Cadwell Building
Awardee: Kittitas County Historical Society
Award: Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation
Year: 2024
City: Ellensburg
The Brick & Mortar Award is an award that recognizes building owners or projects that positively impact preservation efforts. The Kittitas County Historical Society has been named the 2024 Brick & Mortar Award recipient for its outstanding preservation of the Cadwell Building, an icon of Ellensburg’s historic downtown.
Built in 1889, the Cadwell Building was constructed after the Great Ellensburg Fire, made of soft Ellensburg brick and other locally sourced materials. The building, known for its “horseshoe” windows, has been home to dry goods and grocers, car dealerships, and furniture and music stores over the years before being purchased by the Kittitas County Historical Society in 1974 for the museum’s permanent home. Shortly after the museum moved in, the Cadwell Building became a contributing building to the Downtown Ellensburg Historic District, which was placed on the National Register in 1977.
Over the years, the Kittitas County Historical Society has been able to address repairs to the building on an as-needed basis. But the larger-ticket deferred maintenance was stacking up, and it was time to take on a major capital project. Phase I addressed the highest priority: the exterior brick masonry. Repair and repointing commenced, along with the removal of an unbraced, damaged chimney (and salvage of brick!) and the rebuild of an over-height unreinforced parapet. Storefronts were repaired, and windows and doorways were addressed to improve energy efficiency. While seismic and other improvements are yet to come, the completion of Phase I is worthy of celebration: a nonprofit organization stewarding a cornerstone historic property while managing their own operations is quite a feat.
“In their nomination of this project, the Ellensburg Downtown Association specifically noted Museum Director Sadie Thayer’s profound commitment to connecting the community with the region’s history and stories, which wouldn’t have a home without the Cadwell Building,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony.