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

1879 Site of Messilla Valley School

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 8, 2013

1. 1879 Site of Messilla Valley School Marker

Inscription. The Oregon School District was formed in 1856 and the schoolhouse stood near Dry Creek behind the old Pence Hotel. In 1872 the schoolhouse was relocated and rebuilt behind the existing corrals south of present day Durhan-Pentz Road. Following the relocation, the school district was renamed Messilla Valley. In 1879, the school was relocated to this site and operated until 1966. The building that once stood at this location was removed from this site in 1990. It was finally transported to its current location in Concow, California in 2002.

Erected 2013 by Daughters of the American Revolution, Golden Nugget Chapter.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 39° 39.377′ N, 121° 35.023′ W. Marker is in Oroville, California, in Butte County. It is on Messilla Valley Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2828 Messilla Valley Road, Oroville CA 95965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cherokee (approx. 2½ miles away); Nelsons Bar (approx. 2.8 miles away); Yankee Hill

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(approx. 4.6 miles away); Oregon City (approx. 5.3 miles away); Oregon City Cemetery (approx. 5½ miles away); Paradise Pioneers (approx. 6.8 miles away); Town of Paradise Memorial Trailway (approx. 7 miles away); Paradise Veterans Memorial (approx. 7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oroville.

Also see . . . Photo of re-located Mesilla Valley School. Re-located schoolhouse is owned by the Yankee Hill Historical Society and is being used as a meeting space. Located just South East of the intersection of Nelson Bar and Concow Roads. (Submitted on January 29, 2026, by Cynthia Giminski of Smartsville, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 8, 2013

2. 1879 Site of Messilla Valley School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,175 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 11, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of schoolhouse now located in Concow, California. • Can you help?