The Lower Fern Ridge School House, once slated to become scrap wood, has been refurbished and relocated on private land. Come see a bit of history, and log a smiley too!
The Lower Fern Ridge Schoolhouse is a one-room school built prior to 1890, and is the last standing building from the town of Alvadore's heydey in the 1900s. It has the iconic architecture of a country schoolhouse from its bell tower to its abrupt, window-less front and interior wainscoting. We are lucky enough to still have the last remaining graduate of the Lower Fern Ridge School in our community. Lew Bailey has painted us a solid picture of what the interior and grounds of the school once looked like, from the pot-belly stove to the desks and recital bench. The names of school kids from over 100 years ago are still visible, scrawled in graphite under the former coat racks, and carved in to the backs and sides of the building.
If the owners are around, have them tell you the story of Lew Bailey's note tucked into the wall, and discovered many years later - a story filled with the spirit of geocaching!
The cache itself is not handicap accessible, but the school house is.
If you want a tour, contact the owners, Tom and Sue Hunton at Camas Country Mills in advance at (541) 357-5448 or info@camascountrymill.com
Please park on the gravel and stay on the gravel paths.