Posted: Sunday, October 21, 2007 12:00 am
A local historic property in the midst of renovation is one step closer to national recognition.
The Children's Farm Home School on Highway 20 northeast of Corvallis has been empty and crumbling for around 20 years. A recent fundraising project and a $2 million donation by Dave and Penny Lowther has launched a renovation project for the 1925 building, which was part of the original Farm Home founded by the Women's Christian Temperance Union to house orphans.
The Farm Home School was recently placed on the Benton County Register of Historic Resources and earlier this week the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation unanimously recommended that the property be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
That's a required step for listing on the national register, but the Farm Home School still must win final approval at the national level.
Cara Kaser, architectural historian for Oregon with the national register program, said the Farm Home School is a significant historical building in Oregon, and that from an architectural perspective she was particularly drawn to the building's elegant cupola.
Being placed on the National Register of Historic Places is primarily honorific, Kaser said. Such a listing wouldn't prevent the building from being altered or even torn down.
Being named to the Benton County register has a number of advantages, said Chris Bentley, associate planner with the county. Property owners on the register are eligible for low interest loan programs, grants and technical assistance.
The school building sits on the corner of the Trillium Family Services 75-acre Children's Farm Home property. At present Trillium uses the property to care for children with mental and behavioral disorders.
Architect Bill Ryals has been hired to design the historic school building's renovations.
For more information on the historic school renovation project or to become involved, contact Cheri Galvin at 758-5953.
By Theresa Hogue. She can be reached at theresa.hogue@lee.net.