Built in the early 1900’s, the Preston Times Building is a vital part of the historic fabric of downtown Preston. Past uses included a saloon, pool hall, and a laundry mat before being used continuously as a newspaper office. The Preston Times newspaper has been in the same family for decades.
The unique parallelogram shaped brick building had to be vacated in 2020 due to sagging floors. The goal of the project was to bring this building back to its historic grandeur inside and out. On the exterior, removal of tin siding exposed deteriorating bricks and mortar, which were repaired and replaced.
Shortly after the main business items and artifacts were removed, the floor collapsed into the basement. The tin ceiling was exposed and in need of great repair. The basement was cleared, the floors were rebuilt, the tin ceiling was restored, and the interior layout was designed based on historic photos and research.
This $277,000 project received state and local grants that leveraged nearly $149,000 in private investment. The project has served as a catalyst for local business owners to explore resources for renovation of other historic buildings. This project is motivating others to take on the challenges and the risks, and to see the importance and possibilities of historic preservation in a small rural community.
