WILSON, Wyo. — In anticipation of Old Bill’s Fun Run, their biggest fundraising event of the year, the Old Wilson Schoolhouse reflects back on its rich history, while also looking ahead towards its future.
Long-time local Gene Linn (76) loves sharing memories of attending the original Wilson School, a little log schoolhouse situated at the base of Teton Pass and built in 1930.
“My parents used to drop us off in the winter, but the principal was coming in from Alta,” Linn said. “He wasn’t there yet when we got to school. We would all be dressed for the weather and play in the snow until it started.”
According to Linn, the fun didn’t stop once the school day began.
“There was a rope tow stored in the basement,” Linn recounted. “In the winter, we would take the rope tow over to the Huidekoper’s and go ski for a while after lunch. In the warmer months, [my friend] Dwayne and I would go fishing over lunch with our homemade fishing poles that we would stash by the bridge near Stearnie’s (the original Hungry Jack’s General Store).”
In addition to encouraging outdoor play over lunch, the Wilson school staff also instilled a love of music in their students.
“Citizenship Day would happen once a week,” Linn shared. “A stage was stored in the basement. All the boys would carry it up and put it in the first and second grade room. The principal and his wife would play instruments and we would sing our favorite songs.”
Over the years, the original two-room schoolhouse expanded to accommodate a growing student population. However, in 1999, the Wilson School was decommissioned, and the new Wilson Elementary School took over the baton for educating elementary students west of the Snake River. Following the decommission, community members organized to save the historic Wilson School building from demolition. Proponents for preservation decided to remove the additions and return the structure closer to the original two room log design. Working under a grant from the Wyoming Business Council, community members completed the renovations and established a non-profit organization to operate the schoolhouse as a community center.
Currently, the Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center is a bustling hub of community activity, hosting Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, church, senior fitness classes, the private Pumpkin Patch preschool and countless other community non-profit, educational, government and private events throughout the year. Gene Linn remains a frequent fixture at the community center’s free, intergenerational gatherings.
“I always get a huge kick out of going to the school now,” Linn said. “It’s a good memory for us … [and] brings back a lot of good times.”
The community center’s mission is grounded in preservation and community building. According to Amanda Moyer, the non-profit’s executive director, “The community used the schoolhouse 733 times last year for a wide range of causes. The board and I care deeply about preserving this historic Wilson landmark for future generations and offering a true community space. We love seeing familiar and new faces walk through our doors every week. As Wilson evolves, the little red schoolhouse continues to be the hub where people come together.”
To learn more about the Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center, visit www.oldwilsonschool.com.
