Board designates Indian Springs Schoolhouse a county landmark; supervisor discloses ownership

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to designate the historic Indian Springs Schoolhouse at 17455 Indian Springs Road as a county landmark during its meeting.

Supervisor Hook introduced the item and disclosed to the board that the schoolhouse site sits on property she and her family own. She told the board the designation carries no personal financial benefit and that, if anything, landmark status will impose guidelines the owner must follow. The county’s Landmarks Commission had prepared the study and documentation supporting the designation.

Nut graf: The board’s action recognizes the one‑room schoolhouse as an historic resource for the Penn Valley area; testimony at the meeting traced the building’s origins to the 1850s and noted its role as an early schoolhouse and later community center.

Comments and history: Members of the Landmarks Commission and local residents described the building’s origins, its construction by Henry Hatch in 1855, and its local role through the 19th and 20th centuries. A public commenter said the schoolhouse is “one of the last existing one‑room schoolhouses in the county” and noted the building’s years of community service, including use as the Penn Valley Community Center.

Vote: The board voted in favor, with all five supervisory district votes recorded as “yes.” No alterations to the designation were made at the meeting. No additional county funds were appropriated as a result of the action.

Next steps: County staff will record the designation and notify the property owner of any county‑level preservation guidelines tied to landmark status. The board did not direct further study or funding for restoration at the time of the vote.