A largely community-funded effort to bring a historic building in downtown Connell back to life is getting noticed. 

The North Franklin Heritage Museum was one of two recipients of this year’s Outstanding Stewardship Award from Allyson Brooks, the state’s historic preservation officer.  

Brooks lauded Shelly Harper, the museum’s executive director and a Connell city council member, for championing the restoration of the C Street Vault building at 301 N. Columbia Ave. 

The building, named for the original main street in the north Franklin County town, still has the vault from the bank that originally called it home. It has also been occupied by a cafe, hotel and American Legion post. The building has its own Facebook page. 

It was donated to the museum in 2023 after a windstorm ripped off the building’s roof and it was condemned. Volunteers worked quickly to remove debris so a new roof could be installed quickly, followed by refurbishing the inside by removing decades worth of paint and wallpaper and restoring windows. 

“Project funding has been raised almost entirely from community fundraising, with community volunteers doing much of the rehabilitation work themselves,” read a statement from the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. 

A hotel and restaurant are set to move in once work is completed.