Watson School
Encyclopedia
Watson School is a Sonoma County Regional Parks Department historic park, covering approximately 0.75 acre (0.3035145 ha), located about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Bodega, California
, on the south side of the road, at 15000 Bodega Highway in Sonoma County, California, United States.
The land was donated by James Watson in 1855, for a school to serve the communities of Freestone
, Bodega, and Valley Ford
. Open from 1856 to 1967, it served as a public school for 111 years, longer than any other one room school in California. The schoolhouse remains today in its original condition, on its original site.
In 1976, Watson School was named Sonoma County Landmark #23, and in 1978, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The park is open from sunrise to sunset by a locked gate, and features four picnic tables plus one toilet, along with signs commemorating the schoolhouse and the 1976 Running Fence
art project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
.
In 2011, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation received a donation from the estate of Daniel B. Furlong for the purpose of restoring the school. Furlong was part of the school's final graduating class and many of his relatives also attended. With these funds, the Foundation hopes to see the school reopened to the public non-profit use.
Salmon Creek
defines the southern boundary of the park.
Bodega, California
Bodega is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Sonoma County in the U.S. state of California. The town had a population of 220 as of the 2010 Census.Bodega is located on Bodega Highway, about west of Freestone, California...
, on the south side of the road, at 15000 Bodega Highway in Sonoma County, California, United States.
The land was donated by James Watson in 1855, for a school to serve the communities of Freestone
Freestone, California
Freestone is a small, unincorporated community in Sonoma County, California, USA located at the intersection of Bohemian Highway and Bodega Highway. It's west of Sebastopol along Salmon Creek on the U.S...
, Bodega, and Valley Ford
Valley Ford, California
Valley Ford is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in western Sonoma County, California, United States. It is located on State Route 1 in an area of rolling hills about 75 minutes north of San Francisco by automobile...
. Open from 1856 to 1967, it served as a public school for 111 years, longer than any other one room school in California. The schoolhouse remains today in its original condition, on its original site.
In 1976, Watson School was named Sonoma County Landmark #23, and in 1978, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The park is open from sunrise to sunset by a locked gate, and features four picnic tables plus one toilet, along with signs commemorating the schoolhouse and the 1976 Running Fence
Running Fence
Running Fence was an installation art piece by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, which was completed on September 10, 1976. The builders removed it 14 days later, leaving no visible trace....
art project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo and Jeanne-Claude were a married couple who created environmental works of art...
.
In 2011, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation received a donation from the estate of Daniel B. Furlong for the purpose of restoring the school. Furlong was part of the school's final graduating class and many of his relatives also attended. With these funds, the Foundation hopes to see the school reopened to the public non-profit use.
Salmon Creek
Salmon Creek (Sonoma County, California)
Salmon Creek is an stream in western Sonoma County, California that springs from coastal hills west of the town of Occidental and empties into the Pacific Ocean north of Bodega Head.-Course:...
defines the southern boundary of the park.