The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PRESCOTT - The Touchet Valley is filled with well- maintained historic homes and buildings, treasured by the communities in which they reside. Owners of those build­ings, however, will attest that maintenance is no small feat.

That fact is illustrated by the numerous abandoned and dilapidated structures dotting the landscape, whose owners have thrown up their hands in surrender to time and the ele­ments. The Prescott Lions have faced that challenge head-on, restoring and maintaining the Lion's Club building that func­tions as the hub of the Prescott community.

The Lions Club building, also known as the Community Building, is located on the corner of Highway 12 and D Street and was erected in 1919. According to Prescott Lions Club President Mike Himmelberger, the McCaw family owned the building that was eventually deeded to the com­munity, with the Lions Club retaining a lifetime interest.

"We are focused on making sure the building is there for everyone to use and we want to make it as afford­able as possible," said Himmelberger.

Currently, a portion of the building is leased to the Prescott Library and another section is leased to the Parks and Recreation Department. The portion retained by the Lions can be rented out for gatherings and includes a full kitchen facility. In recent years, the building has been used for AA meetings, archery practice, Veterans Association meetings and a variety of dances and events. The Lions Club uses the buildings for their meet­ings as well as a home-base for their ongoing, all-you-can-eat breakfast fundraiser that takes place the third weekend of every month.

In 2011 the Lions knew they were going to have to get serious about addressing the daunting maintenance issues of the building, especially the leaking roof. While the group was small - with about 12 active members and 15 members overall - membership was nearly triple that of 2000 when only five active members held the group together.

The Prescott Club was chartered in 1959, and boasted 50- 60 members at one point. In fact, it was the Prescott Lions that originally sponsored the Waitsburg Lions Club. "There were a lot more farmers around back then," said Himmel­berger. "The immediate area was much bigger than now."

Unlike the mens-only Waitsburg Club and Lions clubs with affiliated "Lioness" clubs, the Prescott Lions welcome female members. "If you look back in pictures, you'll see it used to be all men. But somewhere along the way women began joining. It's a good thing because if the girls weren't there, we wouldn't get much done," said Himmelberger whose wife is a member.

Himmelberger said the club consists of a good mix of older and younger members as well as couples and singles. "This last year we had a fa- ther and son join us. They're all just good-hearted people who want to work" he said.

And work they do. In 2011 the Club realized they were going to need to get creative to raise the $20,000 in funds required to replace the leaking roof and make the repairs necessary to save the Lions Club building.

The group approached area farmers about making in-kind wheat donations and was met with a positive response. During the 2011 harvest a Lions truck visited the fields of area farmers to receive donations of wheat that the Lions could then sell at market. The Lions offered gratitude and cold beverages in return.

In addition to their monthly breakfast fundraisers, the Lions cook and cater at area events. The Club designed an eight- foot BBQ that was built by the Walla Walla Farmer's Co Op, and mount- ed it on a trailer to be pulled behind a pickup.

"Two weeks ago we cooked hot dogs and ham- burgers for PGE's open house in Dayton, and next week we'll be cooking for Tucannon Meats," said Him- melberger. "We cater the Walla Walla Farmer's Co Op Appreciation Dinner each year, which is a big social event, and feed about 90 people."

The Prescott Lions Club building.

Between the grain donations, breakfasts, BBQ's, and a few additional fundraisers, the Lions raised enough to make major headway on building renovations. In the last two years they have re- placed the roof, windows and doors. They weatherized the outside of the building and have worked in the Main hall repairing wainscoting and painting.

"We're planning a big Sausage Fest Open House the second weekend in No- vember so that everyone can come and see the work we've accomplished," said Him- melberger. "We want to show off the building and thank everyone for their support."

In addition to maintaining an important community asset, the club prepares Christmas food baskets, sponsors the annual Easter Egg Hunt and sometimes provides Hal- loween activities for kids. The Lions meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Lion's Club Building. All interested par- ties are welcome to attend.