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Wallowa.com
School:
Continued from Page A1
“There was rain, rain and
more rain,” she said.
In a sign-in book for
guests, she noted, one per-
son’s comment was simply,
“Wet!”
But that didn’t stop peo-
ple from traditionally wet
regions. Another signed in
as having come from the
United Kingdom.
Fundraiser for school
Some of the events served
as a fundraiser, Thomp-
son said. A chili cook-off ,
a chicken luncheon over-
seen by her husband, Dan,
and complete with spoon-
bread made by Thompson.
Various items also were for
sale that raised $1,875 for
the day. She said that money
will go toward a variety of
projects, including the resto-
ration of the school building
— built in 1915 — as well
as programs at the Flora
School Education Center
and general operating funds.
“That will go toward
whatever it needs to go to,”
she said of the money raised.
Board members also are
looking at a new paint job
for the building. Thomp-
son said it was last painted
about 20 years ago, largely
paid for with a grant and
about $5,000 worth of
paint donated by the Sher-
win-Williams Co. But now
it needs a new paint job.
“The weather just beats
on that west side,” Thomp-
son said.
Indeed, Flora is laid out
on a fairly exposed knoll
at one of the highest points
— short of the Wallowa
Mountains — in Wallowa
County. The town is listed at
4,350 feet above sea level,
about 600 feet higher than
Enterprise.
Although the proceeds
were less than hoped for,
Thompson said she was
pleased.
One of the highlights
of the day was a tour in a
wagon drawn by a three-
mule team driven by Brian
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
Nathan Thompson of Walla Walla, Washington, forges a trivet
during the blacksmith contest Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Flora
School Days.
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
Vanessa Thew Thompson stokes a wood cookstove in
preparation to make spoonbread at Flora School Days on
Saturday, June 4, 2022.
Bill Bradshaw/Wallowa County Chieftain
An antique pickup and two antique motor cars added to the
authenticity of Flora School Days on Saturday, June 4, 2022.
Cook of Irrigon. During the
tour, longtime Flora resident
David Curry pointed out
historic structures in what
is now largely a ghost town
and told of his memories of
going to school at Flora.
“I was in the last eighth-
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
grade class,” he said, not-
ing that the school closed in
1975.
“They
basically
go
through the whole history
of the town,” Thompson
said of the tour, discussing
the various buildings that
remain, when they were
built and what they were
used for.
The chili cook-off was
won by Sarah Thompson
of Walla Walla, Washing-
ton, who also serves on the
school board.
“She has an interest in
old-time skills and mak-
ing sure they don’t die,”
Thompson said.
In addition to the chili
cook-off , a blacksmithing
contest also was held. Justin
Riley, also of Walla Walla,
won that and was judged
people’s choice winner, as
well.
Other old-time skills
were demonstrated, such as
weaving, spinning, wood
cookstove use, sewing on
hand- and treadle-powered
sewing machines and more.
One additional item was the
restoration of antique cane
chairs by Marc and Teena
Stauff er of Stauff er’s Refi n-
ishing of Enterprise.
Thompson said many of
the board members don’t
live in the Flora area now,
but have strong ties to it
either because they once
lived here or had family who
did. She said they’re inter-
ested in continuing to raise
money to keep the school
building and its education
center alive. Annual fund-
raisers, as well as grants
they seek, go toward that,
but she’s not sure what the
total cost will be.
“I’ve never done the
whole budget, and I won’t,”
she said.
But they’re not worried
about the soundness of the
building.
“It’s a rock,” said Dan
Hahm of Flora, who served
as emcee for the day.
To avoid competition
with other events in Wal-
lowa County, the school
board has agreed to hold the
School Days on June 17,
2023, Thompson said.
A7
Brandy Bronson/Contributed Photo
Wallowa students work on picking up and planting a garden
they will monitor over the summer and pick this fall.
Helping:
Continued from Page A1
Bronson said working
on projects is an import-
ant way students can give
back to the community, but
it also strengthens the bond
the community feels with
the school. It often leads to
new partnerships and bene-
fi ts for both sides.
The work being done
highlights the theme of
community and service
that has been the focus of
the last month of classes.
The theme at the beginning
and end of each school
year incorporates all the
students at Wallowa. Stu-
dents are broken into fam-
ily groups and have read-
ings and activities that
highlight the theme.
“Family groups consist
of a couple of adults and
then a cross group of diff er-
ent aged students,” Bron-
son said. “Our sixth-grad-
ers usually become the
leaders, and we are try-
ing to build a commu-
nity within our school so
the kids are familiarizing
themselves with other stu-
dents from other grades.”
It instills leadership
qualities in the older stu-
dents and you see how
some of the younger stu-
dents who may not be as
confi dent can lean on them,
Bronson said.
Wallowa Middle School
conducts monthly assem-
blies bringing together
students in kindergarten
through sixth grade where
students are honored for
exemplifying the charac-
teristics that are being pro-
moted each month. Other
themes during the school
year included respect and
friendship, teamwork and
responsibility and welcom-
ing and acceptance.
Staff select the themes
at the beginning of each
school year so it allows
for instruction to incorpo-
rate the ideas and adjust as
events dictate.
“These are things we
are hoping to instill in our
students,” Bronson said.
“It also has created a sense
of school spirit and family
at Wallowa.”
Open for dining
7 days a week!
Full bar
Live music
Fridays and Saturdays
Lecture series every Thursday
in the lobby
Events are free and open
to the public