The Charbonneau Villager
Page 17
February 2014
Aurora Colony's "Rudimentary Studies and Tall Tales" Opens February 1
days, 11 am to 4 pm. For group
sales, information and reservations, call the Museum office at
503-678-5754, or visit us online
at www.auroracolony.org.
Want to be part of history yourself? Do you have roots in the old
French Prairie or Aurora Colony
This is the Aurora grade school built in 1912. It briefly housed the
high school but reverted back to a grade school until it closed in
1962.
By Reg Keddie of the Aurora Colony Historical
February is more than ground- Society in 1963.
hogs and Valentine’s Day at the
Leister, a 1960 graduate of the
Old Aurora Colony Museum!
Aurora Grade School, attended
February 1 marks the opening the University of Pennsylvania
of the Museum’s first exhibit of and then worked as a Middle
2014: “Rudimentary Studies and Eastern specialist for the United
Tall Tales - One Hundred Years States government in Turkish and
of Schooling in Aurora 1861- Arab affairs. He was a historian
1961.” This exhibit is filled with for the United States Air Force
antique and vintage items: school and the director of the Travis Air
children’s personal diaries, artiBase Museum.
facts and rare school days photos
The “Rudimentary Studies and
- many loaned or donated by Old
Tall Tales - One Hundred Years of
Aurora Colony descendant famiSchooling in Aurora 1861-1961”
lies.
exhibit is made possible through
Here is a page from the diary a grant from the Tarbell Foundaof 8th grader Gary Leiser:
tion and Gary Leiser. We are very
“Well today was the first day grateful for their support.
of school, boy was it fun. I got
Don’t forget that the Old Auup at 7:00 in the morning and rora Colony Museum, located
just waited. I rode to school with just five miles down Airport Rd.
Ray’s mom. When I saw Jane and from Charbonneau, is a great
Gloria I said to myself “wow”, day-trip bargain at $5 admission
because they were really good
for seniors. The Museum is open
looking...”
February 1 through December 31.
Reminiscing about those old Hours are Tuesdays through Satschool days, Gary writes, "For us
urdays, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunkids the school was the most exciting place to be. Here we met Below is a page from Gary
and played with friends. Usually Leiser