The Historic School is Going Back Down! Thursday afternoon December 18, 2025
Schoolhouse up on cribbing, with a large measuring stick
DFCC initiated the Foundation Stabilization Project in June of 2025. The Foundation Stabilization Project aims to address structural issues while maintaining the schoolhouse's historical integrity. The project took seven months and had a budget of $75,000. The project has been an impressive example of community cooperation and we are proud of our local support. Aside from the dedicated members and volunteers of DFCC, numerous organizations, professionals, contractors and craftsmen have contributed their skills and time. DFCC is grateful for the financial support from the Calaveras Community Foundation, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Calaveras County Supervisors. Local firms WRF Engineering, Foothill Sierra Pest Control, Rice Construction and Wyatt Collins Masonry contracted with DFCC to perform the work.
Collins Masonry on the job building forms for new piers.
Foothill Sierra Pest Control pre-treats the soil beneath the footings to discourage future pests
New foundation poured and ready for the building to be lowered
The Douglas Flat Schoolhouse is a Gold Rush era one-room school undergoing historic preservation to ensure its stability and preserve its legacy. The building is owned by the Douglas Flat Community Center (DFCC), a non-profit California corporation founded in 1945. DFCC hired local contractors Foothill Sierra Pest Control, Collins Masonry and Rice Construction for the concrete and carpentry work.
Rice Construction Crew with marker showing the distance to be lowered on December 18.
DFCC invites the media, our neighbors, friends, and supporters to watch the exciting culmination of this project on December 18, 2025. Phil Joy Housemoving, Inc. will lower the building onto the new footings using six large hydraulic jacks. Thursday afternoon Mr. Joy will allow DFCC supporters to push the levers on his equipment to lower the schoolhouse.
As a shameless fundraiser, DFCC will sell participation certificates at $100/in. Certificates will be framed with wood salvaged from the schoolhouse, a memento suitable for wall hanging. Come be a part of this significant event in our community’s history.
A memento of participation, $100/inch
The schoolhouse has stood as a monument to public education since its construction in 1854 and is an excellent example of the Greek Revival style popular in the 19th Century. Soon after arriving in the Mother Lode, Gold Rush pioneers and immigrant families built the school as a meeting hall, church and schoolhouse. It is still used like this today! It is the oldest schoolhouse in Calaveras County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places making it a National Treasure. As such it qualifies for National Historic Preservation Trust grants and other Historic Preservation funds which bring dollars to Calaveras County.
Douglas Flat School Class of 1889
Foundation Stabilization was the first priority in the Preservation Treatment Plan for the building. The Plan was prepared by Mineweaser and Associates, Preservation Architects in 2018. Since then, DFCC has been raising funds for this important initial effort. Multiple Grants and donations have come from the Calaveras Community Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local supporters. When the foundation work is completed other preservation treatments addressed in the Plan will be prioritized. The plan can be download at :
https://www.douglasflatschool.org/support-gold-rush-architecture
Cover of the Historic Structure Report with Preservation Treatment Plan
For more details about the project, including updates, specifics on the preservation progress, and ways to contribute, please visit the school on Thursday afternoon December 18. Directors and DFCC volunteers will be there. Donations of money and skills are crucial for such preservation efforts, and every contribution helps in maintaining this piece of local history.