A dedication ceremony was held Wednesday evening to celebrate the historic Centralia Sentinel building and its transfer to the Centralia Foundation.
The event highlighted the building’s architectural significance, its 160-year history as a regional institution, and the long-tenured employees who shaped its legacy.
The proceedings culminated in Roger Campbell officially presenting the deed to Dave Agee, President of the Centralia Foundation, ensuring the structure’s permanent preservation.
Campbell purchased the building from Better Newspapers with assistance from the previous owner, John Perrine, to prevent it from falling into disrepair and being lost. Campbell has spent the past few months addressing building code issues and cleaning out the offices and some old living quarters in the building.
“It’s been a wonderful experience trying to make this work,” Campbell said, “and I think they have so much future from now on.”
Agee was brief in his remarks in accepting the title.
“What we’re going to do (with the building), we don’t know, but we’re going to preserve it forever. Thank you, Roger.”
After the ceremony, Agee explained what will happen next.
“We’ll just have a big powwow and let everybody make suggestions,” Agee said. “We’ll put it through the filter and see what makes sense. The bottom line is, we’ll preserve the building and keep it forever. One thing that I’ve mentioned: maybe move the carillon office back here. It just depends on what else we want to do. It will be a multi-year process; there’s no question, but at least we’re starting.”
Perrine, who is part of the family that owned the Sentinel for most of its existence, is pleased with the plan.
“It’s wonderful,” Perrine said. “I’m very thankful to Roger Campbell for spearheading the entire project, and to the Centralia Foundation to preserving it for many generations to come.”
Former longtime Sentinel employee Ray Albert was master of ceremonies for the event, calling the Sentinel building ‘A Cathedral for the People.” He noted the Sentinel began publishing in 1863 during the Civil War, with the current building constructed in 1881. Renovations in the 1920s introduced the Egyptian Revival theme, reflecting the slogan ‘Egypt’s Greatest Daily’.
“The building’s lobby includes an eleven-foot-tall panel depicting a scene from the Temple of Edfu, as well as Egyptian-inspired detailing. This building was added to the national register of historic places on April 15, 1978. The Sentinel was an institution, and I’m sure it will be again, thanks to Roger Campbell. This building is in good hands with the Centralia Foundation.”
Albert then recognized long-term employees and those who have passed.
Outside of the Centralia Sentinel building. Photo by Pat Hodges.
A press in the Centralia Sentinel building. Photo by Pat Hodges.
