Union School

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Union School was the combination of the Smart and Wightman Schoolhouses.

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One of the Union Schoolhouses (previously Wightman Schoolhouse) around 1973.

In October of 1914 the Smart and Wighteman Districts consolidated resources to better serve the families in their communities. Each district moved their school houses to a new location at the northwest corner of Harrigan and Union Road where the government donated 40 acres to the new district called Union. The first principal of this school was Prof. F.L Woods with teachers Laura Mills and Mrs. William Mallis. The Wildes District joined in 1916 and they called themselves consolidated A. Consolidated A then joined the Fallon City school system in 1919. In 1957 this building was sold to the Union Farm Bureau and the land reverted back to the BLM.

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EIGHTY PEOPLE AND 60 HEAD
OF HORSES JOIN IN
SCHOOL WORK.
Friday of last week was an important day in the history of the Union District of Wightman and Smart schools. The government gave the district a 40-acre tract across the road west of the home of W. D. Cook, and on this occasion there were 60 head of horses and 35 men at work leveling the land and about five acres was put in shape. The ladies turned out and prepared a big dinner, of which about 80 men, women and children partook, which was served at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Cook. There was an abundance of fried chicken and all the good things that go with it and there was not one present but had ample opportunity to appease his appetite.
The Wightman building has been moved to the new site and the Smart school house is on the way. It is the intention of the people of the Union District to meet in the near future and score another point in leveling another tract and prepare for a district park. Trees and shrubbery will be put out and arrangements made for athletic sports of all kinds.

Churchill County Eagle September 19, 1914

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THE UNION SCHOOL
OPENS NEXT MONDAY.
The union school, formerly the Wightman and Smart districts, will open next Monday with Prof. F. L. Woods, formerly of the Fallon school, as principal, and Miss Laura Mills and Mrs. Wm. Mallis as the other two teachers. The latter is a daughter of A. E. Barber and received her education in the east. Through the union of the two districts, a good graded school has been established and the children in this thriving community south of town will have almost as good educational advantages as those in town. This is the important advantage in the union of rural schools. The people in this Union District were granted 40 acres of land by the government for school purposes and all that should go with a consolidated school will be arranged by the people of that community.

Churchill County Eagle October 3, 1914

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A UNION OF SCHOOLS.
SMART, WILDES AND WIGHTMAN
DISTRICTS HAVE TAKEN A
PROGRESSIVE STEP.
At a meeting of the people of Smart, Wildes, and Wightman School Districts held last Saturday evening it was decided to make a move toward the consolidation idea, but as the last session of the legislature rejected the measure which would permit consolidation and transportation of the pupils, the next best move was to make arrangements to establish a union school, for which Nevada statutes make provision. If this is successful, and the law is passed by the next legislature, then it will be an easy step to adopt the consolidation plan and arrange for the transportation of the pupils, the same as in some of the older communities.
The St. Clair district was not represented at the meeting, therefore it was not considered in the plans.
The following resolution was passed by representatives of districts Nag. 10, 3 and 8 at the meeting.
RESOLVED,That it is the sense of this meeting that it would promote the educational interests of the above named districts if a union school was formed from these districts.
RESOLVED, That it is further the sense of this meeting that the buildings now owned by the several districts be moved to some properly located place for temporary school buildings for the union school and that each district bear the expense of conducting the union in proportion to the money each draws from the school funds.
RESOLVED, That this meeting favors the forming of this union school as a preliminary step to forming a consolidated school as soon as proper legislation can be had for this purpose.
RESOLVED, That a petition be circurated in each of the above districts to get the signatures of all citizens who favor the above resolutions.
A committee composed of Fred Sander, J. S. Gray, and Francis Harrigan was appointed to have petitions prepared for circulation among the voters and taxpayers of the three districts, and unless a majority of the people signify a willingness for the consolidation, the matter will be dropped. The trustees of all three districts are in favor of the movement, and while they and the district superintendent have authority to make such union of schools, yet it is understood that it will only be done with the consent of at least a majority. The committee was further to consult with Project Engineer I. W. Cole to ascertain if a 4d acre tract of vacant government land situated in the southeast quarter of section 18, just east of W. D. Cook's place, could be donated to the union district for school purposes. Mr. Cole was very favorable to the proposition, and while he stated that he did not have authority to make a concession of this kind, he would be pleased to use his best efforts to have the land set apart for that purpose.
It is known that the reclamation officials at Washington are encouraging the consolidation idea in schools on the projects wherever possible, and have been endeavoring to bring about this movement in the Lahontan Valley. Therefore, it is but reasonable to conjecture that the 40-acres desired can be secured by taking the usual formal steps.

Churchill County Eagle April 18, 1919

Union School