Bigelow House deserves support

The oldest original home in the city of Olympia benefitted last week from a last- minute flurry of spending approved for 2008 by the Olympia City Council.

The Bigelow House, which dates back to 1860, was home to Olympia pioneer and Harvard-educated civic activist Daniel R. Bigelow and his descendants.

The council, taking advantage of an extra $1 million in revenue, agreed to spend $5,000 next year to help maintain and preserve the house, which is now owned by the Bigelow House Preservation Association.

This is one funding decision by the City Council that should have unanimous community support.

As an all-volunteer group, the Bigelow House Preservation Association relies on donations and money it raises each year from its holiday season tour of historic homes, which took place last Saturday.

The money raised does not keep up with a backlog of maintenance costs estimated at roughly $100,000.

The city used to chip in about $2,000 each year to pay for advertising and staff time to support the tour of historic homes, but that funding ended in 2006.

It’s encouraging to the see the City Council once again paying attention to one of the city’s historic gems.