WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
SANTA CLARA SCHOOL
Santa Clara, Utah
LOCATION
On the southeast corner of the town square, just west of where the Relief Society House is.It no longer exists.
DESCRIPTION
The building had a rock foundation and walls of gray cement blocks.There were three large rooms and a library on the first floor and an amusement hall with a stage and dressing rooms on the upper floor. The amusement hall had a hardwood floor and some gymnastic apparatus.
For a floorplan, click here.
HISTORY
By 1912, the people of Santa Clara felt they had outgrown holding school in the old school/church building supplemented with classrooms in the Relief Society House and the new brick church building. So construction of a new dedicated school building was begun. The $12,000 cost was raised, half from the people of Santa Clara and half from the newly formed Washington County School District. Charles Cottam drew up the plans for the building. He was in charge of the carpentry work with assistance from Bert McQuarrie and Ephriam Webb. George Riding was in charge of the block and masonry work with the assistance of George Syphus and Chris Hammon. The building was completed late in 1913.Students from the new St. George Academy used to come over to use the gymnastic equipment and for parties and dances. Santa Clara had a town recreation committed and the School House, with its wonderful amusement hall and stage was always a center of activity.
This school was closed in 1972 and the students were moved over to the new Santa Clara Elementary School.
The building was torn down and the property used for expansion of the Santa Clara Ward chapel.
PHOTOS
WCHS-01844 The old Santa Clara School with students out in front
Other WCHS photos:
WCHS-01841 Photo of a model of the old Santa Clara School
WCHS-01842 Photo of a floorplan of the old Santa Clara School
WCHS-01843 Photo of the old Santa Clara School
WCHS-01845 Photo of the old Santa Clara School and Second Chapel about 1915
WCHS-02598 Photo of the old Santa Clara School
REFERENCES
Santa Clara Public Schools, 1862-1972: A Memory Book of Santa Clara SchoolsCompiled, edited, and typed by Joyce Wittwer Whittaker
Published for the Santa Clara Swiss Days, September 2000
History of Santa Clara, Utah: a Blossom in the Desert
Compiled and edited by Joyce Wittwer Whittaker
Published by the Santa Clara Historical Society, 2003
See pp. 395-397, "History of the Santa Clara Chapels"