SEQUIM — The historic Dungeness Schoolhouse is well on its way to getting some much-needed paint and repairs, after the Museum & Arts Center of Sequim/Dungeness Valley raised a good portion of the funds at an auction Saturday at SunLand Golf and Country Club.

With close to 150 people in attendance, the MAC Nite dinner auction raised $35,000, with $8,300 of that netted in the “fund-a-need” auction, specifically earmarked for repairing and painting the 1897 schoolhouse.

Giving mood

Museum director Katherine Vollenweider said that, while attendance at the dinner and auction was about the same as last year, people seemed to be in a more giving mood.

She didn’t have figures on how much was raised last year but said the mood at the auction “reflected an increase in optimism in the economy.”

“People felt a little better about attending and spending money,” she said.

All of the items donated to the auction found homes, including cruises, hotel packages, a fishing trip and a flight to the San Juans for lunch.

“Everything sold,” Vollenweider said. “It was an exciting live auction. We really appreciate the people who supported it — the volunteers, donors and guests.”

While the auction was a good start, it doesn’t cover all the costs of the schoolhouse project.

One-third of goal

Vollenweider previously said the group had received a verbal bid of $30,000 for the schoolhouse project but are not sure at this point what the final price tag will be.

The museum has not actively begun the bid process.

“I think we are about one-third of the way there,” she said, in terms of funds needed.

Rodda Paints of Sequim gave the project a big boost with an offer to donate the paint.

Plans are to repaint the building in its original color scheme: white with red trim.

Repairs will also be done as needed while the wooden building is being prepped for painting.

While the museum officials hope to start the restoration project by late summer, there are plans for just one more fundraiser, a field day in August.

For the most part, they will rely on individual donations, and some funding will come out of the general operating budget.

“The people in this county have been wonderful about supporting the project,” Vollenweider said.

“The schoolhouse holds a fond place in many people’s hearts.”

Center operation

The rest of the money raised at the dinner and auction will go toward the operation of the Museum & Arts Center, the only one of its kind in the Sequim Dungeness Valley.

The Museum & Arts Center receives no county or state funding.

Money raised at the auction will go to programs at the museum, including the purchase of two microphones for an oral history project and the conservation of the museum’s collection of historic items.

“We have 19,000 photos that must be stored in perpetuity,” Vollenweider said. “That’s not cheap.”

Money is also needed to defray the cost of exhibits.

The three main missions of the museum are conservation, exhibition and education.

The arts center also hosts monthly exhibits of work by local artists.

The success of the auction has left Vollenweider with an optimistic outlook.

“I am looking forward to a really good year preserving the history in the valley and new exhibits and events,” she said.

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Features Editor Marcie Miller can be reached at 360-417-3550 or marcie.miller@peninsuladaily news.com.