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Firehouse goes to school Couple's gift benefits Grace Christian By VICKI GUARINO Santa made a pre-Christmas delivery to Grace Christian School in Medford on Monday, leaving a gift sure to surprise hundreds of students when they return from vacation -- a new building. A model firehouse, bright red and kid-sized right down to the doors and shiny brass slide pole, will be the new reading room for the private school's primary grades. The gift of a Grace Christian family might as well have come by flying sleigh. Standing in for the eight reindeer, an 80-ton crane lifted the miniature two-story house 98 feet over classrooms to set it down in the school's interior garden courtyard. John and Marilyn Duke, of Rogue River, donated the building. They have a grandchild enrolled in Grace Christian's pre-kindergarten. The Dukes bought the model firehouse at the Providence Festival of Trees show, an annual fund-raiser for the Providence Community Health Foundation. Decked out with make-believe snow, holiday decorations and a life-size toy dalmatian, the model -- dubbed "Ye Olde Firehouse" -- had been a centerpiece of the holiday decorating festival. Ye Olde Firehouse was built as a community contribution by 35 businesses and individuals coordinated by the Home Builders Association of Jackson County. The Dukes offered the play firehouse to the school after the show closed. "We knew right away we could tie this into the school's fire safety and reading groups," said Grace Christian School Superintendent Ray Johnson. As Johnson was making plans, his two young daughters were making early use of the playroom. First-grader Rachel and third-grader Andrea shimmied up the pole to the loft and tested the gear: The building not only is furnished but outfitted with matching sets of play fire hats, slickers and boots. "We haven't tried on the boots; we tried on the hats," Andrea said. Because of their father, the girls said, they knew all about the firehouse before everyone left for Christmas break. Most of their friends, however, won't be expecting to see a miniature firehouse in the courtyard when classes resume. Andrea and Rachel predict Ye Olde Firehouse will be a popular place. It arrives at a time when space is at a premium at the fast-growing school. Grace Christian has more than 700 students in pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. "We use every nook and cranny," said school development director Sharon Skundrick. And while tuition covers the education basics, she said, "Anything extra is granted graciously by donors." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA