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Forks gets grant from DEKKO Foundation for building project

The Forks of the Wabash Historic Park received a $20,000 matching grant for its 1,500 square-foot addition.
The Forks of the Wabash Historic Park received a $20,000 matching grant for its 1,500 square-foot addition. Photo by Jessica Williams.

The Historic Forks of the Wabash Inc., of Huntington, has been awarded a matching grant from DEKKO Foundation worth up to $20,000 for a building addition at the Forks.

Any building contributions received between Dec. 8, 2009, and July 1, 2010, will be matched dollar for dollar.

The addition is roughly 1,500 square feet and will include a new entryway for tours, a larger gift shop for fund raising purposes, an archive storage room, and a large meeting room that can house about 175 people. The office will move into the current gift shop for more room as well.

"The DEKKO Foundation supports projects that give children and young people the developmental experiences they need to build independence and economic freedom as citizens and has a strong emphasis on community involvement in the process," say Ann and Jim Hollar, education chair and board member, respectively.

"The current building project will allow the site to better serve the needs of those large school groups already coming to the Forks and to expand programming and offer more varied educational opportunities to an every-growing number of visitors," they add.

More than 3,500 students from 70 schools visit the Forks each year, with an additional 2,500 adults.

The Hollars say the organization is paying for the project as it goes. The project is an estimated $250,000 project, having collected about $178,000 so far.

Those interested in donating can mail it to PO Box 261, Huntington, IN 46750 or drop it by the Forks, located at 3011 W. Park Drive, during the office hours of Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon. Mark the donation "Building Fund."

For more information, call 356-1903.

Complete caption: The Forks of the Wabash Historic Park received a $20,000 matching grant for its 1,500 square-foot addition. Pictured in front of the construction site are (from left) Jack Sell, Forks of the Wabash board president; his great-granddaughter, Libby Quakenbush; and her father, Travis Quakenbush.