Wy’East Community Church seeking financial assistance

Over more than a century, weathering and the elements have severely degraded the church’s original exterior. To prevent structural rot, protect timber frame, and maintain the building’s historical integrity, the building requires a complete replacement of its compromised exterior cladding using historically accurate materials. The total estimated cost of this specialized material replacement and architectural restoration is $38,000, with the church family removing the old siding themselves. They will remove what they can, and additional charges will be assessed as the project moves forward.

Built in 1906 and sanctified in 1907, the Pine Grove Church is a premier surviving example of early 20th-century rural vernacular ecclesiastical architecture in the Columbia River Gorge region.

The building’s most character-defining feature is its classic white clapboard exterior siding. Set beautifully against the backdrop of Hood River’s historic orchards, the church has served as a visual anchor and a cultural gathering point for the valley for nearly 120 years. Preserving its distinct woodwork ensures that a vital piece of Oregon’s rural architectural heritage remains completely intact for future generations.

Due to prolonged exposure to severe Gorge winter patterns and regional moisture, the exterior wood siding has succumbed to localized dry rot, warping, and irreversible splitting. Patchwork repairs are nolonger sufficient to protect the building envelope. To prevent moisture from intruding into the underlying 1907 framing, the scope of work funded by this project includes: careful removal and assessment of the failing cladding; repair and stabilization of any compromised underlying historic sheathing; sourcing and installation of custom-milled wood clapboard siding that exactly matches the 1907 profiles, dimensions, and grain patterns; and application of historic-grade primers and protective sealants to shield the newly installed authentic cladding from long-term environmental degradation.

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To donate visit the Wy’East Community Church’s GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/preserve-the-historic-pine-grove-church.