A Different Kind Of Dwelling

WAITSBURG - For those who love the amber waves of grain in Waitsburg, you may be interested in staying a weekend in a grain elevator turned home.

The grain elevator on Lewis Peak Road outside of Waitsburg has become a landmark for the area when it was turned into a home 10 years ago by Bob and Jan Ash.

Jan Ash said her husband is both an artist and a builder and when the 1942 grain elevator came up for sale, he believed that he could turn it into a won- derful home.

"He has vision," Jan Ash said of her husband.

With the idea of recycling in mind, the Ash duo spent about one year constructing and furnishing the grain elevator house out of previously used materials.

"It was a lot of work, but it was fun," Jan Ash said. "I'm glad that we were a part of helping to save a building - a monu- ment of history on that corner."

The couple, now retired, decided to move to College Place recently and family friend Brenda Ford dropped by the elevator one night and told the couple she would love to pur- chase their home.

Ford, who has lived in dif- ferent cultures and places, said the grain elevator home is a great combination of rustic life and city life.

The home has electricity and running water, but it also has a vintage, simple, down-to-earth feel to the environment.

"This is a little bit of the middle of both," Ford said.

Ford is working on writing a book and is the founder and owner of 3 Bright Alliances, a company that hosts events all over the world that seek out the best athletes, musicians and artists.

As she is able to step back more from her work with the alliances, Ford is putting her time and energy into making some additions and changes to the grain elevator home she purchased about one month ago to make it into a vacation rental.

"I have people interested," she said.

The home has two floors, three current bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is also a full, updated kitchen, dining area and a cozy lounge area.

The windows, which appear small from the highway, are large and allow plenty of light into the spaces. The windows are adorned with beautiful shutters and homey touches are found everywhere - from the vintage mailbox mounted to the wall in the entry to the antique stove near the kitchen.

A pellet stove in the down- stairs lounge area keeps the entire elevator toasty warm in the winter, Ford said.

Grain that used to be held in the elevator emerges from the cracks in the wood walls to sprout toward the sunshine streaming in through the windows.

Ford doesn't mind though. She said the grain is easier to deal with and more lovely to look at than dust.

The price for an overnight stay in the fun space depends on the number of people and how long they wish to stay, Ford said.

And the prices will be comparable to local hotels. Plus, families can bring their pets along, too.

"Families will be able to have a house instead of a hotel room," Ford said.

The home has a beautiful garden behind it that will have a grill and will be made for outdoor cookouts.

The garden also boasts strawberries, blueberries, ap- ples, pears, plums, grapes and herbs all ripe for the picking in the summer months.

For future improvements, Ford is working on adding an elevator for those who cannot climb all of the stairs, a new well, a drive-through coffee stand on the property and a blue room on a third floor with sky- lights that will allow guests to feel as though they are sleeping under the stars.

Ford said when she heard the Ash couple was selling the home, she had to have it.

She has lived in a small house in Fiji and once in a tree house and she enjoys unique homes.

"I just love stuff like this," Ford said.

She has a few more small updates to make and she hopes the home will be available to rent starting July 15.

Ford said the house across the street used to be a vacation rental and the family made some good income from the visitors who want to ski at Blue- wood or visit local wineries on vacation.

Ford said she knows she'll be able to find visitors who, just like she, love unique homes and would enjoy spending a night in this old grain elevator.

"There's a tremendous de- sire," Ford said excitedly. "(My neighbor) has been turning people away because I wasn't ready yet."