historic HARRISVILLE
Harrisville Schools, Log 4 years, Adobe 25 years, 2-room Red Brick 21 years
Martin Harris taught school in his home in the evenings year around for both youngsters and adults who could attend. School was held in homes or in Bingham’s Fort in 1853 when threats from Native Americans forced settlers behind protective walls.
The first school built of logs in 1863 and served the community for 4 years. It became the social center of the community. The pioneers outgrew the school two years after completing an addition to it.
They erected a new adobe building nearby. It was located about a half mile west of where they later constructed a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints meeting house. It was used from 1867-1892 (25 years) when it burned down. Farr West was still a part of Harrisville at that time and another school had been built in the West.
Two-Room Red Brick school (1892)
In 1892 they complete a new two-room red brick school. Once again, the school became too small to house all the students, and some of the grades were held in the church meetinghouse next door.
Four-Room Yellow Brick School House – 1913 – 1941
In 1913 settlers replaced the two-room school with a new four-room yellow brick school with two or three grades in each room. In 1941 education consolidated schools and upper grades were sent to another school. (Lora Dean Galvez) NOTE:Ruby Rosetta Taylor Romrell made soup at home and carried it in ten gallon milk cans to the school and serve the children hot soup each day for 5 cents a bowl Sometimes she served hot cocoa. In 1945 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints bought the old school building and grounds to expand their meetinghouse After 13 year vacancy the yellow brick school was taken down and the brick was cleaned and reused in the church addition.