Mitchell Gym

Blog reader Buck has been promising to pass along photos of Mitchell for weeks and over the weekend, he finally delivered. Here he delivers four nice shots of the Mitchell high school gymnasium.

Buck spoke with a longtime resident and former student at Mitchell and is able to pass along some additional information on the gym. His source believes the gym was completed in the early 1950’s, perhaps 1953. He was not aware of a playoff game hosted by Mitchell but he did remember a few instances that Spray and Dayville or Monument would meet in a playoff game in Mitchell as MHS was essentially the middle point between the towns.

For more information and to see the photos, click the “Read More” link.

Guests pulling into the parking lot at the Mitchell high school gym will see a white, weather beaten facility with large blue letters spelling out “Loggers” on the side. Though it could stand a coat of paint, the outside of the gym oozes character and small town charm. It reminds me of one of the gyms the Hickory Huskers would have played in on their way to a state championship in the movie, “Hoosiers.”

The inside looks like a cramped, hot place. With just two rows of bleachers on one side, it gives the impression that it wouldn’t be a comfortable place to watch a game with a big crowd on hand. Like many of the gyms built during that era, the facility features a stage on one end that serves as an additional viewing area when the small bleacher seating reaches capacity.

I love the barn-like pointed ceiling and the support beams looming halfway down the walls. The curved side baskets scream 1950’s to me. The actual floor looks nice if perhaps a tad narrow.


Another aspect I like of Mitchell’s gym (and other gyms) is the flags and banners hanging on the walls honoring the successes of previous teams. It looks like the Loggers took home three Tri-Co League Championships in the early 00’s.


The town of Mitchell was founded in the 1860’s as a stage-stop along the Dalles Military Road one of the most important roads in Oregon history. The Dalles Military Road carried passengers, mail and goods from The Dalles inland to the gold fields and military outposts of central and eastern Oregon. The road passes right through Mitchell’s downtown area.

Mitchell is located in Wheeler County along Highway 26, east of Madras. Highway 207 begins north of town and takes travelers to Highway 19 where they can head east to Spray or northwest to Fossil, Condon and eventually, Arlington.


Thanks to Buck for the photos and his name and photos were used with permission.