When School Bells Rang - Schools of Benton County by Marlene McDonald captures some of the flavor of the old schools of Benton County. 

The school bells of the east quickly turned into the school bells of the west for children who crossed the continent with the wagon trains.  The first community building raised was frequently the school, often used as a church, social hall, wedding chapel and funeral parlor.

Over 250 former teachers and students were interviewed contributing a wealth of photographs and memories which Marlene McDonald has captured before the infinitely precious, indefinable something of the 1880's and 1890's rural school child was lost.

Marlene McDonald is herself a fifth generation Oregonian who attended a 2-room country school at Harlan in Lincoln County and taught a one-room school in Alaska.  Her great-great grandparents, William and Asenath Blodget came to the Philomath area in 1847 and settled in what soon became known as Blodget's Valley, now Blodgett.

A gem of history captured!  At one time Benton County had nearly 100 school districts, the vast number containing one-room country schoolhouses. 

Additional Photographs are of the Blodgett and Summit Schools.  The book has dozens wonderful old photographs of the rural schools of Benton County including Wren, Hoskins and Harris Schools.