Palomares History

Palomares School opened in 1868 as a one-room school house. The school charter was signed by Abraham Lincoln.  The school was built at the mouth of the canyon. Children rode their horses to school. Shelter for the horses was provided behind the school.

The original Palomares School building, circa 1890. 

image courtesy of the Hayward Area Historical Society

A Unique Story

Palomares School is located on twenty acres, nestled among the trees next to Palomares Creek, at the north end of Palomares Canyon. It was built on land that was originally part of a Spanish Land Grant, owned by Guillermo Castro, known as Rancho San Lorenzo. In 1763, Alex B. Grogan purchased a large tract of Land from Guillermo Castro, and in August 1868, Mr. Grogan sold 1.21 acres of this land to the trustees of the Palomares School District for the sum of $60.50.

The school building with an addition, circa 1900.

image courtesy of the Hayward Area Historical Society

In 1955, a larger three-room school was built across the creek from the original site. After eighty-seven years the old school said farewell to its last class of students. Eventually, the school was leased to the Chanticleer's Theatre Group, who then remodeled it and used it as a theatrical playhouse until July 7, 1976 when it was completely destroyed by a fire. The original cast iron school bell still adorns the campus as a tangible reminder of earlier days.

Currently Palomares School has grown to include 128 students, six teachers and an on-site Principal. There are now six classrooms, a library/office building, and a new state of the art Science Center. A new creek trail coupled with the Palomares Watershed Restoration Project has served to enhance the longstanding tradition of environmental science studies, appreciation of nature and sense of responsibility for the native habitats of the school's natural surroundings.

Submitted by Moi Aragon