November 2003

Prairie City SD Web site

OSBA’s November Salute goes to Prairie City School District for making history – and learning – come alive in this small district of about 200 students and 1,000 residents.

THE PROJECT

The year will be 1867. You are on the actual site of Camp Logan a military camp established in 1865. As you walk through the camp, past period tents and campfires you will see the boys drilling and marching in uniform, The girls, clothed in period dress, will be going about the chores and activities of civilians, at that time. You may see a soldier tip his hat to a lady, take a ride in a buggy, or listen to a presentation from a blacksmith or a mule packer. Stick around and you will see an 1860’s style baseball game.

Each May the district, east of John Day off Hwy. 26 in Grant County, takes the community back to the year 1867 during Camp Logan Living History Days. Among the activities: Visitors will take guided tours, learn about the history of Bannock War and Native Americans, learn how the sick and wounded were tended, taste authentic civil war recipes cooked in Dutch ovens, watch a blacksmith at work and witness “Captain Marcus Reno’s Troop Inspection.”

This two-day living history event is hosted by the Prairie City School History Club and Fifth Grade. It is open to the public to showcase the early history of Grant County. This event also gives students the opportunity to experience and feel history, practice skills of responsibility, cooperation, leadership and public relations.

HOW IT BEGAN

Research on Camp Logan began with Loren Bebb, high school teacher, who involved teachers Dianne Lesniak and Andy Demko. They researched the history of Camp Logan for two years. The Prairie City History Club was formed in September 2001 with students in grades 6-12.

Less than two years ago this civil war-era military camp established in 1865 was unearthed near the town of Prairie City. Students and teachers started researching civil war history and began fund-raising to buy tents, uniforms, supplies and other civil-war era replicas to “re-enact” the year 1867. They held book fairs, T-shirt sales, dinners, raffles and other events. They received grants from the Chamber of Commerce, the Shelk Foundation, DR Johnson Lumber and the local Prairie City Community Association. Local businesses participated through the purchase of advertising space on the event brochure.

LEARNING GOALS

1. To give students an opportunity to feel and experience local history.
2. To provide students with a means to share and interpret history to the community.
3. To provide the opportunity for students to participate in an experience that will bring the community together for the purpose of interpreting its history.
4. To provide multicultural and multigenerational experiences.
5. To provide opportunities for young people to volunteer.
6. To provide experiences that foster positive self-esteem through new skills and perspectives.
7. To provide positive role models by exposing children to many community organizations.
8. To provide structured activities for young people to learn and practice the skills of responsibility, self-control, cooperation, leadership and public relations.
9. To meet social studies benchmarks for the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century.

“The event gives students the chance to experience history, learn responsibility and skills such as blacksmithing and public relations,” says Supt. Kevin Purnell. “It’s great public relations because so many other organizations are involved.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Members of the Oregon Volunteers and 20th Maine Civil War re-enactment group shared knowledge of the period. The local Boy Scout Troup taught students how to pitch tents, cook and build campfires. The community and school have come together to interpret local history. Besides the assistance of local citizens, our project has participants from throughout Grant County, and other parts of Oregon. The Boy Scouts of America, Grant County Genealogical Society, the American Legion, US Forest Service, First Oregon Volunteers and 20th Maine, Civil War re-enacters, and the Oregon Volunteer Infantry are among the organizations that joined the school district create this event.

CAMP LOGAN

The camp was one of four garrisons created to protect traveling citizens and settlers along the Canyon City to Boise Road. Established between 1863 and 1865 by the First Oregon Volunteers, soldiers of the 1st and 8th U.S. Cavalry manned the fort after the Civil War, until 1869. The camp was home to 100-200 men with as many mules and horses. It included quarters for 40 men, an officers’ quarters, storehouse, blacksmith, hospital, stables and cookhouse.

THE FUTURE

Camp Logan will eventually have an interpretive site or museum as an outreach project for the school.