After the problem with the Old Deer Island School and the Flea Market, I thought about a possible solution to the problem so I headed to the Commissioners meeting, and presented to them an idea that may prove to be an answer to the dilemma. I know that the school district wants to sell the school, which sits on 1.7 acres; the school has a basement that has a full cafeteria unless the school district tore it out, a huge gym and covered play area in the back. The school has two huge classrooms and a foyer in-between the classrooms, which is large enough to have office space; each room has its own coatroom and restrooms just outside the classrooms.

I offered the commissioners the idea of purchasing the school and making the school the county museum. The commissioners thought the idea was great. The school sits just off HWY 30 and is located on the only route to Astoria, Hopefully attracting people as they drive by, and giving the Deer Island store a bit more business as well. I thought that we could move the museum from the old courthouse to a location that would be easily assessable to a populace that would not normally drive off the beaten path to go to a museum in down town St. Helens. And from a building that is not easy access to the handicapped and artifacts that are crammed into a tiny room. It would be simple to advertise the museum with a few signs along HWY 30. The Deer Island School provides adequate parking, a nice big yard that people could sit for a while, wander across Canaan Rd. to buy a pop or a bite to eat at the local store. Maybe plant a couple trees for shade and provide a couple picnic tables too.
There is plenty enough space to house all the museum pieces and could possibly develop into a great museum with traveling artifacts and maybe historic slide shows in the gym.

I think with a little work and some new and fresh ideas this idea might prove to be profitable in the sense that the museum could be self-supporting for the museum. Maybe further down the road the site could offer some made in Oregon products and a small gift shop as many museums have, possibly employing a person or two.
I know that I am looking way down the road but then I am pretty excited about the possibilities for the old school instead of thinking about its demise. I have offered to do what ever I can to make this idea work, and have said very plainly that I wanted to be on the project, and have been told by the commissioners that I would be able to work on this issue. I have a meeting with a person from the school in the middle of August and will report on the meeting.

I hope the update readers will offer some ideas as well, and please write the update with any idea's that you have that will help save the school and make a county museum that we all can be proud of and allow history of the county be told to travelers who are passing by.