Historic Jones schoolhouse moves to fairgrounds

Crews from Catlow movers of Spokane pull the old Jones School along Highway 26. The 24 X 48-foot schoolhouse, one of but a few remaining in the county, was moved from its former location at Dusty to the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds last Wednesday, July 14.

The schoolhouse will be added to the fair scene across the pathway to the north of the fair’s central flag pole. During the fair, the Whitman County Historical Society plans to use the building as a museum commemorating the old one-room schoolhouses that once dominated the Palouse.

Traffic was clogged for miles during the move. Crews pulled over at wide spots and had to stop to lift electrical service wires which crossed the highway. The move began shortly after 9:30 a.m. and the school arrived at the fairgrounds shortly before 11 a.m. Crews for the past week have worked to solidify the building on top of a foundation which was built at the fairground by volunteers.