10/22/2019
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse
Submitted by Janet Galliani
And Information from
Suzanne Hicklin, President Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Board
You may have seen or heard speculation on what the City has planned for the Waterfront in Old Sacramento, including the Schoolhouse. It has been stated that the Schoolhouse doesn’t do anything with or for Sacramento residents. Therefore, they want to tear it down. The Board was never informed of this action until reading it in the newspaper.
The following is the Board’s statement refuting this. Please share with friends and any organizations and any media or government sources.
What the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum does for Sacramento. It is not just a tourist stop in the historic area.
• Provides parties for children who attend the Mustard Seed School for homeless children
• Hosts children’s birthday parties, weddings, family reunions, memorial services and other public and private events
• Is affiliated with a Girl Scout Troop as well as a Rainbow Girl group and in the past has sponsored a Boy Scout Troop as well as a 4-H group
• Is a member of the Sacramento Area Museums and participates in their events, particularly Museum Day in February when more 1000 local visitors attend special programs
• Provides old-fashioned lessons for classes of children, particularly fourth grade when local history is included in the curriculum. There are two classrooms full 5 days a week during the school year.
• Sponsors a junior docent program for high school students to earn community service credit. The Met in SCUSD, Mira Loma in SJUSD and other high schools From West Sacramento and surrounding districts have participated
• Has participated in local and national fund-raising events – particularly disaster relief for the American Red Cross. Has collected sox, toys, children’s clothing and other necessities over the years
• Has been the setting for a year’s production of KVIE’s “Education in California” as well as other of the station’s productions
• Has participated in local and national fund-raising events – particularly disaster relief for the American Red Cross.
Other potential activities:
• Cal State Sacramento wants to set up an intern program with the Schoolhouse! Years ago they had a Recreation and Leisure Program and students helped with all the special events. When the instructor retired, she stayed on as a judge for the gingerbread houses.
• Channel 40 wants to do a segment on the proposed demolition of the schoolhouse. Barbara del Bonta and Del Bonta have been friends of the Schoolhouse for more than 20 years.
Historical Background:
Why there is a schoolhouse in Old Sacramento in the first place. Because there was a school there in the earliest days! Rev. Benton opened a school for the few children whose families followed the gold seekers to Sacramento. It was in a tent built from canvas sails from boats left on the Sacramento River by those off to the gold fields.
It was located on Front St. between K and L on what is state property. The site for the Schoolhouse was determined by the Housing & Redevelopment Agency after Ed Astone visited other restored 19th centuries cities in Findlay, Ohio, and Salisbury, N.C. He and architect Ted Leonard toured the Central CA hills and valleys looking at old one-room schools that might be moved or copied. They chose the Canon School in Yolo County to copy and the Schoolhouse was built on the Sacramento River where the City determined it wouldn’t interfere with other Redevelopment projects. Front St. ended there, with cottonwood trees across what is now the busy intersection of Front and Neasham Circle. There were also cottonwood trees along the river bank, and a concrete wall topped by chain link blocked any view of the River.
Since the Schoolhouse was dedicated on Admission Day in 1977, more than a million students have visited for lessons as they were taught at that period in history; numerous historical groups have contacted us for help in restoring/establishing similar programs. While Old Sacramento has changed over the years, the Schoolhouse has remained steadfast in welcoming visitors from all over the world who share their experiences. The Schoolhouse is a non-profit corporation, all volunteer-staffed, doesn’t charge admission. It would be a shame to demolish it. Dedicated in 1977, the Schoolhouse led the way for the other historical recreations and restorations in Sacramento’s historic area.
