55 Main
revitalization
The 55 Main revitalization project continues to exceed expectations for funding and local involvement. We launched the project in January of 2021 and have raised $300,000! And, have had more than 50 people volunteer on the project – donating $70,000 worth of time and equipment! We are currently in Phase III and are $23,500 away from finishing the public restrooms and laundry facilities
These photos show the building being moved on Feb. 7, 2022 - and August 6th 2023
Our Summer Cultural Events Series hosted 400 people at events featuring culinary arts, visual arts, and fine arts during the summer of 2022!
phase I & ii
Phase 1 of this project was to purchase lots, build a foundation, install utilities, prep the building for being moved, and moving the building! Phase 1 wrapped up with the moving and setting of the building on its new location at 10 West Main on February 7th, 2022!
With Phase 1 complete, the Phase 2 work began to restore the exterior of the building, with all labor provided by volunteers except the gutters – many hours went into a new roof, new paint on the original siding, new storefront, new windows, and tearing out the last of the lathe and plaster on the interior. The final piece of Phase 2 will be the windows in the storefront – to arrive in March and to go in as soon as possible after arrival.
Upon installation of the storefront windows, Phase II will be complete and the exterior will be fully rehabbed.
phase III & IV
We've added an additional phase - Phase III is now a public restroom/shower/laundry facility to serve the many bicyclists, hunters, and anglers who travel through Winnett. There is nothing of this sort in town and a community assessment recently completed identified a need for such a facility. The public restrooms will also serve local residents as we plan to continue to hold events at the indoor/outdoor space that we're creating at the building - which we've renamed 55 Main (55 being the Petroleum County license plate number - and the building is at 10 West Main - so sort of a spin on the address). We decided that the building needed a new name for a new purpose. We currently have $60,000 raised for the $120,000 addition project!
Phase IV will be the completion of the interior. The first floor will be a Visitor Center, for which we’ve just received $105,000 in grant monies from the Montana Department of Tourism! The second floor will be a 3-bedroom apartment. We currently have $10,000 for the apartment effort but need approximately $200,000 to finish both floors on the interior.
We have currently raised $300,000 for a $565,000 project. Our timeline is dependent on funding and volunteer labor. We plan to continue to build in phases as we have funding and volunteers!
