3rd Morgan Hill Grammar School

By 1923 Morgan Hill was outgrowing its small-town roots. The city commissioned famous Bay Area architect William Weeks to build its third grammar school at the corner of Monterey and Dunne. It was a grand, sturdy building designed to handle the children of the "Valley of Heart’s Delight"—kids whose families spent their days in the surrounding prune and apricot orchards. Many long-time Morgan Hill residents remember receiving their early education there.

The most incredible part of this building's history is that it isn't where it started. As the valley transitioned into Silicon Valley and the population exploded, the downtown corner property became too valuable for a small school. In 1997 the City purchased the land in order to build a community and cultural center at that location. The local residents did not want the historic building demolished and fought hard to save it. The effort was led by Gloria Pariseau, the president of the Morgan Hill Historical Society at the time and long-time board member, who was intent on preserving this bit of California and Morgan Hill history.

In 2001, in a massive feat of engineering, the historic building was carefully cut into 13 separate pieces and moved by truck to Llagas Valley.  There it was beautifully restored and serves the community again as a private elementary school. This project was so significant that it received the Governor's Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation.

The Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center that now occupies the corner of Monterey and Dunne avenues celebrated its grand opening in December 2002. What once was a center of children’s education has become a cornerstone of South County’s cultural life.