It was a modest turnout for a city-sponsored open house Wednesday, held to gauge support for restoration of a vacant house in Redmond that may be one of its earliest schoolhouses.

Supporters of the building, which is currently sited in the Dry Canyon park system, are trying to garner enough momentum to save the house from relocation and keep it in public hands.

“Have we explored all the options or are we running down a bunch of rabbit holes?” Redmond City Councilor Camden King asked the audience to consider.

The house was slated for demolition a few years ago after an effort to find anyone to move the house was unsuccessful. Research into the house’s history, however, revealed that it was moved to its present spot in the canyon more than 40 years ago from its original location downtown, where it was thought to have served as a schoolhouse for less than a year in Redmond’s pioneer days.

According to Community Development Director Heather Richards, while it’s impossible to know absolutely that the structure is the 1905 home used as a school, research by her office and others leaves her “75-80 percent” certain.

Two years of effort on the part of the city’s Historic Landmarks Committee to find a private entity willing to improve the building and operate a complementary business was unsuccessful. When an investor offered to move the house and restore it to a historically accurate home — if it was built in 1905 it would be one of Redmond’s oldest — the City Council opted to give the home one more chance to serve in a public capacity instead.

Several attendees suggested the city find a business, such as a cafe or coffee shop, to use the home in its current location.

“I’d say the temperament of the city right now is we are not interested in the management or operation of the structure,” said King.

Mayor George Endicott concurred, saying that the city’s experience as a landlord hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing.

“We’ve struggled to make our kiosk in Centennial Park work since we’ve put it in, even though it’s in a very visible and busy location,” he said. The restroom/food building is owned by the city and has had two occupants in the last three years. “I’m not convinced that any business can make a go of it down in the canyon.”

The city also owns a 1912 train depot it paid to restore that is currently empty after cycling through two restaurant tenants in the last eight years.

“There are lots of ways the building can be used, but we need to figure out how it will be funded and staffed,” said Richard Lance, a Redmond Parks commissioner working with a group called Save Our School. “I’m not convinced we will know those answers by January.”

The City Council put the matter in its Jan. 28 meeting agenda, hoping supporters for the school can develop a clear strategy by then.

Kris Rees, a Redmond-area real estate agent, isn’t certain enough can be done by the January deadline, but she’s willing to try. Rees worked to preserve Bend’s Tower Theatre and the Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher house on Mirror Pond. She said she thinks historical buildings bring a community together.

Two big challenges face the schoolhouse effort that are unique to its Redmond location, said Rees. Philanthropy is stronger in Bend, where pockets are deeper, and there’s already been a concerted effort on the part of many people in Redmond to find a solution for the schoolhouse, with little luck.

Bill Groesz, of Redmond, suggested the Redmond Museum would be a perfect occupant for the home. City staff said the museum is interested but has no money for restoration, which is estimated at $125,000. The house’s modest 1,000 square feet also limits its uses, said Community Development Director Heather Richards.

Several suggestions from the attendees involved using city funds for restoration or maintenance of the house, and King cautioned them to think about what the most appropriate use of tax dollars might be.

“Hire another police officer or fix up the schoolhouse?” he asked rhetorically.

Joanne Sutherland, a retired Redmond city manager and community volunteer, added to that train of thought. “In my experience, it might not be hard to raise money or even to get volunteers, but when it comes down to finding the money every year in the budget, it’s less clear. What box of money would you take the funds for the schoolhouse from?”

Lance had some optimism for a community outreach effort, adding that the difference between the current movement and the actions taken by the city and Landmarks Commission is that SOS intends to knock on doors and directly approach individuals and businesses, rather than issue an invitation and wait for someone to come forward.

“In my experience, no community ever gets passionate about historical preservation until it’s almost too late,” said Rees. “We’ve got to really raise awareness.”

— Reporter: lpugmire@bendbulletincom; 541-548-2186