The Children's Farm Home School is a former school building on U.S. Route 20 in Oregon between Corvallis and Albany; it is located on a 300-acre (120 ha) campus now owned by Trillium Family Services.
Children's Farm Home School | |
 Children's Farm Home School undergoing renovation in 2009 | |
   | |
| Nearest city | Corvallis, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°36′34″N 123°12′54″W / 44.60944°N 123.21500°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1925[2] |
| Architect | Roald & DeYoung; Travler, L.N. |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival[2] |
| Restored | 2013 |
| Restored by | Bill Ryals, Modern Organic Architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000254[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 25, 2008 |
The Children's Farm Home School was listed in 2008 on the National Register of Historic Places for Benton County; the listing was one of the first steps taken as part of a restoration effort that ended up taking five years.[2]
History edit
The 17,000-square-foot (1,600 m2)[3] Children's Farm Home School was built in 1925 by volunteers from among the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) membership; Mary L. Mallett, President, Oregon State WCTU, was a co-founder. The pupose of the institution was to provide homes for orphans, neglected children,[3] and children whose families could not otherwise take care of them in the years leading up to the Great Depression.[2] Its pupils would go on to attend Corvallis High School.[3] It supported itself through proceeds from a cannery, dairy and slaughterhouse, as well as the sale of produce and nuts, grown on the property.[3]
The school closed in the 1980s.[3] In 1998, Children's Farm Home School merged with the Parry Center for Children and Waverly Children's Home (aka Waverly Baby Home) in Portland to form Trillium Family Services.[4]
Restoration edit
Restoration efforts began in 2008,[2] after $4.5 million was raised from donors including Dave and Penny Lowther of Philomath.[3] Bill Ryals of Modern Organic Architecture in Corvallis designed the improvements, assisted by Endex Engineering. T. Gerding Construction Co. were the general contractors,[3] helped by volunteers.[2] In 2011, an "unanticipated septic system upgrade" required Trillium Family Services to raise another million dollars.[3]
In July 2013, Children's Farm Home School reopened, with a basement converted to a family center and rooms where families can spend time together. A restaurant was also opened on the first floor. Classrooms have become conference rooms available to rent.[2] The renovation also features a banquet room, administrative offices, and a museum.[3]
References edit
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Henderson, Tom (August 2, 2013). "Restoration crews find Corvallis building frozen in time". Daily Journal of Commerce. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ingalls, Cathy (November 27, 2011). "Renovation continues at Children's Farm Home". Albany Democrat-Herald. Corvallis Gazette-Times. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
- ^ "Three Historic Organizations Form to Create Trillium Family Services". Trillium Family Services. Archived from the original on 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2013-08-05.