History and Preservation

Preserving the Old Fallsvale Schoolhouse

A Community Landmark with a Future

A Place Built for Learning and Care

The Old Fallsvale Schoolhouse was built between 1931 and 1932 to serve the children of Mill Creek Canyon and the surrounding mountain communities. Constructed during the Great Depression, the stone schoolhouse opened its doors as a one room school with a single teacher and a pot bellied stove. In its earliest years, the school was more than a classroom. It was a place of warmth, nourishment, and stability at a time when many families were struggling. For some children, the meal prepared on the classroom stove was the only food they would receive that day.

As the community grew, the building was adapted to meet new needs. In 1957, it was divided into two classrooms to accommodate the post war baby boom. Over the decades, the schoolhouse became the heart of community life. It hosted school events, potlucks, plays, meetings, and gatherings that connected families across generations.

Closure and Community Response

In 1965, the Fallsvale School District was dissolved as part of a statewide move toward unified school districts, and ownership of the property transferred to Redlands Unified School District. Following the 1979 Sylmar Earthquake, updated seismic codes led to the closure of the stone schoolhouse at the end of that school year. Although the building was closed, it was not destroyed. It has remained standing and largely intact for more than four decades.

When the old school closed, the community responded with determination. In 1980, local families mortgaged their homes to help build a new school adjacent to the original structure so that children could continue to be educated in the canyon. At the same time, residents began exploring ways to preserve and reuse the historic building rather than allow it to sit empty. These early efforts reflected a deeply held belief that the old schoolhouse still had value and purpose.

Decades of Effort and Renewed Commitment

Over the years, multiple community led initiatives sought to secure approvals, funding, and a viable path forward for the old schoolhouse. These efforts explored historic preservation options, special district formation, and grant funding. While progress was made in planning and research, long standing challenges related to property ownership, environmental remediation, and financial readiness prevented the project from moving into construction.

In 2016, a renewed group of residents, professionals, and former students came together to revisit the project with fresh energy. Architectural and engineering plans were completed for a potential retrofit and adaptive reuse of the building as a public resource, envisioned as a space for learning, history, and community connection. These plans demonstrated that restoration was possible, but they also clarified a central barrier that remains today.

The Core Challenge Today

The most significant obstacle to reopening the Old Fallsvale Schoolhouse is the need for hazardous materials remediation before the building can be safely leased, renovated, or repurposed. Until this environmental work is completed, the project cannot advance to restoration or public use. This challenge has delayed progress, strained volunteer capacity, and allowed time and weather to continue taking a toll on the structure.

Despite these challenges, the building remains salvageable. What is required now is a clear path, renewed stewardship, and the resources necessary to stabilize and protect this historic structure before further deterioration occurs.

Why Preservation Matters

The Old Fallsvale Schoolhouse is more than an abandoned building. It is a physical reminder of how rural communities came together to care for their children, invest in education, and support one another during difficult times. Preserving this schoolhouse honors that legacy and offers the opportunity to create a space that once again serves the public, whether through education, local history, or community gathering.

Once restored, the building has the potential to become a place where stories are preserved, learning is supported, and the shared history of the mountain communities is made accessible to future generations.

A Moment That Matters

After more than forty years of closure, the Old Fallsvale Schoolhouse is at a critical point. Continued inaction risks irreversible loss. At the same time, renewed interest, historical documentation, and prior planning efforts provide a strong foundation for moving forward.

This project is not about nostalgia alone. It is about stewardship, responsibility, and ensuring that an important piece of community history is not lost simply because the path forward is complex.

An Invitation

The preservation of the Old Fallsvale Schoolhouse will require collaboration, patience, and support. Those who care about history, education, and community resilience are invited to learn more, ask questions, and explore how they might be part of safeguarding this landmark for the future.

Additional project documentation, studies, and background materials are available upon request for qualified reviewers.