The Quilcene Historical Museum has received a $167,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support the historic renovation of the 1892 Hamilton-Worthington mansion.

With the completion of new construction and renovation, a failing but beloved residence of the Worthington family is set to become an event-ready facility for the community, visitors to the region, and the museum.

“We are so honored to receive this grant. The Murdock Trust gift enables us to complete the exterior and interior renovations,” said museum chair Mari Phillips. “This award signifies that our small rural community’s ‘can do’ attitude and thousands of volunteer hours do make a significant positive impact on the Olympic Peninsula.”

As part of Worthington Park, the Hamilton-Worthington mansion is the only remaining house of its size, integrity and cultural relevance in rural Jefferson County.

In January 2014, the mansion received Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and, later, National Historic Trust designations.

The 1915 barn is also listed on the state’s historic register.

The goals of the all-volunteer board members for Worthington Park are to turn a private residence into a sustainable community asset; preserve and restore one of Jefferson County’s historic treasures; provide the community with a venue where the museum, local organizations, private parties and businesses can hold events, concerts and indoor/outdoor education activities; and create a suitable home for historic exhibits and educational programs.

MURDOCK TRUST

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was created in accordance to the will of the late Melvin J. “Jack” Murdock, who was a cofounder of Tektronix Inc. in Beaverton, Oregon, and a resident of Vancouver, Washington.

“The trust’s mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest by providing grants to organizations that seek to strengthen the region’s educational, cultural, and spiritual base in creative and sustainable ways,” a press release stated.

More about the trust is available at its website: murdocktrust.org.

PROGRESS

The mansion renovation is showing major progress.

The exterior is nearly completed, and work now focuses on the interior.

The project management team for Phase III of the project, leading work on the building’s interior, is Dave and Christine Satterlee.

The Satterlees, full-time residents of Quilcene, are already making the transition into this role and learning from the Phase II managers, Chuck Thrasher and Kathi Boyker.

“Chuck and Kathi as role models and mentors are a huge gift to our next phase,” stated Dave Satterlee.

“We look forward to their continued involvement in the project, as we now have completed the fundraising campaign, ‘Event Ready: Let’s Finish the Mansion’, with the generous gift from the Murdock Trust,” he concluded.

Volunteers are always needed and have made a significant impact on the project.

More than 5,400 volunteers hours have been contributed to the project from area citizens from 2016 to the present.

Volunteer work parties are every Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and there are always jobs to do, said museum board member Carol Christiansen.

Work by the interior design/furnishing team is also underway.

Members of that task force include Ellen Worthington Jenner, Steve and Gloria Ricketts, Mary Schmidt, Larry McKeehan, Jim Worthington, Mari Phillips and Allan Kollar.