Built in 1909, the school house had classrooms for grades one through eight. Between 1928, when Loloma School opened, and the 1960′s, the building served as a community center for newly arrived Mexican-American residents of the community and as a school for their children. The building later served, at various times, as the City Hall, Justice Court, and Public Library and Chamber of Commerce.   It is now the home of the Scottsdale Historical Museum.

http://www.scottsdalecvb.com/includes/media/docs/HistoricWalkingTour1.pdf

As you enter the town of Wickenburg, Arizona, you will see a little red school house near Bashas’…..however, this is NOT one of the oldest schools in Arizona.  You will need to take the ~15 mile drive on Vulture Mine Road to Vulture Gold Mine (1863) to be able to view these schools!  Turn at Safeway and head southwest.

Learning there was another school built  for the children of the area was news to me.  Learning ALL the children were allowed to attend the school since it was the only school for miles around was a revelation.  The miners worked hard and the school was built to educate their children.

I am honored to be allowed to use my photo of one of these schools in the OLD SCHOOL Arizona 2011 calendar.

Please make the trip.  Speak with the caretakers of the Mine today.  Join in their efforts to preserve a vital part of Arizona history.

http://www.savevulturemine.org/Vulture_Mine_History.html

Memories of my days at Noftsger Hill School

One of the things I remember most is that each student had to learn how to spell the name of the school.

Noftsger Hill School 1917 Globe, Arizona

Noftsger Hill School sits atop one of the  hills in Globe, Arizona.

There were so many schools in Globe at the time including  three high schools!   Globe had a larger population than Phoenix.

At Noftsger Hill School the playgrounds on the east and west side were dirt.  On the north side there was a fenced in tennis court with an asphalt field.  There were two junior basketball courts separated by the tennis net in the

same area. There was a volleyball court to the far east end of the playground. Baseball, football, and volleyball were all played on bare dirt.  The front yard was quite small. The concrete walks were used by the girls to play jacks; the dirt areas were used for playing marbles and spinning tops.

The sports equipment was checked out from a small room in the east hallway.  There was no sign out, and ALL equipment was returned on Honor System.  For the inter-school basketball contests a lucky student was chosen to take the basketball home and bring  it to the game.   The games were played at the Hill Street School (located below the current Globe High School). Hill Street School was the only elementary school with an inside basketball court.

I remember at the start of school day the first graders lined up at the front entrance; the second and third graders lined up at the east entrance; the kindergarten and fifth graders lined up at the north entrance; the fourth and sixth graders lined up at the west entrance. We were ALL familiar with lines at that time.

The central hall was used daily as the Lunch Room for those that brought their lunch. Those that could afford the lunch program were bused to the high school cafeteria and back.

The central hall was also used for plays and assemblies. Seating was provided for the adults in this area during presentations while I remember the students sat on the floor.

I remember Noftsger Hill School – My School in Globe, Arizona

Richard Foerster

P. S. Noftsger Hill School is now a beautiful bed and breakfast with such a view!