Gibbs Community Timeline

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1858

District #35, called Chehalem Mountain School, is organized & taught by Jane McKenzie in a log building on the Philip Winters Donation Landclaim. It was across Bell Road to the North of the present site. Gibbs Community Club President, Irene (Ingraham) Tessman is a descendant of Philip Winters & Gibbs School alumni.

1865

Martin J. Shuck deeded 1 acre of land from his Donation Landclaim for a new school across Quarry Road, East of present site.

About 1873

The school’s name was changed to Gibbs, honoring Oregon’s second governor, the Civil War governor, Addison C. Gibbs. He moved into the district into a large house still standing on the comer of Bell & Mountain Home Roads.

1876

William & Ernaline Vincent established a sawmill with Mr, Edmunson, at which boards for the present Gibbs School were sawed. Gibbs Club’s assistant secretary, Ed Savage is a descendant of the Vincent family.

1886

John B, David deeded 1 acre of land, originally the Greene C. Rogers Landclaim, for the present school site.

1886

Albert Heater was paid $450.00 for building the school house which stands today. The desks, lamps, map charts & coat hooks cost $125.50

1887

Albert Heater built the woodshed, schoolyard fence & two privies, delicately referred to in the clerk’s minutes as “water closets”.

1888

The schoolyard was worked and planted to clover by Frank Gustin. Donna Jean (Wright) Baron is his descendant, an alumni of Gibbs School and Gibbs Community Club member.

1889

Some students left to go to the newly built District #56 Springbrook School. Eventually Gibbs wouldconsolidate and all the students go to Springbrook.

1900

More students left to go to the new Rex School District #88 to the South.

1933

Gibbs Dramatic Club was organized & began putting on plays and programs in the little school. The soon needed more room. The Newberg Graphic reported the schoolhouse so full there was no more standing room, in January of 1934.

1934

A combination auditorium/gymnasium was built at the South of the school. It was constructed by the local residents as a W.P.A. (Works Projects Administration) Project under President Franklin Roosevelt.

1947

Gibbs School graduates its last student and consolidates with Springbrook.

1955

Gibbs Community Club writes its charter, more or less evolving from Gibbs Dramatic Club. It’s stated purpose: “to conduct activities for the betterment of the community & it’s youth.”

1965

Alumni Reunion held at Gibbs School with students from as far back as 1905.

1970

The Gibbs Site reverted back to the county. Yamhill County granted it to Gibbs Community Club in perpetuity, so long as it shall be used to the good of the community.

1984

Gibbs School is placed on the Yamhill County Registry of Historic Places.

1988

Gibbs Community Club is re-organized. We gain permission from Yamhill County to improve the site.

1989

The gymnasium, beyond repair, is demolished. We hold our 1st Annual Gibbs Reunion Picnic.

1990

We stabilize the one room school, awaiting restoration. (Temporary roof, level building)

1991

Keith Gearhart introduced himself, comes to sing “Holding on to Memories” for us, a friendship is born, adoption takes place.

1992

Groundbreaking ceremonies for construction of the new Gibbs Community Center.

1993

The Center’s footings go in & walls are poured. 

1994

Concrete roof goes on the community center and the floor is poured. Finisher Dennis Heeman & volunteers.

1995

Backstop construction is complete, firing sound tests are done and use of the safety/ firing range commences.

1996

The Community Center is dedicated by the members and Tony Burtt of Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, their grants coordinator. The O.D.F.W. bronze plaque is presented to us by Mr. Burtt.

1997

We stabilize the schoolhouse & install new sills, cut by Dean & Alan Tessman’s mill next door. A support beam, donated by Parr Lumber makes the concrete construction ready to receive the schoolhouse. Classes in Hunter Safety & Marksmanship commence for youth & adults. Classes to prepare adult students for a Permit to Carry Concealed Weapons take place about every three months. An agreement with Newberg Police Dept. to conduct four firing qualifications per year goes into effect. We open our range to all area Hunter Safety instructors for their use at live-firing for their students.

1997

Sept. 19 – former resident Grant McCulloch arranged for his crew from G. H. McCulloch, Inc. to set rigging for Campbell Crane to lift Gibbs historic schoolhouse over onto the concrete construction.

Nov. 23 – Fischer Roofing roofed the schoolhouse & members re-glazed its windows.

1998

Work commences of development of lower level classroom: electrical, plumbing, interior wall finish, septic, pumps & pump house.

1999

The air Plenum for the ventilation system is built, the school gets some replica siding sawed & planed by Alan & Dean Tessman, alumni, & schoolhouse gets a coat of white paint, bathrooms are working & we have propane heat.

We built the lower level porch.

2000

Our water is approved for drinking. Members replace the schoolhouse door. The concrete structure has been finished and the school moved to its new location atop the structure. The school has recently been repainted and work on the classroom within the concrete structure is in its completion stages.

2001

The lower level rooms now have a small kitchen facility and storage cabinets. A wind break by the East door was completed and security floodlights illuminate the yard. Inside the historic Gibbs schoolhouse, the brick chimney has been rebuilt, replacement lighting installed and the interior walls have been primer painted.

2002

The parking areas have been enlarged and improved. Remaining interior doors have been installed with hardware and trim now in place. We have set a pole to proudly fly the American flag. Handicap access has been further improved with sidewalks and ramps. Repairs to the schoolhouse interior walls are complete and the interior of the schoolhouse has been painted in the original color scheme.

2003

We have done some further expansion of the parking lot. Have added fill-dirt and re-seeded in areas. A maple tree donated by Gibbs Alumni Alan & Irene Tessman is doing very well and a fir tree from Ed & Cathy Dechenne is showing a big increase in height. The schoolhouse floor has been beautifully refinished and the school desks put back in place on new runners and some of them refinished. Restoration of the original woodstove was completed by Alan Tessman & put back in its place. The coat hooks were also restored and await use in the front entry hall. Improvements in the lower level classroom include chair rail added to the walls and more tables for use.

History of Gibbs school compiled by Donna Jo King, Secretary of Gibbs Community Club.

Updated November 1, 2003