OUR HISTORY

To understand the history of Snowflake High School (SHS), it's important to acknowledge how the communities of Snowflake and Taylor began, how the schools were started, and how we got to where we are today! You can read more at the Snowflake-Taylor Chamber of Commerce and learn more about our small, but growing, community.

In 1873, James Stinson established his cattle ranch along the Silver Creek valley that he called the Rancho Rio Plata. He used those cattle to feed the soldiers at Fort Apache. He owned much of the land in what is now the town of Snowflake.

James Stinson

In January of 1878, James Pearce arrived and settled the town of Taylor, AZ. In March or the same year, John Standifird joined him in growing the community.

*The Standifird home, built by the Brimhall family in honor of these two men, still stands and can be toured through the Taylor Heritage Museum. Click HERE to read more.

James Pearce and John Standifird

In July of 1878, William Jordan Flake purchased the James Stinson ranch, and settled the town of Snowflake, AZ with the help of Erastus Snow. That is how the name of Snowflake came to be. Snow did not settle long in the area, he was here to help colonize it and moved back to the Salt Lake Valley. So, while you may hear the last name of Flake on every street corner still today, you are less likely to find as many Snow's .

Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake


This is the very first schoolhouse in Snowflake, AZ. It is now the Stinson Museum that is housed in the Stinson/Flake Ranch home. Although it is not the original schoolhouse building, it is still the same location as the historic home of Stinson and Flake and has wonderful Snowflake historical artifacts and photos to see. If you click the link above, you can see the location and more information about visiting.

The first schoolhouse in Snowflake, AZ

This log cabin, built in 1858 and now on Hunt and Main street in Snowflake, also acted as a schoolhouse at one point in time. The log cabin belonged to William Jordan Flake and was brought here by his family from Beaver City, Utah. It still stands today. While the Stinson/Flake Ranch home may be the oldest house in our historic Snowflake townsite, this log cabin is definitely considered the oldest structure in our town. Click HERE to read more about the history, if that interests you.

Log Cabin on Hunt and Main Street in Snowflake

Log Cabin on Hunt and Main Street in Snowflake, AZ

Log Cabin on Hunt and Main Street in Snowflake, AZ

Stinson-Flake Ranch house and Stinson Museum

From 1893-1900 the Taylor Log Schoolhouse was where Taylor, AZ students learned reading, writing, and arithmetic from. To the right, you can see a picture of the staff and students from one of the years it was being used for this purpose.

The Taylor Log School (1893-1900)

In the early 1900's, through to the late 1940's, the old Shumway Schoolhouse served as a school, church, and social hall for the Shumway community. In 2001, this schoolhouse was dedicated as Arizona’s only standing one-room brick schoolhouse. What a legacy that can still be seen today!

Completed in 1905, the Taylor Schoolhouse took over as the primary location for students to attend school and church.

Taylor's Little Red Schoolhouse- Completed in 1905

Taylor Church and School - 600 E and Center Taylor, AZ

Winter at the Taylor Schoolhouse

The Beginnings of SHS as the Snowflake Stake Academy (SSA)

  • In November of 1888, the Snowflake Stake received a Charter signed by Wilford Woodruff authorizing the Stake to establish an academy for high school students.

  • The Stake secured the services of Edward Webb as principal. On January 21, 1889, the school opened its doors for the first time at the old log cabin which was formerly the Relief Society Building.  (This is where the Social Hall now stands.)

  • From 1894 to 1899 the Academy was closed because of lack of funds.

  • In 1898 a building committee was selected to get the Academy up and running again.

  • In 1899, under the direction of Joseph Peterson, the Academy was reopened and offered a two year program for high school students.

  • In the fall of 1908, the Academy began offering a four year program for high school students. So, it took 10 years to get to that point.

  • In August of 1910, the back section of the SSA was completed. Unfortunately, on Thanksgiving Day of the same year, it burned down.

The original Snowflake Stake Academy (SSA) building (1901-1910)

The original SSA (1901-1910)

SSA (rear section) 1901 – 1910. This section was completed in August of 1910 and burned down in November of 1910.