Front Entrance Improvement Project Completed thanks to a Calaveras Community Foundation Grant

Introduction

Our entrance had a narrow broken down gate and rutted driveway

In June of 2024 the Douglas Flat Community Center (DFCC) completed tree removal and construction grading work at our front entrance. A Calaveras Community Foundation grant of $5,000 provided forty-five percent of the project costs. The work was performed by volunteers and Calaveras County contractors: Proper Pruning Service of Murphys and Rolleri Excavation, Inc. of Angels Camp; and Foothill Materials, Inc. of Lodi.

Background

DFCC owns the Historic Douglas Flat School near Murphys in Northern California (Federal Register of Historic Places No.PH0047279, Historic Building No.73000397). The Douglas Flat Schoolhouse is a well-preserved authentic one room schoolhouse from the 1850’s. DFCC rents the hall to local clubs, a church group, and private citizens for special events. The Douglas Flat Schoolhouse is a unique, charming and affordable party venue nestled in a rustic California foothill setting. It is an important Gold Rush attraction for visitors to the County and provides our citizens with a unique sense of place. DFCC is collecting funds to jack up the entire building for installation of a new foundation in accordance with our Preservation Treatment Plan. This will require mobilization of large trucks and special equipment to the site and required us to widen our front gate.

The Work Scope

Proper Pruning Service from Murphys donated removal of trees and shrubbery along our southern drainage ditch that also obscured the view of the Schoolhouse from Main Street. Rolleri Excavation, Inc. mobilized heavy equipment and six truckloads of base rock from Valley Springs. Heavy equipment was used to clear and grade our drainage ditch, excavate and remove an old rusty corrugated culvert, install a new 10” diameter HDPE culvert pipe, and place and compact six transfer truckloads of base rock in the driveway and vehicle traffic area in front of the schoolhouse. Rolleri donated the trucking of two of those loads and Foothill Materials, Inc. donated two loads of rock.  

Project Budget - Costs

Item                                                                                                   Cost

Replace Culvert, regrade ditch, place and compact 6 loads of rock       $6,700

Two loads of rock with trucking                                                         $1,800

Remove two trees                                                                            $1,400

Signage                                                                                          $  150

Project coordination, administration                                                  $1,000

Total Costs                                                                                   $11,050

Project Budget – Revenue

Calaveras Community Foundation                                                      $5,000

Rolleri Excavation, Inc and Foothill Materials, Inc. (in-kind)                  $1,850

Proper Pruning Service, Inc. (in-kind)                                                $1,400

DFCC                                                                                              $1,800

DFCC Volunteers - Project supervision and administration (in-kind)      $1,000

Total Revenue                                                                                 $11,050

Before & After Project Photographs

The old entrance to the schoolhouse grounds was through a 12 foot gate and required drivers to navigate a turn to the right as shown on Photo#1. Sometimes resulting in damage to the gatepost and vehicle.

Pick-up truck turning through gate fills opening

The old rusting culvert under the driveway was prone to clogging. The vehicle traffic area in front of the schoolhouse was muddy in winter, particularly where it had been trenched in 2022 for our underground electric cable, the drainage ditch was crowded with roots and the view to the schoolhouse from the roadway was obscured by vegetation.

The opening was widened to 21 feet with a new culvert and the ditch regraded. The wider entrance decreases congestion at the entrance, and creates better access for the heavy equipment needed for the planned foundation work.

New gate opening with room to maneuver

Conclusion

The Douglas Flat Schoolhouse is truly an undiscovered gem of Classic Greek Revival architecture. The Gold Rush setting of the historic building is preserved to a remarkable degree.  The building inside and out is much like it was during the Period of Significance (late 1800s). From Main Street, the schoolhouse now looks like it did in 1910 after its front porch addition.  The new peekaboo-view of the schoolhouse is like a final touch of discovery to tourists enjoying drives through beautiful Calaveras landscapes.

View of schoolhouse from main street