Group aims to raise enough to finish long Potlatch Depot renovation

A North Idaho historical society is hoping the annual Idaho Gives fundraiser on Thursday allows it to complete a 15-year depot restoration project.

The Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway History Preservation Group bought the depot in Potlatch in July 2001. Through grants, fundraisers and thousands of volunteer hours, the restoration and renovation into a museum, cultural center and business cooperative is nearly complete.

All that remains to be financed are “a restroom and a rug,” the name the nonprofit gave its $9,500 fundraiser in this year’s campaign.

Idaho Gives, sponsored by the Idaho Nonprofit Center, is a one-day online giving blitz for causes all over the state. Visit IdahoGives.Razoo.com and enter “Potlatch” to find the depot project.

The Potlatch Depot was built in 1906 and the second floor housed the offices of the Potlatch Lumber Company.