Portola Primary School
Portola Primary School was built in 1909. The bell was moved in 1893 from the abandoned Searsville School. The building served as the First town hall when the town of Portola Valley was incorporated in 1964. It was acquired by the town in 1976. Placed on The National Register of Historic Places.
[Second Marker:]
Portola School
The first Portola Valley school stood here from 1894 until 1950, on land donated by Mrs. Andrew Hallidie. It replaced the Searsville School which was abandoned when the Searsville reservoir was created. It contained one classroom, two outer rooms a library alcove with one thousand books as well as a belfry. Many of its students walked or rode ponies from as far away as Skyline or Coal Mine Ridge. In the early years, school closed from December to March because of difficult travel. Enrollment ranged between 40 and 50 until after World War II when the increasing population required the construction of a modern four room school.
Marker is on Portola Road, on the left when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
