Good Morning, Mr. Rogers: Early Prescott Schools

School House
Prescott Free Academy
Washington School
Lincoln School
Miller Valley School

An on-line version of an exhibit currently on display in the Archives Department of the Sharlot Hall Museum

Click on any image with a border to display the image in much higher resolution at the Arizona Memory Project Website. You can pan, zoom and e-mail the photos.

Close-up photo of students

We are interested in stories of our local schools. Did you attend Washington School, Lincoln School, Miller Valley School or any other grade school in Yavapai County? Please take a moment to send us your memories.

Read
Lincoln School Memories

Additional background on Samuel Curtis Rogers and
why the exhibit bears his name is available in this Days Past article.

Between 1864 and 1930, Prescott's educational system progressed with the growing needs of the community. Private education was offered to families in homes and other buildings as early as 1864. In late 1864, the First Territorial Legislature provided $250.00 in matching funds for the establishment of a school system in four communities around the territory, including Prescott. Prescott was the only community to use the funds for education. The generous pioneer families of Prescott secured sufficient funding and able teachers to make the Prescott school system the finest in the territory.

School House

Samuel C. Rogers, the first Secretary of School District #1, claimed to have built the 'pioneers school house' on Granite Creek around 1867 to provide private schooling to the residents and their children. There were no iron stoves available, so the children spent their recesses hauling stones from the creek to build a fireplace. The school was not graded; students progressed at their own pace. It is generally perceived as the first school in Prescott. The original building burned in 1948. A replica, built in 1962, stands on the grounds of Sharlot Hall Museum.