Celebrate the Splendor of Autumn!

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are just three staples awaiting Autumn on Parade visitors at the newly renovated Chana School, located on River Road at Oregon Park East. The 120-year-old school will be open for free public tours on Saturday October 2, 2010, from 9 am to 3 pm. Food and beverages as well as Chana School memorabilia will be for sale at the site during the weekend. Area children will also be dressed in period clothing as they simulate a typical school day from the late 1890s.

The Chana School, constructed in 1883, was once an active part of Ogle County's educational process. This school is very special because it was the only two room wooden school built in the area during Victorian times. One classroom was used for lower grades and the other room was used for students through grade eight. This structure remained an active part of the Chana School District until the early 1960's.

After that time, it housed an overflow classroom and a bus garage. In 1963, the classroom was boarded up as a final closure to many years of educating local children.

In 1998, the Chana School was slated to be torn down to make way for the construction of a new school. The Chana School Foundation was formed by local citizens to raise funds to save the historic structure, move it to a new location, and restore the building for use as a museum and education center.

During the summer of 1998, the building was cut in half and moved seven miles to its new location in Oregon. The structure was reassembled, given a new cedar shingle roof and the process of restoring the building to its original 1883 appearance was begun. Thanks greatly to the efforts of many community volunteers the Chana School restoration is nearing completion.

Visitors to Autumn on Parade are encouraged to stop by the school to view history in the making.

The school is also featured on the Oregon Chamber of Commerce's 2003 commemorative Christmas ornament.

The Chana School is located on River Road just north of Illinois 64.