The 99-year-old Gates School building has fulfilled many roles over the past century, and its original structure remains largely intact though interior and exterior renovations are required including retrofitting for access by people with disabilities. Photo by Gary Calicott and courtesy of UBC.
Save the Date: Gates School Celebrates 100 Years!
Gates School, a 2022 Most Endangered Place, is celebrating its centennial! Save the date for October 14, 2023 to celebrate this historic place with Upward Bound Camp (UBC) and the local community. Festivities include dinner and a live, old-time radio show! All proceeds benefit the restoration and reuse of Gates School. RSVPs are appreciated.
The historic Gates Schoolhouse was built in 1923, decommissioned, and put up for sale in 2012. UBC bought the property in 2014 and operates year-round camps for persons living with developmental and physical disabilities on-site. As a rare historic place—even more so since the overwhelming loss of historic places in the Santiam Canyon as a result of the 2020 wildfires—Gates School serves as a case study for resources threatened by climate change and is an inspiring example of grassroots preservation in rural and underserved communities.
