Our Historic Building
Our building in the 1940s, when it was Milwaukie Jr. High School. The school band at the time led the Junior Rose Festival Parade!
Did you know that the main Portland Waldorf School building is an historic structure? Before it housed Portland Waldorf School, it was home to Milwaukie Jr. High School. The public Junior High opened in November 1936 after its Works Progress Administration (WPA) construction. The Georgian Revival style brick faced building replaced a wooden school a short distance away that was demolished for the construction of what was then Milwaukie City Hall. The school was renovated in 1978, and the building that now houses our high school was added at that time.
Portland Waldorf School acquired this beautiful 7.2 acre property in 2002 and, with incredible volunteer help from an enthusiastic community, moved our school from its previous locations and performed extensive renovations here including many aesthetic alterations and the addition of an elevator, ADA accommodations, and play structures.
As part of our ongoing Campus Additions, Renovations and Enhancements (CARE) vision, PWS works to protect historic elements of the building when possible. Over Winter Break, with a generous grant from the Kinsman Foundation, who aim to preserve and restore local historic buildings in Milwaukie, our outdated front step perimeter rails were replaced. These new hand rails retain their classic design but have been updated to a height for safety that the older design lacked.
Our thanks go out to the Kinsman Foundation and to all who have contributed to our CARE campaign! If you would like to help further the school's CARE vision and campaign, please contact the Leadership Team.
