Greenwood in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Greenwood School House

Photographed by Jerry Stinson

1. The Greenwood School House Marker

Inscription. The first school house in Greenwood was located yards from this location. It burned down in 1855. In 1858 the Greenwood School District was established and this one room school house was built by the community. It remained open from 1859 to 1954. This building has also served the Greenwood community as a meeting hall, a polling site, an emergency shelter and the old school bell was used to alert inhabitants in the area to natural disasters. The school was closed in 1954 and all the students from Greenwood were transferred to Cool. After the school closed, the bell was incorporated into the California State Historic Landmark for the town of Greenwood. The property was purchased by the community in 1957. It remains open as a public meeting place and park. The preservation efforts of the Greenwood Civic Organization, The Georgetown Divide Recreation District and the Native Sons of the Golden West, has preserved this piece of California's history so that in may continue to benefit the community.

Erected 2016 by Native Sons of the Golden West. (Marker Number GPY 139-11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker

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is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 38° 53.847′ N, 120° 54.757′ W. Marker is in Greenwood, California, in El Dorado County. It can be reached from Greenwood Road 0.2 miles south of Georgetown Road (California Route 193). The marker is at the front right of the building, up a long driveway, on the left, as you travel south on Greenwood Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4065 Greenwood Road, Greenwood CA 95635, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles

The Greenwood School House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jerry Stinson

2. The Greenwood School House

The monument with the marker is by the front of the building, on the right, and is obscured by the tree.

of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Greenwood (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. James Catholic Church (approx. 3.4 miles away); Shannon Knox House (approx. 3.9 miles away); Balsar House / Balsar House / I.O.O.F Hall (approx. 4 miles away); Civil War Armory (approx. 4 miles away); Wells Fargo Building (approx. 4 miles away); Georgetown Hotel (approx. 4 miles away); Jonathan Davis (approx. 4 miles away).

Additional commentary.
1. Greenwood School House
Hello
My name is Laura Galvan and I come from the Hunchup / Smith / Hart line of Nisenan that were from this area. I am doing research on the Greenwood Indian School and assume this is also the Indian School, but I see no reference or history on this. Would someone be able to confirm for me whether this was the Greenwood Indian School?

If this is in fact the Greenwood Indian School please consider including this in its history. I have family members that were sent here as children after their mother passed and their home burned. Their names are Lillian, Dan, Mathilda and Alberta Franklin and were sent to the school in sometime around 1917.

— Submitted February 4, 2023, by Laura Galvan of El Dorado and Campbell,, California.

The Greenwood School House (Rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James King

3. The Greenwood School House (Rear)

Native Sons Dedication Team image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jerry Stinson

4. Native Sons Dedication Team

The Greenwood School House Marker Dedication Ceremony image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jerry Stinson

5. The Greenwood School House Marker Dedication Ceremony

The Schoolhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 25, 2005

6. The Schoolhouse

An earlier photo taken prior to renovation.
The sign above the door says Greenwood School House Founded 1886

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2017, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 1,009 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 23, 2017, by James King of San Miguel, California. 6. submitted on August 18, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.