GREAT WESTERN SCHOOL

(South of Middletown at the Great Western Mine).  The first schoolhouse was located in the canyon below the boarding house. In 1894 the small, inadequate school building was replaced by a larger and fairly modern structure.

The social and community life of the mine centered around two buildings--the boarding house and the schoolhouse.

Mine Superintendent, Andrew Rocca, was chief trustee, and his decision was the controlling one in all important school matters. After her marriage, Mary Rocca was always on the school board, too, serving as secretary. Her diary shows the large amount of time she spent on school affairs, particularly when it came to hiring a new teacher. The school was isolated so teachers never remained long.