Okanogan's New School House Finished Frank S. Matsura photo courtesy of Okanogan County Historical Society Fifth and sixth grade students sit outside the school at the head of Pine Street. The building later was replaced and the site served as a school until the early 1990s, when the Okanogan School District built the new Virginia Grainger Elementary School. The former Grainger building now houses county offices.
School Commences With a Large Attendance
Okanogan Independent
Nov. 8, 1907
The public schools opened this week with a large enrollment of pupils, there being between fifty and sixty and a goodly number have no yet started.
Prof. Allender, formerly of Chelan, has his hands full in trying to bring order out of chaos, as his assistant has not yet arrived.
Okanogan now has a large brick school house without question the finest structure in the county and when affairs get to running smoothly this town may boast of the most complete educational establishment in this section of the Northwest.
It is unfortunate that the building was not completed a little sooner, but as that was impossible the only remedy now is to extend the term far as possible so as to make up for lost time.
It is hoped that an assistant will arrive as soon as possible, for Prof. Allender cannot possibly do justice to the scholars or himself, under the present overcrowded conditions.
Okanogan Independent
Nov. 16, 1907
Prof. Allender reports that conditions at the school have vastly improved.
Mrs. Harry J. Kerr, a teacher of much experience in the past, has very kindly consented to take the control of three grades until a teacher can be secured, a difficult task at this late day.
As the professor was struggling along with some seventy pupils in one room this is quite a relief.
Of Local Interest
Okanogan Independent
Nov. 23, 1907
Mrs. Wiltsie, a teacher from Seattle, who comes highly recommended, arrived Thursday and at once assumed the position of assistant to Prof. Allender.
The preliminary steps have been taken towards establishing a school . . . in the near future. The discontinuance of the school on the flat makes it still more imperative. It is expected arrangements will be completed for the opening of school here by the first of January next.
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