You’re invited!
After more than four long years, the Mark Prairie Historical Society is ready to celebrate and welcome the neighbors and greater community back into the revitalized 1879 Mark Prairie Schoolhouse!
The Historical Society will host a Grand Re-Opening Celebration on Wednesday, May 14th from 3:30 – 8:00 pm. The Canby Chamber will have a Ribbon Cutting at 4:00, followed by a small dedication ceremony and show of appreciation for the volunteers, donors, Mark family members, and community supporters who have made this possible. The Schoolhouse will be open for drop-in tours and refreshments all evening. Parking may be limited at this wet time of year, so carpooling is suggested.
The venerable one-room school was severely damaged in the ice storm of 2021. Volunteers rallied to stabilize the building and its contents which included original cast iron and oak student desks, textbooks, 4-H certificates, and more. Despite a multitude of “bumps in the road”, MPHS volunteers stayed the course; they raised more than $800,000 with insurance settlements, grants, and donations to complete the disaster recovery and restoration work. To step inside is to step back in time, carefully orchestrated to whisper of an earlier era by Volunteer Project Manager Peggy Sigler, historian and historic preservationist.
Two giant oak trees crushed the school’s roof, causing it to collapse and the walls to teeter. New trusses were built onsite and the ceiling and damaged walls redone with custom-milled, 3-inch tongue-in-groove boards, milled to match the existing paneling from 1879. The interior was finished with rich, amber shellac. Original Douglas fir floors were cleaned and sealed to glow with a patina of the years. Original six-over-six classroom windows were repaired; replica windows were made for the 1949 kitchen. Lumber from the fallen oaks was milled and crafted into interior double doors and countertops.
The kitchen today showcases an early hand-me-down electric range and vintage refrigerator, turquoise laminate reminiscent of the damaged kitchen, and a multitude of vintage light fixtures, replacing four bare bulbs. MPHS intentionally upgraded it for rental use with heat and AC, hot water, a dishwasher, beverage counter, and rebuilt the original commercial island. Of course, an ADA bathroom replaced the tiny one once tucked onto a side porch, and internet capabilities were added.
The Historical Society is eager to welcome the community back into this historic site and longtime, community meeting hall. Join MPHS volunteers and Mark Family members for the Grand Re-Opening Celebration on May 14. Consider renting this lovely country treasure for your next meeting or private event. Rental proceeds will only cover overhead and preserve the building and site into the future.
Check out the article by Janet Eastman of the Oregonian to read more about the 1879 Mark Prairie Schoolhouse, here.
