South Thurston County Historical Society treasurer Mary Evans stands in the newly-renovated Ticknor School, which operated from 1932 to 1936 in the Skookumchuck Valley. The school was moved from its original location to a lot next to Tenino's Depot Museum and will have a grand re-opening on May 19.
South Thurston County Historical Society treasurer Mary Evans speaks to Tenino Middle School students at the newly-renovated Ticknor School, which operated from 1932 to 1936 in the Skookumchuck Valley.
The newly-renovated Ticknor School, which operated from 1932 to 1936 in the Skookumchuck Valley.
South Thurston County Historical Society treasurer Mary Evans speaks to Tenino Middle School students at the newly-renovated Ticknor School, which operated from 1932 to 1936 in the Skookumchuck Valley.
The newly-renovated Ticknor School, which operated from 1932 to 1936 in the Skookumchuck Valley.
After ten years of restoration, the Ticknor School in Tenino will have a grand opening this month.
Before the schoolhouse was built in the late 1880s, Flora Ingalls Turvey taught local children in the kitchen of her home, according to Mari Evans, the treasurer of the Thurston County Historical Society. Then the Ticknor School was built in the late 1880s and named after the local Ticknor family.
The Ticknor School twice caught fire and was rebuilt both times. The last time was 1932 and it was located next to the Skookumchuck Grange Hall on Fire District 12 property.
The school was heated by a wood stove, water was brought in by a pail and outhouses were used. Students attended the school from first to sixth grade for the next four years.
Then the students went to Stony Point School until the small schools in the Skookumchuck Valley were consolidated into the Tenino School District, Evans said.
After 1936, the schoolhouse was used as a teacher’s home and for 4-H meetings and other community events until 1975.
In 2002, the building was slated to be burned.
“The Fire District had planned to use it for a practice burn, but the Historical Society stepped in and we saved it,” Evans said.
The Fire District donated the building to the society, which in turn plans to donate it to the city.
In August of 2002, volunteers moved the school to its current location next to the Tenino Depot Museum in the Tenino City Park.
The Society has been working to complete the restorations for the last ten years. Rotting wood was replaced, new window panes were installed and insulation was put in. Electricity and a wheelchair-accessible ramp were also added.
The restoration was funded in part with a $5,000 grant from the Thurston County Heritage Grant Program, as well as a $1,500 grant from TransAlta. Local residents also helped.
“There have been a lot of people who cared enough about the project that they donated time and materials and money,” Evans said.
Donations include wooden desks that now sit in rows inside the schoolhouse. The original blackboards, which had been stored away, were also returned.
The grand opening will be Saturday, May 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Tenino Quarry House. The history and restoration of the building will be discussed, and local students will make presentations. The schoolhouse and the Depot Museum will be open all day.
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Bianca Fortis: (360) 807-8245
