History of Olive School 

 

From the very beginning of its story, Olive School was a gift.   As early as the mid 1800's, children from the surrounding ranches would ride horseback or travel by wagon each morning to receive their schooling in a nearby general store and saloon located just east of our current site. In July of 1877, the storeowner, Juan Pedro Olivera donated a parcel of his property for the first school in this area. The first year, 41 students began the story of this little schoolhouse.

 

Twenty-six years later, the school board purchased an additional acre, using the summer months to accomplish further school construction.  On September 1, 1903, the school was rededicated as "Olive School", also becoming the community center where folks gathered for church, Sunday school and social gatherings.  Olive School operated as a one-room schoolhouse until 1948. 

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With the completion in 1950 of the larger Benjamin Foxen School, two miles away, the smaller schoolhouses in the area closed.  Olive School was purchased by the Sisquoc Grange, operating as a meeting hall for the local chapter of this agricultural organization. During the “Grange” years, Olive School was the site of many jovial celebrations, weddings and community gatherings.

Olive School became our family home in 1999.  After complete renovation, restoring much of the structure in keeping with the original turn of the century schoolhouse charm, we soon realized that indeed Olive School was meant to be shared.  Having hosted many private weddings and celebrations over the years, we are for the first time offering Olive School for limited and intimate celebrations.  We believe Olive School is still a gift, almost 140 years later.

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