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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 3, 2016     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 3, 2016
 
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HISTORY AT A GLANCE AofrOnt-page headline of the Sept. 29, 1937, Shelton-Mason County urnal read "New School Adorns Wilderness!" The story began with the fact that motorists passing through Belfair often stopped to won- der about the community's newest construction project -- a chalet-style building with a steeply pitched roof. "Few ever suspected it was to be Belfair's new school- house. Few suspected the story behind the By JAN structure. They didn't PARKER know the building is virtually 100 percent a home product of the community which it will serve." In October 1935, the Belfair school board had obtained a $14,000 Work Projects Administration (WPA) grant to build a new school for a student population that was approaching 100. Belfair businessman Sam Theler do- nated 27 acres for the school. "Exclud- ing the wages paid to the local men who are building the schoolhouse, and a few of the supplies such as desks, blackboards and sanitary equipment which will be installed inside when the structure is ready to occupy, it is 100 percent a product of Belfair and the primeval forest which surrounds it." The school was built almost entirely of materials native to the Belfair area. Hand-hewn fir and cedar logs and oth- er timbers, sand, gravel and rubble- stones used in rearing the edifice were gathered from the building site or the immediate vicinity. Wooden shakes covered the roof. Hand-sawn window- frames were set firmly in walls built of rocks picked from the ground at the site. All labor was done by WPA work- ers whose children would attend the school. The school, which became known as the "Chalet School," opened in September 1937. There were four classrooms and a combined audito- rium-gymnasium. According to =The History of Belfair and the Tahuya Peninsula" by Irene Davis, each of the four classrooms was 22 feet by 30 feet with inlaid oak floors and knotty cedar paneling. The combined auditorium- gymnasium was 60 feet by 72 feet and 52 feet high at the peak of the roof. The building also had a principal's room, social room, kitchen, cloak rooms, lavatories, dressing room and furnace, all on the ground floor. The 20-foot high attic was for storage. In 1938, an additional WPA appro- priation of $12,681 paid for grounds work, landscaping, a garage, porches, cupboards, improved lighting and plumbing, and the water system. By the 1940s, the school popula- tion had reached 300 and the gym was partitioned into additional classrooms. As a result of the influx of Navy Yard workers during World War II, federal funds were made available and a building for additional classrooms was constructed to the north of the Chalet in 1942. By 1965, the building had become a liability. According to an article in the April 11, 1965, Seattle Post- Intelligencer, fuses blew whenever a new light bulb was installed. During a cold spell that January the tempera- ture in the gym never rose above 40 degrees and classroom temperatures never got above 60 degrees. Although the building had 10,490 square feet of floor space, much of it was taken up by a wide hallway. Classrooms were too small, and the attic was unus- able, Two state agencies had declared the Swiss-style cobblestone and wood panel walls, and the varnished round poles that supported the structure, to be dangerous for children. A structural engineering firm re- ported that it would cost $98,496 to bring the Chalet School up to modern school-building standards, adding that the building was totally unsuitable for rehabilitation. The school was closed in 1967, when the state fire marshall declared that it was a fire trap and a hazard to children. Belfair residents had a sentimental attachment to the landmark building, and a committee was organized to try to save it for community use. However, by that time the timbers had dry rot and the roof leaked. With the furnace turned off, moisture was coming up through the floors. The group was un- able to raise the considerable funds it would cost to renovate the building. Prior to demolition in the summer of 1971, the school was opened to the public, which had the opportunity to purchase old books, desks, and even the wall paneling and insulation. According to Davis' book, it took a wrecking crew only a couple of hours to demolish the entire building. The Mason County Historical Soci- ety has reprinted "The History of Bel- fair and the Tahuya Peninsula," 1880- 1940, by Irene Davis. It is available at the museum at FiPth and Railroad in Shelton for $21.95. • Jan Parker can be reached at parkerj@hctc.com. A new schoolhouse in Belfair neared completion, materials native to the North Mason area. Photo courtesy of Jan Parker built almost entirely from Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 -Shelton-Mason County Journal- Page A-21 My name is Abby, I am 6 V2 years old, and I love everyone and everything! I enjoy walks, car rides, playing in the play yards with other dogs & volunteers! I also like kids and cats J I am currently looking for a fami.ly that is willing to work with some of my environmental, climate, food allergies. I must find a family or person who lives in a warmer climate, either East of the mountains, or South. This climate would be ideal for me, and I would no longer suffer from the allergies. I am a Yellow Lab, and going to make the perfect companion, and family member for years to come. I hope to meet you soon! Paws crossed and waiting! Adopt-A-Pet has many great dogs and always need volunteers. To see all our current dogs, visit www.adoptapet-wa. org, Facebook at "Adopt-A-Pet of Shelton Washington" or at the shelter on Jensen Road in Shelton. For more information, visit thedoghouse3091@hotmail.com or 360-432-3091. Furry Friends Looking for a Home Sponsored by: (360) 426-3052 270 SE Spring Place Shelton, Washington 98584 E-mail: sylvan@hctc.com We have created a low-stress, healthy environment with soft lighting, music, a regular exercise program, and frequent, individualized attention. We treat every pet with affection, respect, and kindness. Washington Newspaper Publishers Association EST. 1887 SHELTON-MASON COUNTY