Back to school at Dorena
A May Queen for May Day
A sweet, old tradition at Dorena School back in the day. The original photo and the back listing the Queen and her Court.
Back to School at Dorena 100 Years Ago
There were four teachers that year, including the beloved Aunt Jakie Dean. Love the spiffy knickerbockers and suspenders on the boy in the front row!
More Cute Row River Valley Kids of Yore
May Day 1948
The May Queen and her Court at Dorena School on the first day of May in 1948. The new Dorena School was just two years old when this photograph was taken.
Back to School at Dorena, circa 1961
An Early Photo
This is one of the earliest Dorena area photos I have encountered. It dates from the 1890’s. It shows the first teacher at Dorena School, Mrs. Emma Damewood, and some of her students. Dorena was not even named until 1899. Before then it was referred to as Chrisman after the family that donated the land for the school.
Back to School at Dorena
Dorena School History
The original Dorena School District was formed in 1891. In 1896 James Kirk and his wife Sarah sold the District the land for the school. It is not clear exactly when the school was built, but one early student remembered the one-room schoolhouse being used before 1900. This building later became the woodshed when the new classrooms were built. The first year for which there are records was the 1903-04 school year. There were 36 children in grades 1 through 7, and only one teacher for all of them. School was in session for just 14 weeks a year. By 1906 the session lasted 36 weeks. In 1907 two more teachers were hired because new classrooms had been constructed. By this time there were 51 children enrolled.
In 1914 a separate addition was added for the High School students. In 1936 the High School had its last graduating class. From then on High School students were bussed to Cottage Grove, as they are today. 1936 was a year of many changes as that is when the Star School closed, sending its students to Dorena.
The old Dorena School was closed in 1946 to make way for the new reservoir. A new school was built up the road that still serves as Dorena School today.
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