Mt Tabor Middle School
History of Mt. Tabor Middle School in Portland Oregon
Original log cabin one-room school house built by Plympton Kelly, eldest son of Clinton Kelly. (Richmond Elementary School is named after Plympton's brother Richmond). Elizabeth Kelly, Plympton's wife taught in the school for one year. The next year the cabin was enlarged to two rooms and Mr. & Mrs Humphrey taught. Mr. Humphry taught the higher grades and his wife the lower. Every morning one of them rang a hand bell to call the children to school.
The location of the school is where Mt. Tabor Annex is now (West Avenue & Base Line Road, now 60th & Stark) Around the school were thick trees and forests. Base Line Road was part of the Old Oregon Trail.
Second school built in 1880 it faced West Avenue (60th) north of Base Line Road. It burned down on the morning of January 10th, 1911.
Soon after a temporary school was put up on 60th and Ash. (there were already portables there, see holographic account of fire)
(Holographic account of fire at Mt.Tabor School)
I wrote the following on the envelope of my report and concerning the burning of the old Mt. Tabor school at West avenue and Base Line Road (Now 60th & Stark)
This card was in the fire of Mt. Tabor school on Tuesday January 10th 1911.
The fire started between 6:30 and 7:00 a. m.
It was caused by the flue catching fire.
The janitor went down West avenue about two blocks to light a fire in the portibles in Ash Street.
There was a half of an inch of snow on the ground.
The loss was about $25,000.00
(Signed) Harry Teller
A new school was started at 60th and Ash costing $100,369.00. It was two stories high and contained 12 classrooms. There were 450 students. It opened in 1912.
Here is an aerial view of the present school with the position of the former structure indicated on the rise just east, fronting on 60th Street.
