The Outdoor "Bench School" of Ontario, Oregon, 1939

By | September 10, 2016

During the end of the Great Depression in 1939, many rural schools held classes outside due to the oppressive heat. They were more fortunate than most: the county had a bus that went to pick up the kids from the surrounding farms.

Here's a look at what a day in the life of the enrollment of the Lincoln "Bench School" is like.

Children get into school bus on a fall morning in 1939. Malheur County, Oregon.
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The boys from nearby Dead Ox Flat get off bus at the Lincoln school yard. Most of them have brought lunches and supplies - they were better off than many.
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The children from Dead Ox Flat ready to go inside the school building when the bell rings at 9am. They just spend a short time inside, then hold most of the classes outside...
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Eight boys at Lincoln Bench School. Born in six different states.
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Another view of the boys hard at work in their studies.
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Entire enrollment of Lincoln Bench School. You'll see the teacher in the center.
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Lincoln Bench School and yard. You can tell that they had a good time some days.
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Girls of Lincoln Bench School study their reading lesson. We recognize some of those dresses as flour sack dresses.
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They spent much of the morning here, but sought out the shade in the early afternoon.
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H/T Oldpicsarchive