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Featured Story, THE 1907 GOLDFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Plans for a two-story school building, with twelve rooms, located on the corner of Euclid and Ramsey streets, were first announced in the Goldfield Daily Tribune on December 8, 1906.

The cornerstone was laid August 4, 1907 at 3 P.M., and done with the full ritual of the Masonic Order. A silver trowel made from Comstock silver was used for laying cornerstones of all the most important buildings in Nevada for about 30 years prior. Mortar was spread on top of the stone, first pouring corn as the symbol of the heavenly bounty, second, wine as the symbol of joy and gladness, third, pouring oil, symbolic of divine peace and finished with a prayer.

At a cost of $100,000, the newly completed Goldfield High School opened with an unofficial dedication on November 18, 1907.  The informal dedication consisted of raising the flag over the building for the first time and releasing of two snow-white doves from the furls of the emblem, as it took its place on the staff.  The students gathered on the avenue and raised their voices in the inspiring air of “America”.

                                                  Pictured right - Goldfield School 1st grade 1929-30-->


The official dedication January 31, 1908 opened with the invocation given by the Rev. Holterman and closed with an address  given by the Rev. Father Dermody. In between was much oratory, from such notables as Senator H. V. Morehouse and former Principal Mrs. Mary McLaughlin Hatton, and a vocal solo by Miss Sara Strain.

The 3-story structure was designed by J.B. Randall. It has a floor area of over 19,656 square feet. The interior has 12 classrooms, an auditorium, 2 offices, 2 bathrooms, 4 storage rooms, an extra-large attic and a seating capacity of 450. The first year’s enrollment was 125 students and about 25 faculty members. 

Goldfield had built four schools between the years 1906-1908. As Goldfield’s population dwindled so did the need for all of the schools. By 1918 three of the schools had closed and all of the grades held classes in the High School. By 1947 the 9th –12th graders were bussed to Tonopah High School and only the lower classes were left using the ground floor classrooms. In 1953 the elementary school across the street was completed and the high school building was abandoned due to its weakening foundation. 

GOLDFIELD HIGH SCHOOL PRESERVATION PROGRESS

The Goldfield Historical Society continues its efforts to save the Goldfield High School, with a grant from the National Park Service Save America's Treasures(SAT) program, a partial matching grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation(NTHP) building restoration program, funds from private individuals and volunteer labor.

Last year the Society matched SAT funds with one-half of the NTHP funds, along with funds from private donations and fundraising events to undertake initial emergency stabilization of the building.  Temporary timber shoring was installed on both the interior and exterior of the building.  Temporary timbers were also placed against unstable exterior walls and tied with steel cable and rods to the stable interior of the building.  This work was completed in December.

This year, the Society will again match SAT funds with the remainder of the NTHP funds, private donations and fundraising dollars, to commission a Historic Interiors Survey to document the interior of the building and plan an approach for its preservation.  Additionally, plans will be developed to support the unstable south-side floors and roof.

Once the NTHP funds are exhausted, the Society will have utilized all of its matching-funds grant money.  We will still have over $250,000 in SAT funds available until November of this year.  Historically, the State matches these SAT funds, but are currently unable to do so due to current economic conditions.

The High School is still in jeopardy of major structural failure.  Further stabilization and weatherizing are needed to save it.  With the November deadline fast approaching, the Society will do its best to solicit private donations, host fundraising events and pursue grant funding to match our remaining SAT funds. This will be a daunting task.  Please help us in any way that you can.  Thank you.

Goldfield High School restoration project:  
For every dollar contribution, the National Park Service will match  a dollar with the Save America Treasures funding that was granted in 2008. All contributions provide funding  for restoration of the Goldfield High School.

The Goldfield Historical Society is a tax-exempt organization under IRS Code Section 501(c)3 as well as a tax-exempt under Nevada State Law. (Gifts to the Goldfield Historical Society are deductible to the extent allowable by law, Tax Id. #88-0192171)

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