Captain Tevis in his recollections of Pinos Altos as told in “Arizona in
the ’50’s” tells the story of Miss Rhoda Parker, a young woman from Iowa
who came with her father and her uncle, a Mr. McCulloch, who were
interested in mining. She was the first American woman to visit the camp
and was immediately very popular with the miners. There were seven or
eight Mexican and a few half-breed children in camp. Miss Parker thought
it a shame that they had no schooling and offered to teach them. The
more enterprising men suggested that each miner be taxed $2.50 to pay
for her services, and the miners, wanting to keep a young and attractive
woman in camp, heartily agreed. The school was started and continued
until the beginning of the War Between the States. However, her duties
were interrupted constantly by visits from the miners whose excuses were
a new rich find or mines for sale but whose real purposes were proposals
of marriage. She had 300 such proposals. She could not or would not make
a choice. What a merry time she must have had!
The next record of a school is in the early ’70’s. Trolius Stephens
brought his bride here in 1872. She was the second white woman and the
only one for a long time. They were interested in the welfare of the
people and were instrumental in starting a subscription school, donating
the land and putting up a building which stood opposite the present
Buckhorn Bar. There are no records of the first teachers. The terms were
of five or seven months, depending on the amount of money raised.
In 1886, Nellie Robbins returned to her family after spending three
years at school in Sedalia, Missouri, and accepted a teaching position.
Her parents were living at the Deep Down, a mine east of Cross Mountain.
Since she rode horseback to and from school her first earnings were
spent for a riding habit which was made for her by Mrs. Stanley (Henry
Stanley’s mother) of green velvet. Fringed gauntlets and a chic bowler
hat completed her outfit. She changed into school attire at the home of
Judge and Mrs. English (parents of Mrs. John Moses) where she also left
her horse. Mr. Homogon Cuebas is the only one of her pupils, so far as
is known, still living in the area.
Mr. Stephens felt responsible for “his people” as he called the miners
who worked for him and their families. When weather was bad he would
have Pancho, the handy man, hitch up the mules, gather the children, and
get them to school. One winter when there was an unusually heavy snow he
had runners made for the delivery wagon and the youngsters had sleigh
rides to and from school. Ordinarily most children walked, some a
distance of three or four miles. A few had ponies or burros, on which
the younger ones would ride. Families were large. One father came into
the store one day and said, “The kids are all in school now, but the
weather is getting cold. They can’t go with bare feet. Sell me one dozen
pair of shoes.” What sizes? “Oh, just assorted.” Brogans came in barrels
in those days, so a dozen pair of assorted sizes were picked out and the
Schafer children came to school, proud if awkward, in the new shoes.
By 1888 a larger school was needed, and again Mr. Stephens through the
Pinos Altos Mining Company, known locally as “Bell and Stephens”,
donated land and built on the present site. The people of the town were
very proud of the new building and in the good American tradition would
not be content until the flag was flying over it. Men found a beautiful
pine well over one hundred feet tall in the forest, cut, trimmed and
shaped it only to find that they could not get the pole into town by
oxen without cutting it. They did so and by splicing it together again,
painting it, and surmounting it with a golden ball (made by W. E.
Watson), erected the pole ninety-two feet high. The first flag raising
and dedication on Feb. 22, 1889, was an event attended by the
townspeople. Lightning over the years shortened the pole and the cost of
keeping it in repair caused it to be taken down after twenty years of
service. The principal of the new school was a Mr. Tilman, followed by a
Mr. Miller, W. H. Decker, Miss Lela Manville, Mrs. Grace Bisby, and
others.
Under P.W.A. the old building was razed and a two-room adobe erected. It
was inadequate and another building was put up. There were never more
than six teachers employed during a term. The extra classes were held in
the Community Church and in the old office building since destroyed by
fire. Outstanding teachers, as judged by pupils, co-workers, and the
community were Mr. Decker, Miss Manville, and Mrs. Bisby, who
contributed not only educationally to the locale but to the county,
civically and socially. The last teachers were Mr. W. Westwood and Mrs.
Elton Robinson.
In the early days a board fence surrounded the playground and the
favorite game at recess was “Follow the Leader” along the top of the
fence. The boys also played “Kick the Can” or getting out of bounds,
“Hide and Seek” in the nearby lumber yard and wood lot. The girls amused
themselves with the old singing games. Both groups joined in marble
games, jumping rope, and walking stilts when they were in season. Miss
Manville introduced basketball and at that time games were played on the
crest of the Continental Divide. Miss Eva McGregor drove up from Silver
City once a week to instruct and Miss Clara Upchurch (later Mrs. Will
Trevarrow), who was Miss Manville’s assistant, coached on other days and
played with the girls.
As in all small communities the school house has been the center of
activities. Until the Methodist Church was built in 1898 all Protestant
denominations held services there. Magic lantern shows and Medicine Men
and tight-rope walkers entertained there. At one Christmas party Santa’s
sleeve caught fire from the candles on the tree. He was wrapped in coats
and carried out while the small fry whimpered with fear and terror but
there was no panic. Frank Brito appeared at the homes of friends on
Christmas Day none the worse for his experience. During the depression
years one building was used as a library and recreation center and was
patronized by both children and adults.
Some years ago an educator wrote “The rural school has been a little
house, on a little hill, with little equipment, where a little teacher,
at a little salary, for a little while, teaches little children little
things”. Some progressive school people decided that was all too true
and with the American concept that bigger meant better, thought
consolidation was a step in the right direction. Pinos Altos children
now “ride the bus” into Silver City. That undoubtedly has its advantages
but to oldsters there is a void and they look with regret at the
abandoned buildings and sigh nostalgically for the sound of the bell and
the sight of “Old Glory”.