The historic Alba Schoolhouse was built in 1895 on the flank of Ben Lomond Mountain so children living on upper Alba Road wouldn’t have to make the trip (two miles down, two miles back up) to the town of Ben Lomond every day on foot, a journey with a one-way elevation change of nearly 1500 feet.

Tragically, the Alba School House was lost in the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fire of 2020, along with over 900 homes in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

During its 125-year existence, the Alba School House served as a school, a library and---for the last 70 years---a community center administered by the Alba Parks and Recreation District. Comprising only 48 parcels and about 200 people, Alba is believed to be the smallest parks and rec district in the entire state of California, and receives zero dollars from property taxes. All Board members are unpaid volunteers from the neighborhood.

The Friends of the Alba School House non-profit 501C was formed in 2022. In 2024, the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District voted to donate the parcel where the schoolhouse once stood to the Alba Recreation and Parks District. Now, both organizations are working together on this important project. We are committed to continuing to use the parcel where the Alba Schoolhouse once stood as a community gathering place, and eventually rebuilding the schoolhouse itself.

For this historic little building to eventually rise from the ashes is a powerful symbol of the resilience of our community – a touchstone for our healing.

Rebuild the Alba Schoolhouse

Join us as we rebuild this piece of mountain history back from the ashes

Team Members