What is the Project? A group of local Olympians is raising money and recruiting volunteers to repaint the exterior of the Eagle’s Club Building in late August 2014. A core planning team has already identified 20% of resources needed to paint the building. Our goals include:
- 100 volunteers
- $7,500 – for paint and equipment rentals
- Painting contractor assistance for 3rd story work
- Project Sponsors
- Documentarians to record this moment in history
As part of the project, we have received a grant of $6,000 from Puget Sound Energy towards replacing the second and third story windows. The energy savings alone will be a tremendous help for the Eagles organization and the exterior improvement with new windows will be transformative. The cost of replacement, however, is $12,000 so our donation drive is more important than ever.
Why Should We Paint it? The answer is obvious! Located at 4th and Plum streets, the Eagle’s Club is the ‘Gateway to Olympia’. Rolling off of I-5 at the Port of Olympia exit, it is one of the first things you see welcoming you to our fair city. In fact, it’s on the short list of the five ugliest buildings in all of Olympia, much to the frustration of the hard working Eagle’s membership. Eagle’s Club members have been raising funds for this painting project, but this is an expensive building to paint using professional painting contractors. By mobilizing volunteer painters and garnering donations, we know we can make this happen.
What is the Eagle’s Club? For over 100 years, the Olympia Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #21 has served as a community center in Olympia. The F.O.E. was founded in February, 1898 by six theatre owners gathered in a Seattle shipyard to discuss a musician’s strike. After addressing the matter, they agreed to “bury the hatchet” and form “The Order of Good Things.” As numbers grew, members selected the Bald Eagle as the official emblem and changed the name to “The Fraternal Order of Eagles.”
For years, the Eagles Club has hosted some of the biggest events in town. The Ballroom boasts Olympia’s biggest wooden dance floor and the space has a 200 person capacity. The Grand Ballroom has hosted countless wedding receptions, galas, and fundraisers for many local and national groups such as Safeplace, Thurston County Food Bank, Capital City Pride, The Humane Society, Procession of the Species, and many others. The Eagles Club continues to raise money to help fund the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOE DRC) at the University of Iowa (UI), as well as many other organizations in need. They have given so much to the greater Olympia community. It is now time to give back by helping them and by reviving this beautiful façade.
What Can You Do? Help is certainly needed as the project start date is looming and we are far from our goal. Become a volunteer painter, join the paint support team, host a fundraiser, be a donor, or a documentarian.
If you would like to donate to the project, please click HERE to donate online. Even small donations can go a long way.
If you or your business would like to volunteer please click HERE to learn more and sign up.
Please contact Nicole Mercier at 360 485-7390 if you have any additional questions about the project or would like to know more about getting involved.
