Overview:
The original Bend Union High School, which opened in 1925 after a narrow bond vote, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a public open house on Sept. 27. Now serving as the Bend-La Pine Education Center, the historic brick building has evolved from educating high school students to housing the district's administrative offices while remaining a cornerstone of the community.
A century ago, downtown Bend celebrated as the city’s new high school — a grand earth-toned brick building nestled among towering ponderosa pines — welcomed its first students. Today, that same structure — now the Bend-La Pine Education Center — sits in the heart of downtown Bend as the district’s administrative hub and a living monument to the city’s educational legacy.
To mark 100 years of service, Bend-La Pine Schools will host a public open house on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 am to 4 pm. at 520 N.W. Wall Street. The event will include tours, music, food and displays highlighting a building that has grown alongside the city itself, from a booming lumber town of 5,400 residents in 1920 to a regional hub of more than 100,000 today.
Born from Bend’s boom
The original Bend Union High School opened on Sept. 7, 1925, after voters narrowly approved a $209,000 bond the previous year, passing by just 16 votes. Hugh A. Thompson designed the school and E.P. Brosterhous constructed it, the same builder behind the original St. Charles Medical Center, Kenwood School and other Bend landmarks, according to historical documents. The building showcased the sophisticated American and English Renaissance styles popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The building had an impressive E-shaped layout along a long central hallway. Rounded archways, tall columns and decorative trim decorated the outside.
The improvements kept coming after the school opened, and by July 1926, they’d added a 10-foot fountain, sprinkler systems for the lawns, tennis courts and a playground, really showing how much the school meant to the community.
Educating through the eras
By 1930, education had become Bend’s second-largest industry, following lumber. That same year, the high school adopted its now-iconic mascot: the Lava Bear. The name’s origin is still debated: Some say it was inspired by small bears found in local lava caves; others believe it began as a prank involving animal skins and TNT.
The school remained central to student life in Bend for decades. An excerpt from the 1930 senior class yearbook captures the era’s tone: “Dorothy Loomis leaves her stylish ways to anyone who can afford the upkeep. Cora Ellen Baker leaves her raven curls…”
The building continued to serve high school students until Sept. 10, 1956, when the high school moved to its current Sixth Street location. Cascade Junior High took over the Wall Street facility in 1957.
Betty Renk, who attended Cascade Junior High from 1959 to 1962, recalled fond memories of her time there. “My favorite classes were science and home economics, taught by Mrs. Bucknum, who had very proper High Tea for her ninth grade girls in her home,” Renk shared in a reflection for the district. “It was amazing—we all dressed up, and it was so fun. Also, who can forget the Friday lunchtime dances? There are so many more memories of those wonderful years.”
The building even played a role in higher education. In 1949, Central Oregon Community College held its first classes there, cementing its status as a cornerstone of education in the region.
Saturday’s centennial celebration will be both a historical retrospective and a community gathering. Visitors can explore displays of memorabilia, take guided tours of the building and enjoy performances and food that honor the school’s enduring legacy.
Historic preservation and continued use
In 1979, the facility was converted into the Bend-La Pine Schools Administration Building. Despite changes in its function, the structure has retained much of its architectural grandeur. In 1993, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the building continues to serve the community in a new role, housing the district’s administrative offices and preserving the educational spirit that has defined it for a century.
Community celebration
“The Bend-La Pine Education Center isn’t just a building—it’s the story of Bend itself,” said district officials in a statement. “It has evolved along with our city, and it continues to be a place where education, community and history meet.”
As the city moves forward, the Bend-La Pine Education Center stands as a reminder of how far it has come—and a symbol of how education continues to shape its future.
Centennial Anniversary Open House
Sat., Sept. 27, 1pm-4pm
Bend-La Pine Education Center
520 NW Wall St., Bend
Free
This article appears in the Source September 25, 2025.
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