The First School in Sandpoint Idaho

by Bob Gunter

In the early years of the pioneer town called Sandpoint, it was a struggle for parents to educate their children. Funds had to be subscribed to hire the teachers and school terms were irregular and usually short. The bare fundamentals were taught in those days and the value of what was taught was dependent on the qualification of the teacher.

In the years 1886 to 1894 school was held in various places. The upstairs of the depot was used for a schoolroom with the stationmaster's wife acting as teacher.

Various other buildings along the railroad were used as schools to meet the needs of the local children.

Sandpoint's First School.
Click photo to enlarge

The first building to be built exclusively for a school was located on the Northwest corner of First Avenue and Church Street. The new school was a one-room structure and was built by the Farmin family in 1894. The cost of the building was about $2,500. Miss Musselman was the teacher during 1894-1895 and Miss Andrews taught during the 1895-96 term. The school was later moved to Second and Church before its final move to its present location.

As the population of the area increased the building became too small for the number of students and it was sold to the Methodists for $500. Though it was used as a church they also continued using it as a school until November 1887.

Over the years the building has been used as an office for various businesses. It has been home for numerous people and during WWII it was made into a duplex to help house military families.

More recently, the Dolphin House store stood on the southeast corner of Third and Church, and was one and the same as the first school built in what was then called "Sandpoint Village." It was thought by many to be the oldest building in Sandpoint. It was torn down in 2004.

All photographs have been used with permission of the Bonner County Museum.