. . .located on the corner of Highway 193 and the old road going to Penryn and Loomis. Now Sierra College Blvd has been straightened and the location is to the west of the gate going to the Stardust Development Co. In the early 1890's the building was built for a dance hall. Shortly thereafter a school district was formed and they used the building for the Orange Valley School. Unfinished 1 x 12 planks were set vertically with rustic shiplap nailed horizontally to form walls with no studding. The roof was of shingles over the 12 foot ceiling. In the early part of 1900 the school was painted barn red. However the picket fence made of 1 x 3's spaced for inches apart was never painted.
The school was heated with a long cast iron stove. The top of which could slide to one side to top load or a long log could be put in the front. Later the 20 x 40 foot room was divided with a tar paper partition to make an ante-room. The school stood on one acre of ground.
Mrs. Belle Fagg Fowler was the first teacher.
. . .It is not known when the school fell into disuse, but it was still in use in 1916.
In 1917, Peter Crogh tore the building down and used the lumber to build a home on the northeast corner of East Seventh and Herold Avenues. In 1976 the building was condemned to be removed.
. . .Mrs. Wm. Mayers was a trustee and district clerk in 1896 and possibly until 1902. Mrs. Wm. Richard was also a trustee for a time. Most of the school teachers boarded locally. However, Miss Christensen lived on Wise Road and rode a horse across Fruitvale School District to reach Orange Valley.
. . .At the time, Clarence Conley entered school, a Mr. Smith (Ed. Possibly Preston W. Smith) was the county schools superintendent. He is recalled by the five-year-old as a great big man. Later Mr. Shane took the office followed by Miss Irene Burns. Mr. Smith later filled the office for some time.
Like most children who walked to school, Mr. Conley remembers the hardships, especially when Auburn Ravine would get high and wash out the bridges.