George Miller was one of the first settlers to bring children to Bellevue, arriving in Beaux Arts in 1883 with his wife and five children. When Albert Burrows and his family settled in nearby Killarney, Miller saw an opportunity that would continue to attract settlers to the area. With seven children between them, Miller and Burrows asked the county superintendent for funds with which to build a school. In 1883 Burrows completed a 10’ by 12’ schoolhouse on the west side of 108th Avenue S.E., just north of S.E. 25th Street. A prolific carpenter, he also constructed the desks and three 12” x 48” blackboards. His eldest daughter Calanthia was the school’s first teacher, receiving $40 for a three-month school term.

To learn more about Bellevue and Eastside history, contact the Eastside Heritage Center at 425-450-1049 or visit www.EastsideHeritageCenter.org.