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| Lincoln School | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lincoln School in Port Angeles, Washington as it appeared in 2022 | |
 Interactive map of the Lincoln School area | |
General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Location | Port Angeles, Washington, United States of America |
| Coordinates | 48°7′10.146″N 123°27′24.228″W / 48.11948500°N 123.45673000°W |
| Year built | 1916 |
| Owner | North Olympic History Center |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Harold H. Ginnold, Seattle, Washington |
The Lincoln School (also called Lincoln Heights School and sometimes Lincoln Elementary SchoolNote 1) is a red brick school building in Port Angeles, Washington. Initially built without wings in 1916, it was operated as a school until 1978. The building was purchased in 1991 by the Clallam County Historical Society.
Foundation and Construction
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Much of the land that would become the city of Port Angeles was reserved "for lighthouse purposes, military, and naval reserve, and other public purposes" by an executive order signed by then President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln on June 19, 1862.[1] In 1890, settlers in the area began "jumping the reserve" and establishing homesteads within the reservation.[1][2] One resident staked out a plot and posted signs falsely claiming the block had been reserved by the government for a school.[2][3][4][5]
Martin's Hall? THREE buildings?
The first school constructed on the site was a wooden building, erected in the early 1890s.[6] As part of the construction of new brick school, the original wooden school was relocated to the south-east portion of the lot[7] before being demolished in 1920.[6]
Voters approved the issuance of bonds worth $25,000 ($739,679 in 2025) to fund the construction of a new school building in April 1916. Architect Harold H. Ginnold was commissioned to design the building, which would have eight classrooms and capacity for 320 students.[7]
The construction of this school was part of a larger push to build enough school capacity to serve the growing population.[8]
Deets on initial construction and some dates[9]
1920-ish expansion:Ginnold drew up plans for the wings[10]
The school ceased operating in 1978.[8]
Similarity to earlier school designed for Lake Burien [11]
Restoration Project
editIn 1991, the Clallam County Historical Society purchased the school and lot for $210,000 ($496,396 in 2025) with the intent to refurbish and convert the building into a museum. Despite determining in 1996 that restoring the building was not feasible, the Society continued to fund-raise to seismically retrofit and maintain the building until 2023 when the Society (now called the North Olympic History Center) began looking for ways to divest itself of the building.[12] Ultimately, after years of searching for alternate uses, community partners, and potential purchasers, the Center announced the decision to demolish the building in November 2023. Restoration costs were estimated to be about $12 million ($12.7 million in 2025) which was too high for the Center to fund, and too high to be attractive to potential buyers. The Center also determined that, even ignoring restoration costs, operating a museum on the property would never be sustainable.[13]
The City of Port Angeles conducted a study in 2024 to determine the feasibility of turning the building into multi-family housing.[14] In June 2025, the city made a $788,000 offer to buy the building and the entire plot,[15] which the Center declined to accept, citing the value of the offer as being far lower than the Center's estimated $2 million cost to relocate.[16]
Notes
edit^Note 1:Four different school buildings in Port Angeles may be called "Lincoln School." This brick school building, the wooden school building on the same site that preceded it, and Lincoln High School, located just across the street from this building. The latter is, as of 2025, still in operation under the Port Angeles School District. Additionally, a single room log cabin schoolhouse in the Deer Park area was also called Lincoln School.
Additional Resources
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Media related to Evvekk/Lincoln School at Wikimedia Commons- The North Olympic History Center maintains files and artifacts related to the Lincoln School. Some items are available here, in their online catalog.
References
edit- 1 2 Miletich, Fred Patrick (May 29, 1954). The Historical And Economic Geography Of Port Angeles, Washington (Master of Arts thesis). University of Washington. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
- 1 2 McNutt, John (August 2, 2025). "BACK WHEN: Peninsula pioneer helped start school in Port Angeles". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025.
- ↑ Lincoln School/David O'Brien (Plaque). North Olympic History Center. 1939.
- ↑ Clallam County Historical Society (2003). Clallam County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 0-7385-2095-0.
- ↑ https://wisaard.dahp.wa.gov/Resource/3081/PropertyInventory/949008
- 1 2 "Grade School Of Early Days". Port Angeles, Washington: Peninsula Daily News. April 19, 1941. p. 3. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013.
- 1 2 "Lincoln Heights School Building Opened Monday". Port Angeles, Washington: Port Angeles Olympic-Leader. January 9, 1917. p. 3.
- 1 2 Rice, Arwyn (May 9, 2013). "Port Angeles elementary school to celebrate 90th year". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025.
- ↑ Alexander, Alice (September 4, 2016). "BACK WHEN: Generations of graduates remember Lincoln School in Port Angeles". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024.
- ↑ "Notice to Contractors". Port Angeles, Washington: Peninsula Daily News. June 24, 1922. p. 2.
- ↑ "A FOUR-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE". American School Board Journal. XLIX (5): 24–25. November 1914.
- ↑ Park, Ken (April 26, 2023). "Historical society seeks new proposals for Lincoln school". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024.
- ↑ "NOHC makes plans to demolish former school". Sequim Gazette. November 29, 2023. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024.
- ↑ McLean, Brian (January 19, 2024). "Housing study set at school". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024.
- ↑ "City Offers to Purchase Historic Lincoln School Building for Preservation and Housing Redevelopment". City of Port Angeles. June 4, 2025. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025.
- ↑ Fisher, Pepper (June 13, 2025). ""A missed opportunity": City of Port Angeles responds to Lincoln School decision". KONP. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025.