When we first arrived in Elk, the Greenwood Elementary School was in a crisis.  A one-room school (with quonset hut for additional activities, they were down to an enrollment of only about eight kids -- and they legally needed eleven in order to stay open.  There were plans in the works to close the Elk school and bus the little kids into Mendocino with the older kids. 

 

Kendrick Petty, who runs the Greenwood Pier Inn, just had one or two rental houses in those days, (the cafe was just a tiny diner) and he had one larger house that he'd tried to keep open until he could find a family big enough to possibly keep the Elk school open.  Just as he was about to give up, who should appear looking for a place but Hannah Hughes -- and her many children.  With three grammar school age children still, Ed, Mark and Eileen -- the school was able to remain open.  

 

To celebrate Mom's 80th, and to acknowledge her subtle but undeniable contributions to her community, I contacted the teacher at the Elk School and told her the story and asked if they'd like to have Mom over for a little birthday party.  The teacher thought it was a great idea, and these are some pictures of that get-together.  The school's enrollment has swelled to as much as 18 or 22, I think (Carson was eventually one of them).  Currently, though, there are only 8 students -- but from K-3 -- the 4th graders start to bus into the larger school in Mendocino.  If the school hadn't been kept open, what are the chances that it ever would have been reopened?  Thanks to the serendipity of Mama choosing to move to the Coast when she did, several generations of Elk school kids have been able to stay close to home, and enjoy a unique small-school environment.  (And thanks to Kendrick for waiting it out and renting to us!)