Orchard District in Bend in Deschutes County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Replica of Bend's First School

In Honor of William M Armstrong

Bend's First School Replica Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 24, 2024

1. Bend's First School Replica Marker

Inscription. Replica: Bend's First School
Original Building Site: Drake Park
Constructed: 1882
First Teacher: Mae Barnes
First Year in Use: 1883
Number of Students: 21

Reconstructed
Pilot Butte Jr High School
1975-1976

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of ’76, America’s Bicentennial Celebration series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 44° 3.918′ N, 121° 17.06′ W. Marker is in Bend, Oregon, in Deschutes County. It is in the Orchard District. It is on Northeast Neff Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1501 NE Neff Rd, Bend OR 97701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s High Desert.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker,

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measured as the crow flies: The City of Bend (approx. 0.3 miles away); "The Westward Movement" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Oregon's Fabled "High Desert" (approx. 0.3 miles away); O'Donnell Field (approx. 1.1 miles away); Pioneer Park (approx. 1.3 miles away); Deschutes County Courthouse (approx. 1.4 miles away); Colonial Inn (approx. 1.4 miles away); A.J. Tucker Building (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bend.

Regarding Replica of Bend's First School. The replica cabin was erected as part of a school project celebrating America’s bicentennial. An obituary for William Harold Armstrong (the father of William McKay Armstrong, for whom the historical marker honors) mentions the replica cabin: In 1970 William McKay took a position at Pilot Junior High School teaching social studies to eighth grade students.

During the 1975-1976 school year William McKay supervised the building of the replica of Bend's first school. Members of the community, students, and staff finished the project in time for the dedication in the spring of 1976. It was given the honor of being one of the outstanding bicentennial projects
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 24, 2024

2. Replica of Bend's First School Marker
for a school in the nation.

Replica of Bend's First School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 24, 2024

3. Replica of Bend's First School

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 24, 2024

4. Replica of Bend's First School

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 24, 2024

5. Replica of Bend's First School

Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 17, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.