Decades after its dark past, an old Azusa schoolhouse becomes a ‘symbol of hope and progress’

This historic, one-room schoolhouse may not conjure up sweet images of children learning the three R’s and dropping an apple on the teacher’s desk.

That’s because the Old Schoolhouse in Azusa was a place where those of Mexican descent were segregated, taught English through a race-based policy of forced Americanization. Later came another slap in the face to the Canyon City’s growing Latino population, as the whites voted in City Hall, while “the Mexicans” were sent exclusively to the old schoolhouse to cast ballots, according to historical reports.

However, since it was built in 1903, the building has been a witness to the gradual changes in attitudes and civil rights. As city historians describe, it was the first kindergarten in the city, and became “a community space promoting connect