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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
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September 7, 2017     Shelton Mason County Journal
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September 7, 2017
 
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Page A-18 - She/ton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 714 Olympic Highway Nort Monday-Friday 8:30-5 HISTORY AT A GLANCE [ERRA . CIFIC Sierra Pacific Industries has great opportunities for Millwrights & Sawfilers at our Shelton Division. We provide an excellent benefit package including a full Health Benefits Plan with low cost premiums, a 401(k) with Company Match, additional Retirement Contributions, and company paid Life Insurance. We look for Millwrights with at least 1 year recent, verifiable related work history or educational equivalent (2 years preferred) and Sawfilers with 2 years' recent, verifiable related work history or educational equivalent. The work is fast paced and can, at times, be demanding. Qualified applicants apply in person at: Sierra Pacific Industries 421 S Front Street • Shelton, WA 98584 Monday through Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm Look for future opportunities at: www.spi-ind.comlcareers Tobacco and drug-free work environment. Sierra Pacific is an (EOE) Equal Opportunity Employer, including those with a disability and veterans. Full-Time, Year-Round. Bar & Grill Larry or Kristina m A Family Farm Tradition Seafood * Annuals/ Perennials * Greenhouses Nursery ° Produce Olympic Mountain Ice Cream * New Crop Hay 1921 E. Hwy 106, Union WA 98592 • (360) 898-2222 * (360) 426-2222 www.hunter-farms.com Call us today at 360-426-4412 or visit masoncounty.com to subscribe! This undated photo shows the Union School. Photo courtesy of the Mason County Historical Museum In January 1890, a Mason County Journal edito- rial described Union City on Hood Canal as hav- ing one general store, a first-class hotel, a school, a boat building establishment, a blacksmith shop and a photographer. According to Helen McReavy Anderson's "How When and Where On Hood Canal," that school was actually the lower floor of the Ma- sonic Temple. In Aiigust 1890, a petition was circulated in Union City asking the school directors to consider voting on a tax to build a district school house. "Ow- ing to the generosity of John McReavy, who .... has hitherto furnished at his own expense a place for school, no such building has been needed, but the late rush of people to the place has taken every available room, and the school has been left without a home." In September, all 32 votes cast in a special elec- tion were in favor of bonding the district for $3,100 to build and equip a schoolhouse. The school was completed in time for the By JAN new term starting in September 1891. It was PARKER a 30-by-50-foot, two-story building, capable of holding 150 students. In November, a 500-pound ("700 with all the appurtenance there unto belonging") school bell was hung in a tower at the top of the building. Harriet Black, who came from New York, was the first teacher in the new school. About 50 pupils ranging in age from 4 to 20 were enrolled on the first day, and Black, undaunted, soon had them all cata- loged and seated. She even proved herself capable of handling a big boy who pulled a knife on her. The following summer, Black married Dr. G.W. Kennicott. As Mrs. Kennicott, she continued to teach until March 30, 1894, when the school was closed due to a lack of money. In October 1894, Kennicott began a private school in her home, which continued until March, when she and her pupils moved back into the schoolhouse. The next few years were difficult for the Union School District (postal authorities dropped "City" from the town's name around 1895). The district had built the school during the boom days of the early 1890s; when the boom collapsed, the interest drain kept the district strained financially and it was vir- tually bankrupt. At times, lack of money kept the school closed. During one of those periods, Helen McReavy's brother, Edwin, ran a private school, of which Helen wrote, "He had the entire school buying and selling commodities, such as potatoes and hay. They kept their own books, which gave them some knowledge of bookkeeping. He was also a good athletic teacher, so they learned the rules of baseball, football and the art of boxing." In 1899, the state Legislature passed a law for the relief of certain school districts that had gotten into such financial difficulties that they could not have school. This legislation en- abled Union to reopen its school, although the district continued to experience finan- cial difficulties for the next few years. By 1948, Union's schoolhouse was one of the oldest still in service in Western Wash- ington. When they were refused state aid for a new building, residents twice voted extra millage and supported a bond issue to finance the $40,000 project. The old school building was moved to new foundations for its future role as a gym and community hall. The new school, built on the original site, was a modernistic design consisting of two Quonset-type buildings. It quickly became known as the "twin bee- hive" school. In December 1957, Union School District 10 joined the Middle and Upper Skokomish, Hoodsport and Lower Skokomish districts in the newly formed Hood Canal School District .404, and within a few years, all of them moved into the new Hood Canal School building. In March 1961, the Shelton-Mason County Jour- nal published a commemorative history of the.old Union school, written by Ethel Dalby. She described the original school as being an imposing building, having a full upper floor, with many windows and furnishings making it ideal as a center for com- munity programs, as well as a church for traveling preachers and a playroom for children during cold or rainy weather. Access to the large school bell was made by means of a ladder to the belfry. In about 1929, school clerk Mrs. Maude Morris noticed a slight sway to the belfry and recommended it be re- moved for safety. In view of the age of the building, not only the belfry but the entire top story was re- moved. The decision was influenced by the fact that "young Tarzans of that day were inclined to climb up in the belfry, lean out of upper windows, and also tried to use the metal outside fire chute as a play- slide." The old Union school building continued in ser- vice as a community center until July 1967, when it was demolished. The original school bell now sits outside Mason County Fire District 6, site of the old school. • Jan Parker is a researcher for the Mason County Historical Museum. She can be reached at parkerj@ hctc.com.