Graniteville, California

A historic mining town in the Sierra Nevada mountains

GCSA

History of the Graniteville Schoolhouse

Graniteville, in Nevada County, California, started out as a mining town in 1850. It was known to the founders and early settlers as Eureka — which means in Greek “I have found it.”

The town’s name was changed to Eureka South after some confusion with a mining camp by the same name near Downieville in neighboring Sierra County. The name was again changed to Graniteville when the U.S. Post Office Department established a post office in 1878. At that time the town is reported to have had a population of 400 with many more living in mining camps surrounding the town.

The town’s schoolhouse was built sometime after the township was formed in 1850.  By 1980 — well over 100 years later — the schoolhouse was still standing, but it was in major disrepair. The Washington School District owned the schoolhouse but planned to sell it. Several property owners in Graniteville talked about buying the schoolhouse and the two lots it sat on. They wanted to restore the schoolhouse and use it as a town meeting hall.

In 1982 Graniteville property owners Richard Mehrkens, William Brock, A.L. Wilson, James Hickey, John Cape, Robert Eisele and Harley Monian formed the Graniteville Community Services Association, Inc. (GCSA) and filed for non-profit status (501(c)(3)). Fund raising began in earnest to provide funds to help repair the schoolhouse.

Fund raising efforts include a community dinner held every Labor Day weekend. In addition, sales of Graniteville schoolhouse T-shirts and Graniteville theme cookbooks have helped raise money.

Along with the necessary funds, a workday is scheduled once a month during the summer for maintenance work on the schoolhouse and other facilities. 

The primary mission of the Graniteville Community Services Association, Inc. (GCSA) is to repair and preserve the historic Graniteville schoolhouse and to make it available for the use of and to benefit the community.

Organizations that use the schoolhouse and school grounds include the Graniteville Volunteer Fire Company #46 for meetings and fundraisers, Graniteville residents meeting to discuss issues such as fire safety and for social events, and the annual Heart of Gold Gravel bike race charitable fundraiser, which uses the school grounds as a rest stop for cyclists.

GCSA conducts the annual school grounds cleanup, which is normally scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.  Work parties assemble on other weekends during the summer season for schoolhouse maintenance and related projects. 

Membership in GCSA is open to Graniteville residents and property owners.  Dues are currently $35.00 per year.  Contact rcape@surewest.net for information about joining GCSA and upcoming activities.  Your financial and volunteer support is appreciated!

2 Responses to “GCSA”

  1. chris thomas says:

    I absolutely love this website!! We live in GV but have a home is Washington town and often go thru Graniteville. Thanks so much for opening this website; it is so informative and well done.

  2. Janis says:

    Thanks Chris! I’m so glad you enjoy the site.