Yard debris and History: Honor Society cleans up at Old St. Peter's Landmark

Hanna Ziegenhagen, left, and Maddie Troutt load a can with leaves and twigs on Monday afternoon, Nov. 9. They said the requirement is to get 20 hours of community service to stay in good standing with the Society, but they both noted that most far exceed that amount.

Likely the most recognizable building in The Dalles, Old St. Peter’s Landmark got a sprucing up on Monday, Nov. 9 with the help of The Dalles High School Honor Society. Doug Leash, who was on the original board that saved the former Catholic church from demolition in 1971 and Alan Eagy pruned back bushes and branches during the day. And the cavalry- formally known as the Wahtonka-Amotan Chapter of the National Honor Society - came at 3:45 p.m. to help pick up all the trimmings. The gentlemen hauled them to The Dalles Disposal transfer station at 1317 W. First St.

Green waste is being excepted for the entire month of November at The Dalles Disposal at no cost to inspire locals to get their property looking good. Residential customers can dump green waste between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Built in 1897 and dedicated in 1898, St. Peter’s is now run by a nonprofit and derives revenue from weddings, concerts and memorials. In 1970, the Monsignor of the Catholic Church declared that it should be torn down and the bricks sold, according to the Old St. Peter’s Landmark website. The Church had constructed its present-day site at the corner of Cherry Heights Road and 10th Street.

A small band of citizens, including Leash, concerned that such an exquisite building should be destroyed, formed Old St. Peter’s Landmark Preservation, Inc., and pooled their efforts to raise money for the $25,000 asking price, according to the website.

Volunteer Alan Eagy tosses a few branches into the back of a pickup.

An original member of the Preservation Board, Doug Leash still lavishes love on Old St. Peters Landmark. Seen here on Monday, he untangles a branch from the fingers of his rake.

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