Sonoma in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Sonoma Community Center

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 29, 2017

1. The Sonoma Community Center Marker

Inscription. This historic 1916 landmark, now the Sonoma Community Center, was the original home of the Sonoma Grammar School. It was purchased by Dr. Carroll Andrews and donated to the people of Sonoma in 1952.
The center is a non-profit run by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors relying entirely on the Community for its support. For 50 years the Center has enriched the lives of the People of Sonoma Valley by fostering a broad range of cultural, educational, recreational, and community service activities.

Erected 2002 by Native Sons of the Golden West.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 38° 17.496′ N, 122° 27.156′ W. Marker is in Sonoma, California, in Sonoma County. Marker is on East Napa Street near 3rd Street East, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 284 East Napa Street, Sonoma CA 95476, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Trinity Episcopal Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ray Adobe (about 600 feet away); Blue Wing Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Samuele Sebastiani Vineyard and Winery

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Vasquez House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Duhring Building – 1891 (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Poppe-Parmelee Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mission San Francisco Solano (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sonoma.

Additional commentary.
1. National Register of Historic Places
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Sonoma Grammar School on November 28, 1980 (Listing #80000871). The nomination form read, in part:

Sonoma Grammar School - built in 1916 and designed by architect A. G. Lutgens in the Classical Revival style and splendidly preserved - is the only building of its kind in Sonoma. It is the largest brick structure in town and likely the last of its kind that will ever be built in this area. When it was constructed, it was the grandest building in Sonoma, and its construction must have strained the resources of this small, rural community.

For over thirty years, until building code changes forced the building's abandonment as a school, the grade school children of Sonoma learned in this building

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 29, 2017

2. The Sonoma Community Center Marker

This property
Sonoma Grammar School
has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior City of Sonoma Historic Building
Sonoma Grammar School
1916
City of Sonoma/ Sonoma Valley Rotary

the fundamentals of education, democracy, and Americanism. The school was a "melting pot" where the children of parents who often could not speak English learned to work and play together and respect one another's differences.

Although it is no longer operated as an educational facility, the building continues to play an important part in the recreational, cultural, and intellectual life of the Sonoma Valley as the home of the Sonoma Community Center.

— Submitted June 14, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California.

The Sonoma Community Center Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 29, 2017

3. The Sonoma Community Center Markers

The Sonoma Community Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 29, 2017

4. The Sonoma Community Center

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 29, 2017

5. The Sonoma Community Center

The Sonoma Grammar School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sonoma Community Center

6. The Sonoma Grammar School

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 267 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 10, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.