Reprinted with permission from the Preston Citizen.

$100,000 Donation Allows Contract to be Signed, Donations Reach $1 Million
Necia P. Seamons, Citizen staff writer

The Friends of the Academy and the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation were able to reach an agreement in principle with Lindsay Moving & Rigging, of Washington, to relocate the Oneida Stake Academy from its present site behind Preston High School, to Benson Park, in Preston, Idaho. Once there, the building will be restored for public use.

With a gift in excess of $100,000 from Gail Tanner Heiner late last week, the groups had received sufficient resources and commitments to meet the contract with the mover.

An agreement has also been made in principle with the member sof the Presiding Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, owner of the property onto which the academy will be relocated, to place the 113-year-old academy there. The Church said it will maintain ownership of the property for the present time, said Kim Wilson, president of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation.

It is anticipated that moving crews will begin work immediately.

"This is emergency surgery. We have saved the patient, which was in critical condition, and now we begin a new phase of restoring her to health," said Kim Wilson, president of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation. "There is a lot to do."

"We are absolutely thrilled. The miracle we were hoping for has happened," said Don Hampton, a member of the Friend of the Academy and grandson of the building's architect, John Nuffer. "This milestone puts us on track to restore the academy."

The Board of Trustees of the Preston School District said they would drop their plans to demolish the building, as they have not yet signed a contract to have the building razed.

"Congratulations," said district trustee, Richard Westerberg. "We will do what we need to work with you."

The members of the Friends of the Academy express their gratitude, not only to the large donors, but to almost 200 members of the community who have helped to make this possible with their donations and pledges. "Without them, the large donors wouldn't have been enough," said Elliott Larsen, another member of the Friends of the Academy.

"We hope support will continue to come in as we are still trying to raise funds to restore the building for use," said Wilson. The group continues to apply for grants and seek donations for the project. The group is committed to not seeking local tax dollars. Estimates for restoring the building have been placed at $1.3 million, according to the feasibilty study.

Donations can be sent to the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation - Oneida Stake Academy, P.O. Box 45000, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145 or to the Friends of the Academy at at P.O. Box 555, Preston, Idaho 83263. Donations sent payable to the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation will be sent information allowing the donor to claim tax-exempt status for the donation.

"We also hope that anyone with artifacts from the building will donate them back to the project, so the restoration can be as complete as possible," said Joseph Linton, another member of the group.

Old photos of the building, both of the interior and exterior, would also be of great help, he said.