Columbia County project praised for vision, craftsmanship, and public benefit

Columbia County is proud to announce that the recently restored John Gumm Building in downtown St. Helens has received the prestigious DeMuro Award from Restore Oregon, recognizing outstanding achievement in public stewardship, adaptive reuse, and creative problem solving.

Built in 1919 to replace a school lost to fire, the John Gumm Building served generations of students as St. Helens Elementary School and was listed in 1984 as a contributing structure to the St. Helens Downtown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. After closing in 1999, the building sat largely vacant until Columbia County acquired it in 2021 for $1.5 million, laying the groundwork for the $14.6 million rehabilitation project.

Construction ran from mid-2023 to September 2024. Over 16 months, the 28,400-square-foot structure was transformed into a civic hub featuring modern office space, a 2,800-square-foot auditorium for public meetings, and a 1,400-square-foot climate-controlled museum.

Today, the John Gumm Building houses the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, Human Resources, the Finance Department, and County Counsel. It also provides space for the Columbia Economic Team, the Small Business Resource Center, Keep It Local, and is the new home of the Columbia County Museum – thoughtfully designed with exhibit spaces to showcase the county’s history and culture.

The project is part of a broader effort to expand Columbia County’s facilities. By adding this modernized space, the County can reconfigure departments for safer, more efficient operations—improving workflow for employees and strengthening services for the public. The Columbia County Museum will also offer cultural events and educational exhibits for the community.

Crews overcame major challenges, including stabilizing a foundation built on uneven bedrock, integrating modern systems into historic finishes, and restoring original wood windows, fir floors, and the historic auditorium—all while improving energy efficiency and preserving the building’s historic character through thoughtful craftsmanship.

“Seeing this historic building come back to life is exciting for our whole community,” said Columbia County Commissioner Margaret Magruder. “Restoring the John Gumm Building not only preserves an important part of our local history, it also creates a welcoming space where people can attend public meetings, meet with County Commissioners, learn about our shared heritage, and come together as a community. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this vision possible.”

The County extends its thanks to the many partners who helped bring this project to life, including Ameresco, Inc., Bremik Construction, Chosen Wood Window Maintenance, City of St. Helens, Continuum Preservation Consulting, District Painting Co., Duke Construction and Excavation, Emerick Architects, Lower Columbia Engineering, NW Masonry Restoration, Portland Millwork, Shutte Consulting Engineers, and System Design Consultant.

This recognition reflects Columbia County’s dedication to preserving its historic landmarks while creating vibrant spaces that serve the community for generations to come.

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