The old Como Schoolhouse, located about 11 miles south of Hamilton, at the corner of Hwy 93 and Old Darby Road, is a true icon of the Bitterroot Valley. For 112 years it has been a beacon in the Como community. Even today, valley residents admire it as they drive by. Newcomers sometimes think it is a church, with its attractive bell tower. The schoolhouse has been renovated/restored numerous times during its 100+ years of history…
The one room school opened in 1902 with one teacher and a few dozen students. For 20 years it was the cultural and educational center for this close-knit community. There are a half dozen families still living in the area who are descendents of alumni of the old school.
When the school closed in 1922 and merged with the Darby school district, all of its playground equipment went to Darby. According to Bill Kyle (whose father attended Como school), the Como school had the best playground equipment in Ravalli County. No one seems to know where all the desks and furniture went. Recently, an antique clock that was in the schoolhouse was returned by a family living in Oregon. Their grandmother attended school here, starting in 1902. The granddaughter did not remember how her grandmother became the owner of the clock, but the group that takes care of the historic site is just happy to have it back in the old schoolhouse.
After the school closed a group in the community acted as caretakers for the old schoolhouse. Over the years, a new roof had to be put on, several times, plus numerous paint jobs. During the past 112 years the schoolhouse has been used for various activities, including dances, weddings, family reunions, historic society meetings, and more. Records show that the school was used by a dance club on a regular basis during the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. In the 1940’s the usage fee was $1.00 per night. The price went up to $2.00 in the 1950’s.
In 1992, Carl and Nancy Fox spearheaded a restoration project which included a new paint job, and a new metal roof for the schoolhouse and teacherage.
Since 2009, the schoolhouse corporation has been a non-profit charity (501c3), and is under the management of a board of five directors, who are responsible for the maintenance and use of the schoolhouse facility. (The ownership of the property was transferred to the community from the Durland family who were early residents, and part of early Como history).
In 2012, the teacherage was restored. It is one 12 by 13 foot room that the teacher lived in. It had no running water or electricity. Some years, the teacher lived with a family in the community. The room is now quite a showpiece, and probably more attractive than the original 100+ years ago.
The board of directors and community members would like to see the schoolhouse used more. Besides weddings, the schoolhouse is available for family reunions, birthday and anniversary parties and various community organizational meetings. For more information call Tom Wood, board president, at 821-3700. All donations are tax-deductible, and can be made to the Como Schoolhouse Corporation, P.O. Box 1028, Darby MT 59829.
The public is invited to a potluck on Monday, June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Como Schoolhouse, followed by a history lecture at 7 p.m. Mo Lischke, volunteer at the Daly Mansion, will give a presentation on early Stock Farm history. The public is invited. Call Barney at 821-3592 for more information.
— Submitted by Barney Lambert, Secretary/Treasurer, Como Schoolhouse Corporation