The Pullman Depot, a once-bustling train station near the WSU campus, now acts as a reminder of the innovation that built the agricultural community of the region.

The Pullman Heritage Center, in cooperation with the Whitman County Historical Society, is working to preserve an integral piece of Pullman history.

When Pullman community member Mary Schweitzer heard about the project, she knew it’d be a great cause to donate to, she said.

“I have been to a few different events, and I find the history of the area very compelling,” Schweitzer said. “My grandkids love seeing [the station] decorated at Christmastime as well.”

Schweitzer said she feels connected to this piece of Pullman’s history. She believes it is an important landmark in the community, which is why she chose to donate to the Fix the Bricks initiative.

Schweitzer’s donation of $100,000 is the largest the depot has raised for the project so far, according to Pullman Radio News.

Debbie Sherman, Pullman Heritage Center fundraising coordinator, said the depot building was completed in 1916. With a building that old, it is important to remodel the outside before working on the inside to ensure its integrity, she said.

“Fix the Bricks is an initiative that we started in hopes to get help from the community in order to restore the building,” Sherman said.

Sherman, long-time Pullman resident, said she hopes to keep most of the charm of the original building.

Linda Hackbarth, committee chair for the Fix the Bricks initiative and board member, said working to restore the depot is exciting because as a Pullman local, she has known about it for several years. She said she is ready for visitors to walk into the depot.

Different engineers and construction professionals have contacted Hackbarth about helping with the restoration, she said. Those interested can donate online.

“There are very few historical buildings left in the area,” Hackbarth said. “[The Depot] is very important to the community, and being able to work on it is a labor of love.”