Mission Hill School

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Mission-Hill-School.jpg

Mission Hill School. From Sidewalk Companion: ". . . 133 Mission Street is the site of the Mission Hill School, a raised-basement, three-story Italianate structure crowned with a mansard roof. It was erected in 1875 . . ..

The school property was enlarged through the generosity of London (aka Louden) Nelson, a former slave, who was a cobbler and farmer. Even though he could not read or write, his concern for children’s education prompted him to will the proceeds from his estate to the school district. District offices remain in the current building, built in 1989 by developer Toenisketter and Breeding.

The 1875 building, designed by San Jose architect Levi Goodrich, had a central tower above a pedimented gable, quoining, paired brackets under the cornice, and a Doric-columned, pedimented entrance, unusual for Santa Cruz but often seen in San Francisco. The mansarded third floor housed the high school before it moved to its own Santa Cruz High School building on Walnut Avenue in 1894.

The 1906 earthquake left the schoolhouse shaky and necessitated the removal of the third floor and tower. The upper photo in the composite image at right was taken before 1906; the lower photo was taken after 1906 and the resulting remodel. The entire building was torn down in 1930."

David C. Clark became the high school principal and district superintendent in 1884.