Strawberry in Gila County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Strawberry School

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

1. The Strawberry School National Register of Historic Places Marker

Inscription. The Strawberry School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built by pioneers in 1885, this one-room cabin provided elementary instruction to students until 1916. The building represents the effort to teach the "Three Rs" in rural Arizona during territorial and early statehood periods. The building is significant for its contribution to education and as a rare surviving example of an Arizona log schoolhouse.

Erected by Pine-Strawberry Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 34° 24.342′ N, 111° 31.139′ W. Marker is in Strawberry, Arizona, in Gila County. Marker is on Fossil Creek Road, 1.8 miles west of State Route 87, on the right. Large sign on north (right) side of Fossil Creek Road marks the location of the Strawberry School/Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pine AZ 85544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Pine Community Center Historic District (approx. 3.9 miles away); Camp Verde Arizona to Payson Arizona Mail Trail (approx. 3.9 miles away); General Crook Trail (approx. 8.6 miles away);

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The Great 1970 Rim Country Flood Disaster (approx. 15.6 miles away); Ranger Station (approx. 15.6 miles away); William H. Goettl Memorial (approx. 15.6 miles away); Zane Grey's Cabin (approx. 15.6 miles away); Mogollon Rim Country Firefighters Memorial (approx. 15.6 miles away).

More about this marker. The marker is located under a large Gambel Oak tree on the east (right) side of the entrance drive, immediately south of the school.

Regarding The Strawberry School. The Strawberry School, in addition to being an example of an excellently restored and preserved pioneer Arizona log structure, is an excellent museum to see the meaning of the words of the song my (Oklahoma/Texas) pioneer grandmother used to sing,

School days, school days,
Dear old golden rule days.
'Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick.
I was your queen in calico,
You were my bashful barefoot beau,
And I wrote on your slate,
'I love you, Joe,'
When we were a couple of kids.

'Member the hill, Nellie Darling,
And the oak tree that grew on its brow?
They've built forty stories
Upon

The Strawberry School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

2. The Strawberry School Marker

Many school teachers make the pilgrimage to this example of the way things were, and have friends take their picture for their desks in modern schools.

that old hill,
And the oak's an old chestnut now.
'Member the meadows so green, dear,
So fragrant with clover and maize,
Into new city lots
And apartment block plots,
They've torn them up since those days.

Looking North to the Strawberry School House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

3. Looking North to the Strawberry School House

Inside Strawberry School House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

4. Inside Strawberry School House

From the southeast side of the house looking toward the blackboards on the north side.

The Strawberry School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

5. The Strawberry School

Looking from the front of the room (north) toward the door on the south.

The View East Over the Strawberry School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

6. The View East Over the Strawberry School Marker

A nicely thinned grove of pines with picnic bench and Fossil Creek Road are east of the marker.

South Over the Strawberry School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

7. South Over the Strawberry School Marker

Looking south from the marker, one can see the barrel of flowers and sign marking the turn off from Fossil Creek Road.

West From the Strawberry School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

8. West From the Strawberry School Marker

Looking west toward the Arizona Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution marker.

The Strawberry School House and its Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English, August 15, 2010

9. The Strawberry School House and its Sign

Arizona Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Dedication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English

10. Arizona Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Dedication Plaque

This plaque is located in a clump of gambel oak and alligator juniper trees on the west (left)side as one pulls into the parking lot.

Strawberry Schoolhouse DAR Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Chris English

11. Strawberry Schoolhouse DAR Plaque

Strawberry School House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert L Weber, June 20, 2011

12. Strawberry School House

Photographed By Robert L Weber, June 20, 2011

13. Strawberry School House

Strawberry School House and Out Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert L Weber, June 20, 2011

14. Strawberry School House and Out Building

Strawberry School House Outhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert L Weber, June 20, 2011

15. Strawberry School House Outhouse

Nearby Totem image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert L Weber, June 20, 2011

16. Nearby Totem

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,089 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on September 17, 2010, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. submitted on July 2, 2011, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.