Support the Lincoln School Cultural Center during a Soiree and Silent Auction from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at The Loft, located on the second floor of 119 W. Main St. in Missoula. Your $25 ticket includes two drinks and complimentary hors d'oeuvre courtesy of Red Bird Restaurant. Call 722-1078 for more information.

Rattlesnake’s Lincoln School has garnered the community’s interest since it was recently put up for sale. Interested neighbors, the Ward 1 City Council representatives, members of the Historic Preservation Commission and the newly-formed non-profit, Preserve Historic Missoula, have been meeting over the last two months to find a solution which would preserve the building and maintain public access to it.

Our vision is to adaptively re-use Lincoln School as a mixed-use community center. As of mid-March, we have a buy-sell agreement in place for the school building itself and two additional lots needed for parking. Over the next three months, closing the sale will require securing approximately $500,000 in funding. Ultimately, additional money will need to be raised for improvements and an endowment to subsidize operations.

Our time frame for raising funds is short but, given the success in raising money for the footbridge across Rattlesnake Creek, we are optimistic that this can be done. Success builds on success.

We are acting because Lincoln School should be an asset for the whole community of Missoula. Changing the zoning to P-2 will allow public use for education, arts, environmental, historic, cultural, health-oriented and children-oriented activities (scouts, natural history classes, etc.). Some office space may be available, as would parking. Events such as weddings could take place on the lawn. We are considering a resident caretaker and clear usage guidelines so that this building will be an asset to the owners of the ten homes that will be built on the other lots.

How can you help? We’d like input from you – envisioned uses for the school and resources you could bring to this effort. Please brainstorm a few ideas and let us know what you think.

Of course, monetary contributions will also be needed. Please help save this historic resource and provide a center for our community. Tax deductible donations can be made to “Lincoln School Fund” and sent c/o Stewart Title, 320 W. Broadway, Suite A, Missoula, MT 59802. If you have questions, please e-mail savelincolnschool@gmail.com for more information.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Cynthia Manning, Steve Adler, Doug Hacker, Dan Hall, Harold and Jan Hoem, Dave Strohmaier, Jason Wiener, Sandi Tarr and Scott Cooney