Watson School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Watson School
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Watson School
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Bodega, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000800 |
| Added to NRHP | August 18, 1978 |
Watson School is a special historic park in Sonoma County, California. It covers about 0.75 acres and is located near Bodega, California. This park is managed by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department.
The school building is very old and important. In 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
History of Watson School
The land for Watson School was given by James Watson in 1855. He wanted a school for children from nearby towns like Freestone, Bodega, and Valley Ford.
The school opened in 1856. It was a one-room schoolhouse, meaning all students learned in a single classroom. Watson School taught students for 111 years, until 1967. This makes it the longest-running one-room school in California's history. The building still stands today, looking much like it did when it first opened.
Recognizing its Importance
In 1976, Watson School was named Sonoma County Landmark #23. This means it was recognized as a very important place in the county. Two years later, in 1978, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This shows its importance to the entire country.
The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Visitors can find picnic tables and signs. These signs tell the story of the school. They also mention the 1976 Running Fence art project. This famous art project was created by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Restoring the Schoolhouse
In 2011, a special gift helped restore the school. Daniel B. Furlong, who was in the school's last graduating class, left money for its repair. Many of his family members also went to Watson School.
During the winter of 2011-2012, the school was carefully restored. Workers replaced the old wood foundation with a stronger concrete one. They also made other important repairs to keep the building safe and sound.
Salmon Creek forms the southern edge of the park.
