In the last few years, the school has been showing its age and in December of 2019, a group of local residents formed a committee to assess the needs of the 1904 building. The committee began meeting monthly, hosting fundraiser events, reaching out to the community, applying & receiving grants and has managed to privately raise over $60,000 in cash & in-kind donations to date. Please check back soon for our 2021 Progress Report & further updates.

  • 1. Registered the original 1966 By-Laws for the Reese Creek Community Center Inc. with the Secretary of State. What was written in 1966 remains appropriate for an organization re-born over 50 years later.

    2. Re-activated its Board of Directors, and secured the IRS 501C3 status.

    3. Started a Restoration Committee with over a dozen members from the community and neighborhood. It meets monthly no matter what.

    4. Developed a good working relationship with Ron Lindroth, Central Valley Fire Chief & in partnership hosted a Pancake Breakfast on Sept 26 at the FD and an Open House for the Historic School. We had over 200 attendees.

    5. Put real property insurance on the historic building and property.

    6. Raised over $15,000 in donations.

    7. Cleaned out the school house basement and the first floor.

    8. Cleaned up the property - mowing, weeds, rubbish, etc.

    9. Worked with the County Dept. of Roads and Bridges to gravel the driveway where the dept. stores its grader and plow for seasonal use.

    9. Decorated the historic schoolhouse building for Christmas and Independence Day.

    10. Surveyed the property lines.

    11. Created a website, facebook page, payment portal, and put in place customer management software to facilitate donations and communications among school alums.

    12. Reached out to School alumni from here to Arizona, and new neighbors. We have an abutting neighbor who has joined the Committee and keeps a watchful eye on the school and mows the grounds! Thank you David Engels!

    13. Submitted a $490k Montana Historic Preservation Grant proposal to the Community Development Division of the MT Department of Commerce for the 2023 Biennium Report. HB14 will fund the MHP Grants. There is about $3.2 M total to be appropriated. (we ranked very poorly - 86 out of less than 100, but will keep trying.)

    14. A local farm with a volunteer crew of 8 came out for a day to help clean interior & do landscape work.

    15. Made temporary roof repairs and secured the building with new locks.

    16. Accepted an Eagle Scout project donation for benches, and a picnic table on the property.

    17. Accepted a portable restroom donation from TLC, Belgrade.

    18. Had a TV interview on KBZK in September.