10/02/2025
From Classroom to Living Room
Beaver School a place to call home
By Christi Baron
Perched on Beaver Hill with sweeping views of the valley below, the old Beaver School stands as a testament to generations past. What began as a beacon of learning for early settlers more than a century ago now serves as a uniquely charming home for a modern family with an appreciation for its past.
The first settlers arrived on the Beaver Prairie in the 1880s, and by 1914, they had formally organized the Beaver School District #303. In a show of community spirit, a settler named Richard Kidd donated three acres of land to build the school. Two years later, in 1916, the schoolhouse opened its doors.
Builder Harry Cotton designed and constructed the original two-room brick schoolhouse, living on-site in a tent with his wife and son George while completing the $6,000 project. The school’s dedication was held on November 18, 1916, marking the beginning of decades of education and community gathering.
Over the years, the site grew to include a one-room primary school in 1928, teacher’s cottage, a play shed, and, by 1937, a gymnasium. In 1929, the school served 111 students, prompting additions to accommodate the growing number of children. Students attended through eighth grade until the early 1930s, when older students began making the trip to Forks by bus.
The school served grade-school students until 1968, when it was closed and later sold in the 1970s to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for around $35,000. The church remodeled the structure, removing outbuildings and updating the space to suit their needs.
In 1991, it took on a new life once again, this time as a private residence for David and Susan Goff. In 1999, the charming brick schoolhouse caught the eye of California resident Frank Duva, who purchased the property for $150,000.
Then in 2022, the schoolhouse came full circle, back into the hands of locals. Matthew and Rachel Breed, drawn to its character, decided to make it their home. Today, the Breeds not only live in the main building, but also rent out the former first and second grade annex as a short-term vacation rental.
“The annex still has the original windows and chalkboards in place,” Rachel Breed shared. About living in an old schoolhouse Rachel said, “It’s interesting living here, we get a lot of people stopping and looking through the windows. It has the best view of the valley!”
Living in a piece of history comes with unexpected quirks and surprises. “We are always finding treasures in the backyard,” Rachel added. “Lots of liquor bottles from the 1940s!”
Next door, the former gymnasium has also been transformed into a private residence, adapting another historic space to modern life.
Through each phase, from classroom lessons to church gatherings to family dinners, the Beaver School has remained a landmark rich in memories. Thanks to families like the Breeds, its story continues on.
