Congress may help Oneida academy

PRESTON, Idaho — After a nail-biting, last-minute reprieve saved the old Oneida Stake Academy building from the wrecking ball last month, Congress is looking to do its share to help residents of this rural Idaho town preserve a part of their heritage.

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, told scores of residents, politicians and community leaders gathered here Monday morning that a $300,000 appropriation to help preserve the academy has been included in HR2861, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday.

Simpson, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, said the money "is not a done deal yet, it still has to go through conference committee." But Simpson said he "feel(s) very confident that

by the first of October, there will be an appropriation in there for $300,000."

He praised community activists who have worked — along with Logan architect Joseph Linton and the Salt Lake City-based Mormon Historic Sites Foundation — to save the academy building when many doubted their ability to raise the required funding to relocate it. "It's so much easier to sell (such an appropriation) to my colleagues as something worth doing when they can see the effort the community has put forth to make this happen."

Preservationists have raised the $1.2 million needed to move the building from its present location — including a $250,000 donation from Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and his wife, Gail, who has ties to the Franklin County area. Other major donations came in at the last minute from unnamed sources, even as the local school board was negotiating with contractors for demolition. Another $1.5 million needs to be raised to restore the building for future use, according to Preston resident Necia Seamons, who has helped spearhead the preservation effort.

While nothing has yet been decided on who will actually take ownership of the building, Kim Wilson of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation said discussions are under way with a Preston attorney to hammer out the details. A private foundation is being considered. Some residents have voiced concern that once the building is renovated, public funds will be used to maintain and preserve it.

Several uses are being considered for the interior space, including a museum and tourism office on the lower levels, and the restoration of the large open ballroom on the second level to host weddings, small conventions, reunions and other community functions.