Last year several people noticed that the decorative parapets surrounding the top of the Oneida Pioneer Museum had started to pull away from the roof, especially on the south side of the 110-year-old building. Part of the parapets were wired to the roof to temporarily keep the worst section from falling and possibly striking someone on the sidewalk below or damaging the Museum’s wall and windows.  While making the parapet secure, Bill and J.D. noticed that several pigeons had built nests in the gap between the parapet and the roof; the birds were making a mess on the sidewalk and wall.

Arrangements were made for experts from the Idaho Heritage Trust to come and evaluate the building and then make recommendations about repairs to the building.  Katherine Wonson, a consultant with the Idaho Heritage Trust, and Jerry Myers, an historic architecture expert with Myers Anderson Architects of Pocatello, visited Malad in April 2025 and, after touring the building from the inside and the outside, wrote a technical report, making many recommendations about the Museum building.

The first recommendation was to remove the current parapets and then replace the parapets and repair the cornices on the building.  Eventually the roof will have to be replaced, but the repairs should keep the building secure for several years since there is only one slight leak.

As the Museum operates on donations and grants, the Museum Board started seeking grants to make the repairs.  Because of the technical report by Idaho Heritage Trust consultants, the Museum received a $10,000 grant from the Heritage Trust; the grant will be matched by Museum funds from other sources.  The Idaho Heritage Trust is funded by $1 received from the sale of every license plate in Idaho.

In December, the Museum Board was informed that it had received a $4000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation for the parapet project under the Foundation’s “Arts/Culture” category.

Work has already begun on the project. The parapet sections on the south side of the Museum have been removed, ensuring that they no longer pose a danger to the building or passers-by.  In the process, about 20 pigeons became unhoused.

Work will continue on the project as the weather permits.  The second priority project is repair of the foundation on the building so that the Museum will be more attractive and, more importantly, so that water cannot leak into the basement.

The Museum will not officially re-open until Memorial Day weekend.  If families or groups would like to tour the Museum when it is not open, please call Jean Thomas, Bill Lewis, or any member of the Museum Board.