Commerce Grant Helps Winnett Transform 1915 Town Hall into Community Hub
With help from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Annual Tourism Grant Program, the small community of Winnett is working together to preserve the past. In 2022, Commerce awarded a $49,963 grant to nonprofit Winnett ACES, Inc. for the Winnett Public Convenience Facilities and Bike Camp project. Last summer, the revitalized space created by this project, Odd Fellows Hall, opened to visitors.
“It’s inspiring to see a community come together on a project like Odd Fellows Hall,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “This is a success story not only for Commerce’s Annual Tourism Grant Program but for the nonprofits and volunteers who envisioned this transformation, joined forces and made it happen.”
Odd Fellows Hall, also known as the 55 Main Building, was built in 1915 on Highway 200 and what is now the Lewis and Clark Bicycle Trail. After presiding over Winnett’s Main Street for 107 years, the two-story building was carefully loaded onto a flatbed trailer in February 2022 and relocated two blocks down the street to the cheers of residents and volunteers.
According to Winnett ACES, Phase 1 of the project — purchasing lots, building a foundation and prepping and moving the building — was supported by 75 volunteers contributing over 2,100 hours. Phase 2’s exterior renovations were completed with the installation of new storefront windows in March 2023, with almost all of the work undertaken by volunteers.
During these early stages of the project, one Winnett resident expressed concerns about the relocated building. Nevertheless, as renovations progressed, he began visiting regularly and offering tools and water access. He donated historic artifacts such as coins and buttons he had unearthed on his adjacent property, to be displayed in the building. His gesture reflected a growing community spirit and support for transforming the historic site into a functional, shared space.
The Winnett Public Convenience Facilities and Bike Camp project was completed in June 2025 thanks to the dedicated efforts of community volunteers, including Winnett High School students. Odd Fellows Hall is now a public convenience facility, a visitor center and a multi-use space for residents and travelers alike.
The remodeled facility recently welcomed a new business, Punchy Paint Coffee Shop, and the upper floor will become residential space to add workforce housing to the community. With outdoor campsites, ADA-accessible restrooms with showers and laundry services, Odd Fellows Hall serves as a local gathering place, a stopover for bikers and hunters, a visitor information hub and a site for commercial use.
This project not only preserved a piece of Winnett’s history but also fostered community pride and created a welcoming stop for visitors. The transformation of Odd Fellows Hall stands as a testament to what can be achieved through local collaboration, vision and thoughtful restoration.
For more information about Commerce’s Tourism Grant Program, visit commerce.mt.gov.
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