The Children's Farm Home School is a former school building on U.S. Route 20 in Oregon between Corvallis and Albany; it is located on a {{convert|300|acre|adj=on}} campus now owned by Trillium Family Services.

The Children's Farm Home School was listed in 2008 on the National Register of Historic Places for Benton County; the listing was one of the first steps taken as part of a restoration effort that ended up taking five years.

History

The {{convert|17000|sqft|adj=on}}^[6] Children's Farm Home School was built in 1925 by volunteers from among the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union membership, for the purpose of providing homes for orphans, neglected children,^[6] and children whose families could not otherwise take care of them in the years leading up to the Great Depression. Its pupils would go on to attend Corvallis High School.^[6] It supported itself through proceeds from a cannery, dairy and slaughterhouse, as well as the sale of produce and nuts, grown on the property.^[6]

The school closed in the 1980s.^[6] In 1998, Children's Farm Home School merged with the Parry Center for Children and Waverly Children's Home in Portland to form Trillium Family Services.^[3]

Restoration

Restoration efforts began in 2008, after $4.5 million was raised from donors including Dave and Penny Lowther of Philomath.^[6] Bill Ryals of Modern Organic Architecture in Corvallis designed the improvements, assisted by Endex Engineering. T. Gerding Construction Co. were the general contractors,^[6] helped by volunteers. In 2011, an "unanticipated septic system upgrade" required Trillium Family Services to raise another million dollars.^[6]

In July 2013, Children's Farm Home School reopened, with a basement converted to a family center and rooms where families can spend time together. A restaurant was also opened on the first floor. Classrooms have become conference rooms available to rent. The renovation also features a banquet room, administrative offices, and a museum.^[6]

References