Old St. Francis School
Encyclopedia
St. Francis School in Bend, Oregon
was designed by Hugh Thompson
and planned for the site of the Catholic parish house, adjoining St. Francis Catholic Church. It was budgeted at $45,000 ($35,000 for the building and $10,000 for equipment). The two-story structure was planned to face Lava Road and was to include four classrooms, an assembly hall, and a principal's room on the first floor with two more classrooms and a "large parish hall" on the second floor ("to be used by altar societies, the Knights of Columbus
and by children's organizations of the parish."
The parish house was to be moved to the rear of the house and construction to begin at once in May 1925 for opening during the next school year. A playground was also planned and four "teaching sisters" of the order of St. Joseph expected to come and teach students up to eighth grade. The school was said to be the only one of its kind in Central Oregon
, while there was a "parochial academy at Klamath Falls." The new school had been discussed "for a number of years, even before the new Catholic church replaced the old structure." Meanwhile in 1925, "Bend School" graduated the largest class in its history, 58 students, with an invocation
from St. Francis church's Father Luke Sheehan. According to the website of the building's current owners, an addition of two classrooms was made in 1953. An expansion to the school was planned in 1959. The current owner's website also reports on a major parish center expansion in 1968 with gym, stage, meeting rooms, and cafeteria.
In 2000 the school relocated to a "modern campus" in the northeastern section of town and the old downtown property including "four old bungalow houses on the back end of the lot" was transferred to McMenamins
who "renovated and reopened the school in November 2004" with a "respectful celebration of its past and newfound sense of fun" as pub, hotel, and guest houses.
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
was designed by Hugh Thompson
Hugh Thompson (architect)
Hugh M. Thompson was an American architect. He was active in Bend, Oregon during the early 20th Century. Thompson designed the Capitol Theater , New Redmond Hotel, Bend High School, Redmond Union High School, the Butch Stover House Hugh M. Thompson was an American architect. He was active in Bend,...
and planned for the site of the Catholic parish house, adjoining St. Francis Catholic Church. It was budgeted at $45,000 ($35,000 for the building and $10,000 for equipment). The two-story structure was planned to face Lava Road and was to include four classrooms, an assembly hall, and a principal's room on the first floor with two more classrooms and a "large parish hall" on the second floor ("to be used by altar societies, the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
and by children's organizations of the parish."
The parish house was to be moved to the rear of the house and construction to begin at once in May 1925 for opening during the next school year. A playground was also planned and four "teaching sisters" of the order of St. Joseph expected to come and teach students up to eighth grade. The school was said to be the only one of its kind in Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
, while there was a "parochial academy at Klamath Falls." The new school had been discussed "for a number of years, even before the new Catholic church replaced the old structure." Meanwhile in 1925, "Bend School" graduated the largest class in its history, 58 students, with an invocation
Invocation
An invocation may take the form of:*Supplication or prayer.*A form of possession.*Command or conjuration.*Self-identification with certain spirits....
from St. Francis church's Father Luke Sheehan. According to the website of the building's current owners, an addition of two classrooms was made in 1953. An expansion to the school was planned in 1959. The current owner's website also reports on a major parish center expansion in 1968 with gym, stage, meeting rooms, and cafeteria.
In 2000 the school relocated to a "modern campus" in the northeastern section of town and the old downtown property including "four old bungalow houses on the back end of the lot" was transferred to McMenamins
McMenamins
McMenamins is a chain of nearly sixty brewpubs, microbreweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs. The chain is located mostly in the Portland metropolitan area, but has many other locations in Oregon and Washington...
who "renovated and reopened the school in November 2004" with a "respectful celebration of its past and newfound sense of fun" as pub, hotel, and guest houses.