School Building Artifacts

Thanks to Kathie Hupp we now have both light fixtures and a portion of the decorative tile that adorned this school building that housed several generations of students during its life.

Drawing of Condon School by Annetta in 2004. Donated by Kathie Hupp

Restored light fixture outside museum entrance in the Historic Courthouse

This chunk of colorful decorative tile was part of the symmetrical facade in fashion at the time of construction

Two light fixtures flank the arched entrance to the newly completed high school building.

History of the building -

After a couple of attempts, voters approved the construction of a new union high school building on the site of the Columbia County Fairgrounds, property owned by the City of St. Helens, formally described as Washington Square.

In 1926, the school building was constructed as a four year high school. In 1958 it became a three year junior high school when the three year senior high school opened. In 1964 it became an elementary school when the new junior high school building was completed.

Additions were made as follows: (1) the auditorium-gymnasium in 1928, (2) the music room in 1936, (3) six classrooms in 1940 - those contained in the west wing of the building, (4) in 1958 the building was remodeled in some places and two classrooms, an arts & crafts room, and a wood shop were added on the south-east section of the building, (5) in 1964 there was some remodeling necessary for the conversion to an elementary school.

To see more details about the history of the building and its use over the years:

If you look closely you will see that each light fixture is firmly in the grasp of two students

in this Class of 1932 photo from the 1930 Loo Witt yearbook.

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