From Country Schoolrooms to Pioneer Queen
By Steve Lent, Crook County Historian
Rosa Blanche McClun Hereford, known fondly as Blanche, was born on September 20, 1913, in Prineville, Oregon, at the home of her great uncle, Mack Cornett. Her early life was deeply rooted in the rural aspects of Crook County, where her parents, James and Rose (McDaniel) McClun, operated a farm north of Prineville.
Blanche spent her formative years immersed in the countryside, attending the Lower McKay School for five years before moving to Prineville schools. She even rode the county’s first school bus, a testament to the region’s evolving education system. Her high school years took her to Sweet Home, Oregon, where she graduated before pursuing teacher training at Oregon Normal School in Monmouth, earning her degree in 1933.
Blanche began her teaching career in earnest, returning to Crook County to educate students at the Lower Mill Creek School. Teaching grades one through eight in a single classroom was no small feat, especially for a young woman at the start of her career. Her initial salary was a modest $600 for an eight-month term—a reflection of the times. She later taught at Lone Pine School, where she inspired students of all ages with her dedication and resourcefulness.
However, societal norms of the era posed challenges. Married women were barred from teaching, a rule that forced Blanche to put her career on hold when she married Veryl “Jerry” Hereford on June 3, 1939, in Prineville’s First Baptist Church.
In 1940, the couple purchased a ranch at the base of Steins Pillar on Mill Creek, where they raised three children. Life on the ranch was rich with hard work and community, but Blanche’s passion for teaching never waned. When the district finally overturned the ban on married women teachers in 1956, she returned to the classroom at Ochoco Grade School, where she taught for 20 years.
Blanche faced life’s challenges with resilience. Following her divorce from Jerry in 1968, she continued to manage her portion of the ranch, maintaining the family home while staying active in her community. She became a vital member of the Lookout Mountain Grange and remained deeply involved with the Prineville First Baptist Church.
In 1992, Blanche’s legacy as a community icon was honored when she was named Crook County Pioneer Queen. Her life was marked by an enduring curiosity and a commitment to others, whether in the classroom, at home, or in her broader community.
In 1997, Blanche moved into Prineville, where she continued to live a full and vibrant life. She passed away on December 15, 2004, in Woodland, Washington, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, strength, and service. She was laid to rest in Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville—a fitting final chapter for a woman whose life was so intertwined with the land and people of Crook County.