Port Stanley School Now Available for Public Use

Lopezians now have a new space to hold meetings, workshops, and community activities. More than a year since the process began, the Lopez Island Historical Society’s occupancy permit for the Port Stanley School has been approved. The restored historical landmark, with its wood floors, bright paint, and pristine grounds, is now available for public use.

The School can be used 25 days per year for activities other than those of the Lopez Island Historical Society (LIHS). Of those 25 days, seven can be for functions that are not non-profit. LIHS will set usage fees at its next board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Mark Thompson-Klein, Lopez Historical Museum director, began the permit process in August 2003, and says “We’ve had interest from people who want to teach painting classes, hold meetings, rehearse dance performances, and have a wedding.”

In addition to its duties as an occasional exhibit space for the Historical Museum, the Port Stanley School has been serving as a storage and workshop space for the Museum, but as the occupancy permit requires that both doors of the building be fully accessible, a small building will be built on the School grounds for storage.

The School is also receiving a new 30-space parking area, funded by a grant from the Washington State Historical Society, which should be completed in several weeks. Although the grant was awarded over a year ago, it has taken that long for the “details to be worked out with the County and the State.”

You can see the Port Stanley School in action during the Historical Society’s annual meeting on Dec. 5 from 2-4pm.

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