Built in 1910, when Paradise was a substantially larger town, this was built as a two storey, five room, brick schoolhouse. Built on a rubble stone foundation it came complete with a large bell tower over the front entrance. There were three classrooms in the upper floor, two on the main floor and a full basement with two general purpose rooms. This school was used continuously as a school for 103 years. At the end of the 2013 school year the school was closed for lack of enrollment, as the student population had dwindled to five.
At present this building is being occupied by artists of Sanders County for the exhibition of their works. They hope to preserve the building to serve, in part, as an arts center for northwest Montana. Afoot in the community are further plans to repurpose the old schoolhouse.
The steps in front of the school have the date of the building's construction, 1910, set in the southeast side and highlighted with wooden numerals. The concrete steps were added well after the building's construction, so the inclusion of the date is somewhat of an afterthought.
Below you'll find a short story on the school's first century of service.
The First Century of Service
Paradise Elementary School District #8 was awarded the first land grant from the Northern Pacific Railroad subsidiary, Northwest Improvement Company in 1910 for the sum of $100. This grant stipulated that the land given must be used for a school. A second grant in 1911 provided additional space for a large playground. This piece of land was perfectly suited for a school. It was at a distance from the Clark Fork River, the highway, and railroad tracks and it over looked the river valley, making a spectacular picture.
The school proudly served the busy railroad community of Paradise, Montana, until circumstances began to change as the railroad business changed. In 1982, people in the valley waited patiently, expectantly wondering why the “WHISTLE” at the railroad tie plant had fallen silent. The tie plant had burned down, never to be rebuilt. Paradise was never the same.
Now that beautiful old school fruitlessly waits – patiently, stoically, and silently – for the happy voices, running feet, and laugher of children and the stronger, firmer, encouraging voices of teachers. Enrollment had gradually fallen until 2013 when there were only five (5) students. The school bell has been silent since May 2013 when the school closed its doors. For over 100 years the people of this small rural community have supported their school with their commitment of money, muscle, heart, and prayers. So now, after adding inside plumbing, steam heat, a metal-tube fire escape, hardwood floors, cement steps and sidewalks, telephone, multi-purpose building (housing a gym, kitchen, and small stage), new metal roofs, carpet, storage with a walk-in freezer, energy efficient lighting and windows, a new septic system, and technology ability, this beautiful old schoolhouse closed. It closed because it lost the lifeblood for any school . . . children.
From the Paradise School Project