The Garfield Barracks at the Washington Soldiers Home near Orting is an eye-catcher.

In 1891, the State of Washington built for Union veterans of the Civil War the home in a place of peace and beauty.

Time has taken its toll, and the home is in need of community support.

There now exists an opportunity for corporations and individuals to further the mission of supporting today's veterans and preserving an historic building.

This is where the Garfield Barracks comes into the story.

Opened in 1917 and billed as fireproof, it is an imposing two-story brick building with an imposing oval front porch and Corinthian columns.

Veterans living in the barracks had modest rooms and shared sunrooms at each end of the building's two floors.

They ate in a dining hall, fished, farmed and raised chickens.

In time, Garfield Barracks became the source of great pride to the Soldiers Home.  Its spacious lawn provided the venue for ball games and concerts.

In 1965, an earthquake shook the area and damaged the barracks.  In 1978 the building was condemned.

Since then, the building has been used as a storage facility.  It seemed that its services were no longer needed.

Not anymore.

"This is an historic building, and we want to save it and return it to use," commented Donald Lachman, the special projects coordinator of the state veterans department, as he walked around the structure.

"We have a vision to bring the best to the soldiers home that positions it to provide help to today's returning veterans and give them dignity and independence."

In 2008 the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs and Tacoma's Metropolitan Development Council launched a campaign to restore Garfield Barracks into permanent and transitional housing for about 30 veterans.

The estimated cost of renovation is around $8 million.

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