Rhyolite Nevada School System

Rhyolite, Nevada School System

In February 1905 at Rhyolite's first town meeting it was decided that Rhyolite was in need of a school system. The Rhyolite School Committee and School Board were appointed and given authority to act. At that time there were only a few children in town of school age. The Rhyolite School District was formed by the Nye County Commissioners August 1905. The Rhyolite school was support for at least a year after organization by public subscription.

First Rhyolite, Nevada school house.
Circa 1906.

The source of this photo indicated that it was The Bullfrog School. As far as I know the townsite of Bullfrog never had a school and I believe it to be the wooden school building that was first built in Rhyolite, Nevada. According to the source the building was built and opened when Rhyolite was only eight months old. That would have been around mid-August 1905. The lumber and equipment for this building had to be hauled seventy-five miles, requiring a twenty-mule team and six days to bring in the load.

The building was blown off its foundation by heavy winds in September 1906. The school was temporarily housed in the county hospital building while repairs were being made. The building was reset on its foundation and continued to serve as the school until the new school was built during the 1907-1908 school year. It's my understanding that the wooden school building was moved to Las Vegas by train at a later date.

September 23, 1907 an election was held and passed for a $20,000 school bond issue. A modern schoolhouse, one of the best in the State at the time, was completed and put into use during the 1907-1908 school year. The two-story building was constructed of concrete with galvanized iron Spanish tile on the roof. There were three classrooms on the first floor and one classroom and an auditorium on the second. By the time the building was finished the population of Rhyolite had declined and the school was never filled to capacity. Lodge meetings and social events where held in the upstairs of the school and the lower floor served as classrooms.

Rhyolite, Nevada $20,000 school house.
Circa 1908.

The following was taken verbatim from the State of Nevada Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the school year 1907-1908:

In the very midst of the panic Rhyolite successfully floated a $20,000 bond issue. A modern schoolhouse, one of the best in the State, has been completed and is now occupied. Rhyolite has, indeed, every reason to be proud of her public-spirited citizens and her energetic, progressive School Board.

The Rhyolite school was support for at least a year after organization by public subscription.

The chart below was created using information from the State of Nevada Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Date

Position

Name

Monthly Pay

01-01-1909

Principal

T L Brecheen

01-01-1909

Clerk

P A Busch