The school on the hill and its many lives…
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The school on the hill and its many lives… *
The Old Schoolhouse has a rich history dating back to the 1880s, evolving through four different iterations before its revival—a moment of celebration for the village of Hillsboro. Today, this iconic building continues to serve as a living testament to its past, embracing its role as a space for knowledge, creativity, and connection. Through ongoing collaboration with the land and the stories held within its walls, the Schoolhouse remains a gathering place for education, the arts, and community events—nurturing the soul and grounding us in shared experiences.
The Original Schoolhouse
By Garland D. Bills, Black Range Museum
An initial mystery is when the first school appeared on that hill. Bill Shaw, in his 1995 unfinished history of our area (p. 49), cites a glowing article about the nascent Hillsboro in the Las Cruces newspaper Thirty Four of 18 June 1879. The article includes the statement, “Plans have been drawn and specifications furnished for a $1,000 school which will be built next fall or winter.” On the following page, Shaw states without citing a source that “[b]y April, the anticipated new school had become a reality,” suggesting that the school had opened in 1879 or 1880; the context doesn’t make clear which. Confirming the 1879 opening, Shaw later (p. 78) cites the same Thirty Four article listing “a public school” among the business and professional establishments of Hillsboro.
Exactly what happened next is another mystery, but it seems that the old elementary school was abandoned for a couple of decades. [According to Sue Bason, for a time after the school closed, it served as a community center where monthly dances were held with live music, much like the gatherings at the Lake Valley School. – Ed.] I have been unable to find a solid property records trail until Ross and Elsie Bell secured the property in 1971 (Warranty Deed 39-409) and used it as a café and antique shop (see below).
As I mentioned at the beginning of this essay, the schoolhouse-on-the-hill is still with us after 140 years of Hillsboro’s history. The third and final incarnation, however, has been privately owned for at least fifty years, as depicted in the photo at the beginning of this essay.
A prominent feature of Hillsboro is Schoolhouse Hill, a hummock just a block off Main Street in the northwest part of the “downtown” area. Percha Creek curves around this hill to join the North Percha along the north side of town before bending south to separate off Happy Flat. Well, usually the creek curves north, although sometimes the Middle Percha fails to get to the curve, surging over its banks and sending flood waters cascading down.
Stewards
“STEERING THE SCHOOLHOUSE BACK TO A WORKABLE COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE….”
Most of all, I think that as stewards of the Old Schoolhouse we would like to steer it back to a workable community gathering place where the new age upon us can be birthed in a healthy way of getting together and nurture the seeds of community that are already planted here.
Personally, I am in awe of the art community here in Hillsboro.
In ’88 Sylvia. a New Mexico Native — as director of the Geronimo Springs Museum, and Delmas Howe native Hot Springs son artist who secured her position there created a movement in T or C to celebrate our history, bring back the Springs that heal our wounds and ease our tensions.
Sylvia used her Native woman’s connection to bring Apache Mountain Spirit Dancers to heal the energy here from culture clashes. Our material goal was to preserve the vacant buildings downtown in the hot springs district and fill them with artists who stretch our minds and hearts forwards. It was a conspiracy of the heart.
We are moved with the same curiosity and mission here in Hillsboro.
