From building wagon wheels, to riding in a mule-drawn wagon to eating at an old-fashioned pie social, the ways of the pioneers will return Saturday, June 16 at the historic Flora School.
In 1915 the Flora School stood out in a time when one-room schoolhouses ruled the rural West. The two-story building was one of the largest in town. Each morning sun poured through 22 front windows and a bell in a rooftop belfry called children of farmers and loggers out of the forests and fields from miles around. The remote school is located in beautiful northeastern Oregon and is being renovated by Vanessa and Dan Thompson into a non-profit community education center. Flora School Days is an annual event celebrating days of old.
This year's activities are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children are the center of attention at the 12th annual event. They will be able to participate in candle making, grinding grain, churning butter and dressing corn husk dolls.
New demonstrations of pioneer skills include: building wagon wheels, games for all ages, soap making with oils, rope making and more. The Dutch oven lunch, the country store and the old-fashioned pie social will return. Town history tours via mule-drawn wagon will also be back.
Every year a bit more of the Flora School is pieced back together. Visitors will see more and more of the completed repairs and renovations. The first floor classroom is nearly restored as a sewing and crafting room.
The country store, in the downstairs hallway and foyer, will be selling handmade crafts from Pacific Northwest artisans. Tickets will be on sale for the schoolhouse quilt raffle to take place at School Days 2013.
Directions: Flora is about 50 miles southwest of the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. Go to Asotin and take Washington State Highway 129 through Anatone. The road becomes Oregon State Highway 3. After the top of the grade there is a marked turn off on the right for Flora. Take this road for three miles.
The school will be the site for various classes this summer including:
2012 QUILTING AND SEWING CLASSES
QUILTING'S PROBLEM CHILDREN 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 23, $35, plus supplies and equipment Kelly McKeehan Together, we'll work on quilts or blocks that you have not finished for some reason. People can contact kmckeehan@cableone.net or call her at (208) 746-6444 with any questions or to talk about what you're bringing as "your problem."
STARS IN THE NIGHT 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., August 10-12, $105 plus supplies and equipment Peggy Gelbrich This class will teach paper piecing, curved piecing and strip piecing. More information is available at www.yellowhousequilter.com and for questions (503) 852-7452 or email peggy@yellowhousequilter.com .
SEW SIMPLE GIFTS 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 13, $35 Darlene Isley Simple gifts, patterns included, to get you started on your way to a homemade Christmas. From pincushions to pillowcases to kits. Email questions can be directed to Isley at daral_us@yahoo.com.
MILK AND COOKIES THE PIONEER WAY This 7 to 8 hour class can be set up for any day. There is a minimum of four people needed, from children to adults. The instructor is Vanessa Thompson.
More information is available by calling (541) 828-7700 or by leaving a message at (541) 828-7010 or emailing info@floraschool.org.
