September 28, 2008

Most people didn't even know that this lonely little building was standing along the abandoned railroad tracks on the southeastern end of Arizona Avenue.  Beneath the building was a concrete room 12 feet wide, 20 feet long and 7 feet deep.  It contained hundreds of feet of steel that were the working mechanism of the platform scale beneath the tracks that weighed all of the rail cars that left Bend.  The building held the scale head.

Since February of 2007 SCNA has been working on preservation efforts with various individuals and Burlington Northern Railroad, who owned the building.  Finally, in September of 2008 the building was deeded to SCNA and we were able to remove it from the site just as it was slated for demolition.  We had originally been working with a local Boy Scout who had hoped to make the restoration his Eagle Scout Project, but he was unable to get approval.  Gary Holbrook  from HD Architecture is now spearheading the project. 

The building has already received a new roof and the old siding has been removed.  It is currently getting new windows provided by Jim Guild at Sisters Log Home Company.  Lakeside Lumber will be providing new siding and any trim wood that will be needed.  Dewey Brothers Construction has volunteered to do any construction work that is needed.  Gary Holbrook is working with the Old Mill District and Bend Parks & Recreation to find a permanent home for the building once the restoration is complete.

  The following photographs show the building as it is lifted and moved, the scale head that was in the building, the scale head as it was being reattached to it's new base, the building being reattached to the base over the scalehead and the building being placed into it's temporary home to await restoration.