As students head back to school, it’s a good time to remember the roots of public education in Mendocino. In the 1980s, the Mendocino Genealogy Society sponsored a project titled What Became of the Little Red Schoolhouse? to document the many schools (over 200!) that existed in Mendocino County at one time or another. The following excerpt details the founding of Mendocino’s first school in the 19th century.
When families began arriving in Mendocino in the 1850’s and 60’s the need for a school became evident.
The first public school building, far right, circa 1867. Kelley House Collection.
The first record found of a school in Mendocino was of a private school started by the Fords, in 1860, for their children and others, including the Lansings, Kents, and Chalfants. It was housed in a small building, a portion of the Freundt House, which was situated on the bluff behind the Ford house. The first teacher was Miss Ames, but soon an old maid schoolteacher, a friend of the Ford family, from Stratford, Connecticut, was hired.
The Big River District was approved by the board of supervisors in May 1859, bounded on the north by the county line, on the south by Mal Pasa, on the east by the Coast Range and the west by the Pacific Ocean. Later numerous divisions were made and in 1909 the name was changed to the Mendocino School District.
The following information is from the original notebook on the formation of the first public school, on file in the archives at the Kelley House Museum.
A meeting was held at the Church [Mendocino’s first church, located on the northeast corner of Lansing and Ukiah streets] on the evening of Oct. 3rd, 1861, for the purpose of taking measures to erect a Public Schoolhouse.
William Heeser Esq. was called to act as chairman and Rev. D.M. McClure as Secretary.
It was resolved that immediate arrangements be made to build a Schoolhouse and that J.B. Ford, D.F. Lansing, and Jack Rice be appointed a committee to raise funds and superintend the erection of the same. On motion a subscription paper was opened and those present were invited to subscribe.
It was resolved that the lot on the east of the Church be accepted from Capt. D.F. Lansing as the site for the School House, valued at $100. Mendocino Lumber Company gave the lumber valued at $250. The balance of the cost was donated by residents in the area. The total cost of lot, building, paint, and furniture was $839. The total sum raised was $837.50 with the trustees making up the difference.
At a meeting held at the newly built schoolhouse in January 1862, J.B. Ford was elected clerk of said meeting. The meeting was called to elect three school trustees. Elected were Wm. H. Kelley, D.F. Lansing, and John Rice for the ensuing year. In July John Rice resigned and was replaced by J.B. Ford.
It was voted to accept the newly built schoolhouse from the building committee and for the trustees to hire a teacher to commence school immediately. Subsequently Miss Pheobe Ames was engaged to teach. School commenced on the first of February 1862 and held [for] 7 weeks.
The expenses of this school were met by ‘rate bills.’ [school fees collected from each pupil]
Classes opened again on August 4th and closed October 31st, 1862. The teacher was Binja F. Hatch. Enrolled: 13 boys, 7 girls. As enrollment increased classes were also held on the ground floor of the Masonic Temple located nearby.
On June 27, 1868, a meeting was held at the Big River School House. The new Presbyterian Church has been built, and a vote was taken to acquire the old church for a District School House and arrange it for that purpose as soon as funds can be raised by subscription or otherwise.
The Kelley House Museum is open Thursday-Monday 11am-3pm. Tickets are now available for the Oktoberfest Homebrewing Demonstration & Beer Tasting at the Kelley House on September 13.