Oak Harbor commission seeks $20,000 survey grant to expand historic inventory; resident flags old telegraph building

The Oak Harbor Historic Preservation Commission on July 24 discussed applying for a $20,000 DAPPS certified local government grant to fund a reconnaissance-level survey of potential historic resources and heard a public comment about the former telegraph office at 980 Southeast Midway.

Commission members and staff said the survey would establish a baseline inventory to expand the city’s historic registry, prioritize areas for further study and identify properties potentially eligible for local, state or national registers. Ray, a city preservation staff member presenting the application, said the commission will make a 10-minute presentation with five minutes of questions at 9:15 a.m. the following day to the grant review panel.

The grant request would fund a reconnaissance-level survey of roughly 50 to 75 resources, Ray said, with a planned one-year completion timeline and…