A Former Student Looking for Alumni of the Old Woodinville Schoolhouse

Editor’s Note: Being a newcomer to Woodinville (I’ve only lived here a bit more than six years), I thought I would post this letter in the hopes that others in the community could help with Mary’s inquiries. If you have any information about the Bothell High School Class of 1961 or stories of the old schoolhouse, send them to me at ann.archer@patch.com and I will forward the information to Mary.

Hello Annie!  I found your name as the editor of the Patch when I Googled the Old Woodinville Grade School to see if there were any school alumni reunions planned. The article by piqued my interest in finding out more about the recent history of the school.

My name is Mary Wright Hurley and I attended the , kindergarten through the first half of the fifth grade. That would be 1948-1953 or there about. Our family moved to Puyallup and then Sumner where I began sixth grade at Wade Calvin Grade School. The Sumner High School class of 1961 is celebrating their 50th reunion this September.

The reason for my inquiry is that I remember many of my classmates and teachers while attending grade school in the old Woodinville Grade School building. Mrs. Gribble and Mrs. Sperry were my second and third grade teachers. My brother Larry who is two years younger remembers them also.

If I remember correctly, Woodinville didn't have a high school back then and the 9th-12th grades actually went to Bothell High School.
Are any old school history records archived on line that you could point me to so I may check them out myself?

Also, it seems logical that the Bothell High School class of 1961 would be holding their 50th reunion this year. I would like to get in touch with their organizing committee to see if some of our old grade school buddies will be attending.

I also remember that Margie Nichols was in my class and her family owned Nicols or Nicholson's greenhouse where Molbaks is today. We lived almost directly across the road from the greenhouse. We also attended the Methodist Church which I remember being close to the grade school on the other side of the road. Think that there was a little cemetery close by and railroad tracks too. Also remember one or two of the DeYoung boys were in my class. I have an old class picture from kindergarten or first grade showing everyone.

Any information you can forward to me would be very much appreciated. Maybe after some sleuthing I could write a little article for the Patch about the good old days.  Maybe we could organize a reunion of old grade school alumni and use it as a fundraiser to help save the building? Just a random thought!

Thank you, Mary