Baker County

From the Record Courier

Haines- Muddy Creek

The Baker school district has turned over the old Muddy Creek school to Henry Leonning.

     Mr. Leonning is undecided what he will do with the building which is pretty well wrecked by vandalism and weather since it was discontinued for school use.

     People of the community retain fond memories of the good times they had there, both in school and using the building as a center of community activity.  And they recall that it was one of the beautiful school buildings of this part of the state.

     The old picture was taken by The Record Courier while trees and landscape were still maintained, while it was still used for elementary school but after high school students were being bussed to North Powder. Shortly before, it was the first high school of the county to have been accredited.

     Mr. Loenning is undecided what he can do with the building. "I wish it were off of there."  he said, but after several years of discussion, is glad to have the title resolved.  Removal will be difficult except for some salvage value to the brick.  Much of the mass is in the high concrete foundation, also.

     The deed carries the dedication of the site from Alonzo Long in 1900 to Muddy Creek School District.  Leo Adams bought the land from Long with the corner dedicated to the school, and Leonning bought it after Mr. Adams died, so acquired the site by reversion when the district abandoned it for school use.  The structure, however was in a kind of legal stale mate till the district board settled it by offering the deed and Mr. Leonning accepted it, along with the responsibility for removing it in order to clear the issue up.    

February 21, 1974 - Contributed by Belva Ticknor.