The Kittitas County Historical Society, Inc. has owned the Cadwell Building and its various additions since 1974 and has worked to repair and improve the historic building it has called home.

The Cadwell Building Project (officially known as the “KCHM Renovation & Structural  Improvements” project) is a series of repairs, upgrades, and improvements to the Cadwell Building that will be undertaken in phases as funding becomes available and in a manner that minimizes disruption of normal building operations.

The first phase of work (Phase 1) addressed the highest priority of the building identified in a Building Conditions Assessment conducted in February 2022, which was the exterior brick masonry. Repair and repointing (also known as tuck-pointing) of the exterior brick masonry began in late August 2023. This phase of work resulted in the repainting (or coating) of the brick with elastomeric coating. Removal of an unbraced, damaged chimney (and salvage of brick) also occurred, along with relocation of electric wire along the alleyway brick parapet with rebuild of the over-height un-reinforced parapet. Storefronts were repaired before being repainted, with the Cadwell storefront being restored to an appearance based on a historic photograph taken by Otto Pautzke (Pautzke Studios) in 1908. Windows and doorways were addressed for air infiltration reduction to improve energy efficiency, with some levels of work reserved for future project phases. Some minor issues affecting facility operations with potential for damage were addressed during this phase of work, such as minor roof repair around the building; limited removal and repair of damaged parapet caps (and their reinstallation); and appropriate repair of the parapet wall along the west alley wall (with bracing reserved for future work).

Future work is anticipated to address more issues with the building such as seismic work related to an unreinforced masonry (URM) building, system improvements, as well as issues specifically related to the continued operation of the Museum and apartments.

The two-story Cadwell Building was constructed in 1889 after the Great Ellensburgh Fire of July 4, 1889. Made of soft Ellensburg brick and other locally crafted and sourced materials, this building is unique and often remarked on for its “horseshoe” windows. The building has been home to dry goods and grocers, car dealerships, and furniture and music stores over the years before being purchased by the Kittitas County Historical Society, Inc., in late 1974 for its permanent home. After a small interior renovation, the Museum opened in June 1975.

As part of the acquisition of the Cadwell Building, the Historical Society also acquired the Apartments on the second floor of the building, which provided rental income. Then over a few years, acquired the adjoining structures which had been constructed on the lands adjacent to the Cadwell Building beginning in 1928. These one-story structures were not designed or built as intentional parts of the Cadwell Building. It was only after the Museum’s acquisition of the Cadwell Building and those additions, and a major remodel of the space in 1999-2000, that those spaces were added into what has become the current museum footprint (of almost 9,000 square feet of display space) by use of hallways, doorways, and access ramps.

In the late 1970s, the Historical Society began restoring the façade of the Cadwell Building to an appearance similar to a 1908 photograph. This meant restoring missing cast iron columns, reconstructing the storefronts, replicating the stained glass windows, and removing the white paint that had graced the building since 1959 (and replacing it with a “brick red” color). Other rehabilitation was not completed at that time. 

During this same time, the Cadwell Building and the Museum became the recognized cornerstone of the Downtown Ellensburg Historic District, which had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Cadwell Building was also placed on the Washington Heritage Register and on the local Ellensburg Landmarks Register. 

Over the years, the Historical Society has been able to address repairs to the Cadwell Building and its additions on an as-needed basis, keeping the building in an overall good condition. But as this is a large structure with many deferred maintenance projects, there is much to be done. The KCHM Renovation & Structural Improvements project addresses the repairs, upgrades, and improvements based on a prioritized and phased approach.