Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Near Eagar in Apache County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

Amity School

 
 
Amity School Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2010
1. Amity School Marker
Inscription. This stone chimney is all that remains of a one room country school house that served pioneer Amity pop. 119 from the early 1880's until closing in April 1930. The Amity Cemetery & Amity Ditch are the only other remains of this early Mormon settlement.
 
Erected 2002 by Round Valley Positive Action Tourism Committee and Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 9.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: EducationSettlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Arizona, Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1930.
 
Location. 34° 5.973′ N, 109° 19.683′ W. Marker is near Eagar, Arizona, in Apache County. Marker is on West 26 Bar Road, 0.4 miles west of School Bus Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eagar AZ 85925, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Colter Ranch (approx. 0.7 miles away); 26 Bar Hereford Ranch (approx. 0.7 miles away); Snyder-Cavanaugh Shoot Out (approx. 1˝ miles away); Old Grist Mill Site (approx. 1.7 miles away); Rencher Home (approx. 2 miles away); Benjamin B. Crosby Home
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
(approx. 2.1 miles away); Oscar Jepson Home (approx. 2.1 miles away); Eagar Elementary School (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eagar.
 
More about this marker. This is Marker Stop #9 on the Pistos, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour.
 
Regarding Amity School. Americus Vespucius Greer came in 1877 and homesteaded the west side of the valley and later laid out the townsite of Amity. Spencer W. Wiltbank also homesteaded in the area and hired John Eagar to build the first log home in 1879.

The Mormon Amity Ward was established in 1882 and grew to a population of 119 comprising of 23 families. Most homes had no more than two rooms. There was a blacksmith shop and a tithing office and the area was served by the post office located at the Colter Cross Bar Ranch.

The influx of Mormon colonists into the area created a backlash of discrimination and animosity by those who feared their cooperative economic practices, their powerful voting block and their practice of polygamy. Charges were filed in court and to prevent prosecution, many polygamists fled to Mexico. With the community depleted of their men folk,
Amity School Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2010
2. Amity School Marker
many anti-Mormon activists were able to jump their claims. The remaining Mormons were instructed by the Church to give up their claims and relocate to the Union Ward, which later became the community of Eagar. Emity’s separate identity slowly began to disappear. Many of Emity’s early pioneers are buried in the Emity graveyard which is only accessible with Tribal permission.

The school was built in the early 1880’s. It was a 30’ by 45’ structure of sawn logs. The school was the social center of the community where classes, dances, meetings and church services were held. The rock fireplace was built by O.M. Bigelow. The school was abandoned in 1930 when the school district consolidated with the Eagar schools. The high school principal purchased the building and converted it to a home. It was later purchased by Horace Marble and again became a social center when on Friday nights there were many parties and dances. It eventually was again abandoned but local young people received permission to use the building for dances. In 1948 the building caught fire after a dance and the boys who built a fire in the fireplace were blamed. They worked hard paying off the owner, Harry Udall. About ten years later a neighbor bragged of having set the fire to prevent future parties in the neighborhood.
Source: Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour Brochure.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,669 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=36614

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 18, 2024