Moorman House considered as museum site in Cheney

An 1883 Gothic revival house saved by a developer is being considered as a home for a portion of Cheney’s historical museum collection.

Last year, the city moved the house from 308 Fourth St. to a city-owned lot adjacent to the police station at 304 Second St.

The house needs a lot of work on the interior before it can be used as a museum, including installation of museum lighting and climate controls.

Officials estimate the project could take three to five years.

Cheney’s Tillicum Club, which operates a museum in the Wren Pierson Building in downtown Cheney, is considering moving its domestic wares to the house if the renovations can be completed, said Joan Mamanakis, co-director for the historical club.

“A house environment would be a little more realistic” than the commercial setting where the museum is now, she said.

The Moorman House originally was occupied by Frank and Isabella Sterling in 1883, just three years after Cheney had been platted. It is one of the five oldest homes in Cheney and one of only a few Gothic revival houses in Spokane County. Frank Sterling was a carpenter and is believed to have built the house.

The house was named after James Madison and Cleora V. Moorman, who occupied the home starting in 1937. Cleora Moorman attended Cheney Normal School, a predecessor of Eastern Washington University, and taught school for a number of years.

The Moormans’ daughter, Dorothy Anderson, nominated the dwelling for the Cheney historic register and, in her later years, did her best to keep the house intact.

Several years ago, business owner Mike Nation purchased the house and its property from Anderson’s estate with the intention of developing its two lots. He donated the house to the city along with $5,000 to help pay for the move after being unable to find a private purchaser.

Susan Beeman, staff member for the Cheney Historic Preservation Commission, put together grants to pay for the move, the cost of which was reduced by free services from utility providers.

The Spokane Preservation Advocates organization donated $5,000, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation gave $2,500.

The museum project is going to rely on fundraising, Beeman said.