Old St. Francis School

St. Francis School in Bend, Oregon, was designed by Hugh Thompson and planned for the site of the Catholic parish house, adjoining St. Francis Catholic Church. It was budgeted at $45,000 ($35,000 for the building and $10,000 for equipment). The two-story structure was planned to face Lava Road and was to include four classrooms, an assembly hall, and a principal's room on the first floor with two more classrooms and a "large parish hall" on the second floor "to be used by altar societies, the Knights of Columbus and by children's organizations of the parish."

McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Old St. Francis Hotel in 2007
Location in Bend, Oregon
Old St. Francis School (Oregon)
Alternative namesMcMenamins Old St. Francis Hotel; McMenamins Pub and Brewery
Hotel chainMcMinamins
General information
TypeHotel, restaurant, and pub
LocationBend, Oregon, U.S.A.
Address700 N.W. Bond Street
Coordinates44°03′24″N 121°18′52″W
Opened1936
Renovated1953, 1968, and 2004
Other information
Number of rooms19
Number of suites4
Number of restaurants1
Number of bars1
FacilitiesSoaking pool; movie theater; brewery; and bakery
References
[1][2]

The parish house was to be moved to the rear of the house and construction to begin at once in May 1925 for opening during the next school year. A playground was also planned and four "teaching sisters" of the order of St. Joseph expected to come and teach students up to eighth grade. The school was said to be the only one of its kind in Central Oregon, while there was a "parochial academy at Klamath Falls." The new school had been discussed "for a number of years, even before the new Catholic church replaced the old structure." Meanwhile, in 1925, "Bend School" graduated the largest class in its history, 58 students, with an invocation from St. Francis church's Father Luke Sheehan.[3] According to the website of the building's current owners, an addition of two classrooms was made in 1953. An expansion to the school was planned in 1959. The current owner's website also reports on a major parish center expansion in 1968 with gym, stage, meeting rooms, and cafeteria.[1][4]

Currently

In 2000 the school relocated to a "modern campus" in the northeastern section of town and the old downtown property including "four old bungalow houses on the back end of the lot" was transferred to McMenamins. The hotel and restaurant chain "renovated and reopened the school in November 2004" with a "respectful celebration of its past and newfound sense of fun" as pub, hotel, and guest houses.[1][5]

McMenamins completed an additional property renovation in 2016 to total 60 guestrooms, a pub, brewery, private meeting and event space, live music venue, onsite theater, and soaking pool. Two additional buildings—the Art House and Ed House—have been constructed on the property.[6] Both additional buildings feature original art from local artists in the guestrooms, as well as "secret rooms."[7] The property has also become a popular venue for weddings and social events.[8]

References
  1. "An Old St. Francis School Primer," McMenamins Old St Francis School Walking Tour, McMenamins Old St Francis School, Bend, Oregon, 2014.
  2. "Guestrooms, Cottages, Pub, Small Bars...", McMenamins Old St Francis School, McMenamins Old St Francis School, Bend, Oregon, 2014.
  3. Parochial School Announced to Be Built Here; Grade building to cost $45,000 will be erected at once on site of recent parish house" May 29, 1925 Bend Bulletin
  4. Expansion Plans by Bend Parish are Announced March 18, 1959 The Bulletin (Bend)
  5. McMenamins Old St. Francis School (includes archival photo) McMenamins website
  6. http://www.mcmenamins.com/421-old-st-francis-school-home
  7. http://www.mcmenamins.com/490-old-st-francis-school-room-cottage-rates
  8. http://www.mcmenamins.com/private-events/weddings/OldStFrancisSchool
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