A Conversation with Shannon Wray

Board President, Fallsvale Historic Schoolhouse Inc.

As efforts continue to preserve and restore the Fallsvale Old Stone Schoolhouse, local history and community memory remain an important part of understanding why the building matters so deeply to Mill Creek Canyon and the SR 38 Communities.

During a recent conversation with 38Bulletin.com, Shannon Wray, Board President of Fallsvale Historic Schoolhouse Inc., shared historical background connected to the Fallsvale Old Stone Schoolhouse, the Torrey family, and the canyon community that helped bring the school to life during the early 1930s.

According to Wray, Louie and Margaret Torrey owned much of the land surrounding the area where the schoolhouse stands today, including property between the present-day Seventh-day Adventist Church and the local fire station. The Torrey family operated a resort near what is now Creekside at Forest Home and became known for their generosity and strong community spirit.

“When the community wanted a school, the Torrey family deeded the land to the new Fallsvale School District for one dollar,” Wray explained.

The property transfer took place on October 14, 1931, during the difficult years following the 1929 stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression.

According to Wray, San Bernardino County had attempted to fund land acquisition and construction of a school through a bond issue, but the bonds were never purchased.

“The Torreys stepped up to give the land and help with building materials,” she shared. “The men who built it donated their labor.”

Construction of the Fallsvale Old Stone Schoolhouse took place during 1931 and 1932 using local materials gathered from the canyon itself.

Wray also shared that the master stonemason who oversaw the building project was Martin Fagerstedt of Mountain Home Village, a respected craftsman responsible for several notable mountain stone structures including Stonecrest, Point Breeze, and the Castle.

“Martin oversaw the building of the school,” Wray said. “It was built with all local materials.”

Though Louie and Margaret Torrey did not have school-age children of their own, Wray described them as deeply community-minded people who believed in supporting the children and families of the canyon.

“They were giving hearts,” she said.

Today, the Fallsvale Old Stone Schoolhouse remains one of the most recognizable historic landmarks within the SR 38 Communities and continues to represent the spirit of community cooperation, craftsmanship, and historical continuity that helped shape Mill Creek Canyon.

About Fallsvale Historic Schoolhouse Inc.

Fallsvale Historic Schoolhouse Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) preservation and stewardship organization established to protect, restore, and responsibly guide the future of the Fallsvale Old Stone Schoolhouse while preserving the shared heritage and historical continuity of Mill Creek Canyon and the SR 38 Communities.

The Fallsvale Old Stone Schoolhouse continues to hold deep significance connected to the canyon’s history and remains one of the most recognizable historic landmarks within the SR 38 Communities.

Through historical awareness, fundraising, stewardship, collaborative engagement, and community partnership, the organization is working toward the long-term restoration and protection of the historic schoolhouse for future generations.

How You Can Become Involved in This Joint Effort

• Follow and share project updates
• Support preservation fundraising efforts
• Volunteer skills, resources, or historical knowledge
• Help preserve and pass forward the history of the SR 38 Communities

Learn More

FallsvaleFriends.org
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