Tualatin Heritage Center 100th Anniversary Part 3: The Move

How Our Building Became the Heritage Center

What do you do when a beloved century-old building is about to be demolished? If you're the Tualatin Historical Society, you move it — literally. Part Three: How Our Building Became the Heritage Center tells the remarkable story of how a small historical society with almost no money took a call from the Church of Christ in the early 1990s and, against all odds, transformed a threatened wooden church on Boones Ferry Road into the thriving community anchor we know today. Guided by City Parks & Recreation Manager Paul Hennon and longtime board member Larry McClure, the society launched a grassroots petition effort that gathered over 1,200 signatures, convinced a skeptical City Council that the project was viable, and assembled a $482,000 funding package from THS fundraising, urban renewal dollars, and city park funds.

The heart of the story is the move itself — 4:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning in July, a 100-year-old building slowly creeping through Tualatin's streets while volunteers pulled back traffic signal arms and light poles to let it pass. Community builder and contractor Don Silvey — who as a child attended kindergarten in the very building's basement — donated his company's services at cost, eliminating the need for competitive bidding. Architect Jack Broome lent his credibility and connections to win over a reluctant building official. Boy Scouts stripped siding. Church volunteers painted and carpeted. An estimated $50,000 in professional in-kind donations supplemented hundreds of volunteer hours, none of which were ever fully counted.

By the time the Heritage Center held its grand opening on February 11, the community had poured itself into every board, nail, and hydrangea bush on the property. Don Silvey, now in the audience reflecting on the project, says it best: "I just have a good connection to the community, and I'm glad I was able to be part of it." If you've ever wondered why this little building feels so alive — this is why. Watch Part Three for the full story, the archival photos, and a few surprises from the people who were actually there that Sunday morning.