Stone houses in LaCrosse could see a new chapter

With the help of LaCrosse Community Pride and some Washington State University students, the old stone houses in LaCrosse could see new life.

At a Sept. 9 LaCrosse Community Pride meeting, member Peggy Bryan reported the H.D. Owings family of Lapwai, Idaho, recently donated the buildings to the organization.

Bryan said there are two rock houses on one side of Main Street with three bunk houses and a service station stone building across the street from them. The houses and buildings are made of basalt stone and were built in the 1930s by Clint Dobson, Bryan said.

“Now is the time to come up with ideas about how they might be used for the community,” Bryan said.

WSU students in the Landscape and Architect Design program of the Rural Communities Design Initiative will tour the stone houses and then meet with Pride members and residents Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss ideas for the stone buildings’ use.

Bryan said the students will work with Pride members and others for plans and designs for the old buildings.

Bryan said research shows that the small houses were used by railroad workers. Those buildings have one room and included a sink, but no bathroom. Workers had to cross the street and use showers in back of the service station.

“The exciting part is that they’re unique and worth investigating,” Bryan said.

She noted that there is a general interest about the buildings from visitors. Photographers also show interest in the houses.

Bryan said the WSU students will investigate possible grant sources to rehabilitate the buildings and also about placing them on a historic register.

She also said ideas for the buildings include a visitors’ center and regional geology museum that highlights the Missoula Flood, a bed and breakfast, micro brewery with a tasting room, agricultural education center, farmers’ market and community garden, art center, youth and senior citizen center.

The Rural Communities Design Initiative is a collaborative effort among WSU design disciplines, including WSU faculty in history, business, sociology, communications, WSU Extension and rural community partners throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The RCDI aims to enhance the social, cultural, economic and natural capital of unique rural places with populations of less than 2,000.