Ninety years strong: Beaver-Main Elementary celebrates a legacy of learning

In 1936, as Americans listened to swing music on the radio, followed headlines about the New Deal, and watched the nation slowly emerge from the Great Depression, a new schoolhouse opened its doors in rural Columbia County. Built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Beaver-Main School represented more than bricks and mortar; it embodied hope, progress and a belief that strong communities are built on strong schools.
Ninety years later, Beaver-Main Elementary School is still doing exactly that.

On the 90th day of the current school year, the school marked its 90th anniversary with a student activity afternoon that brought learning, laughter and history together under one roof. From 12:45 to 2:30 p.m., classrooms and common spaces were transformed into activity stations and centers, offering students a chance to celebrate the milestone in ways that were joyful, hands-on and age-appropriate. Students rotated through board games, obstacle course racing, art activities and a crowd-favorite Beaver Bob dance that kept energy high throughout the afternoon. Organizers included the entire school staff, parents and Bloomsburg high school students enrolled in the CTE Education program. The afternoon concluded with a schoolwide gathering in the cafeteria, where students joined in singing “Happy Birthday” to their school and enjoyed a birthday treat, an appropriately simple and meaningful ending to a special day. As one fourth-grade artist shared, “We are very proud of our school. Our teachers are amazing, and we have learned so much about our school. And no, none of our teachers were here when our school was built.”

Beaver-Main Elementary School is located in Beaver Township and serves families from both Beaver and Main Townships. When it opened in 1936, however, its mission was far broader. The WPA-built school was designed to consolidate seven one-room schoolhouses scattered across the rural townships. At the time, Beaver-Main housed grades 1 through 12, providing a centralized educational home for students who had previously learned in small, multi-age classrooms often located miles apart.

That consolidation reflected a larger statewide and national shift in education. Centralized schools offered amenities the one-room buildings could not: indoor plumbing, gymnasiums, specialized classrooms and grade-level instruction. For many families, Beaver-Main represented an opportunity to bring modern education within walking distance or a short trip from home. Remnants of that earlier era can still be found today, as some former one-room schoolhouses in Columbia County have been preserved as private residences or community spaces, recognizable by their bell towers along quiet backroads.

In 1956, Beaver-Main became part of the Bloomsburg Area School District. At that time, secondary students began traveling to Bloomsburg for their education, and the building transitioned to a fully functioning elementary school. That role continues today, nearly seven decades later.

While its purpose has evolved, Beaver-Main’s commitment to excellence has remained constant. The school operates on a six-day schedule and offers a well-rounded program that includes expressive arts such as art, music, technology and physical education. Its efforts have not gone unnoticed. Beaver-Main has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s top-performing Title I schools, earning High Achievement Awards in both the 2016–17 and 2017–18 academic years for ranking in the top 5% of Title I schools statewide.

The anniversary celebration extends beyond students and staff. A community-wide 90th birthday event is planned for Thursday, March 12, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The evening is open to parents, alums, community members, and anyone with a connection to, or curiosity about, the school’s history. Light hors d’oeuvres, activities and a short video highlighting Beaver-Main’s story through the decades will be featured, offering attendees a chance to reflect on how the school has shaped generations of learners.

From its origins as a WPA project to its present-day role as a high-achieving elementary school, Beaver-Main has remained a constant in a changing world. As it celebrates 90 years, the school stands as a reminder that while times, tools, and teaching methods may change, the heart of a school, its students, educators and community, will endure.