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“I remember the school fire vividly. We lived in the house just across the bridge from the school. I remember standing on the bridge watching as the flames destroyed the only school in our little town. As a second grader, the ramifications of losing the school were lost on me. It was a terrible event to watch, but oddly, my biggest concern at the time was my sister Dianne’s snare drum burning up. Go figure! I’m sure it was a logistics nightmare for those who had to find temporary school locations for kids in twelve grades. I went to the Methodist church basement until the new grade school was completed. I thought it was an adventure. It made for great stories in later years.” – Marilyn
Quonset huts brought in from the Pasco area to be used as temporary school buildings for Winthrop students during the 1960-61 and 1961-1962 school years after the school burned down January 1, 1961. From “The Way It Was” published by Okanogan County Retired Teachers, 1989, p. 93.
“I remember the quonset huts, that we roasted in during the spring and fall. We could not wait for recess, to go out and cool off. One day Doug Kahler and I snuck off to the river, as we often did, but one day we found a bees nest in a tree, which we threw sticks and rocks at, Doug was right under it when the nest fell, and he got stung all over his face. We got back to class, and I remember his face swelling up as we sat in our little seats. I had many stings also, but he got sent home and an investigation finally disclosed I was in on the fiasco.” -Wade
Arlene and Badger Cousins
Flyer from 1963. Image is of Milton S. Storey.