Silver City School House
Lyon County, Lyon County, Nevada
Marker Inscription
Silver City School House. The growing town of Silver City built a schoolhouse at this site in 1867-1868. Enrollment was as high as 166 students during the 1880s. Children were educated here for nearly a century until the school closed in 1958.The building then began its career as the Silver City community center and volunteer fire department. The fire department parked trucks inside the south classroom. Community events took place in the north classroom.Fire destroyed the schoolhouse in 2004. The community center was built in 2007 on the same place. The new building closely resembles the old schoolhouse in size and architectural style. Materials from the original building are incorporated into the new structure.
Erected by Residents And Friends Of Silver City
The Story
The Comstock-era mining town of Silver City built a schoolhouse on this site in 1867–1868, and by the 1880s enrollment climbed as high as 166 students. It taught local children for nearly a century before closing in 1958, then served as a community center and volunteer fire station. A fire destroyed the schoolhouse in 2004; the community rebuilt on the same spot in 2007, echoing the old building's size and style and incorporating salvaged original materials.
Why it matters
It embodies the enduring role of the schoolhouse at the heart of a small mining community—and that community's determination to rebuild its landmark after loss.
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Themes & tags
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