Official public information of the City of Amador, California.

City ofAmador

October 17, 2026

The restored Old Schoolhouse is open again

A ribbon-cutting on October 9 marked the end of the fire remediation project at 14531 East School Street. City Council meetings have returned to the Community Hall, and the hall is available to rent.

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Five people hold a red ribbon in front of the white schoolhouse doorway marked 14531, with guests standing behind them.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 9 to celebrate the reopening of the Amador City Schoolhouse, (from left to right) Amador County Chamber of Commerce past President Matt Toma, Amador City Business & Community Association President Amelia Ambroselli, Amador City Mayor Sandy Staples, Amador City Vice Mayor Nikko Ambroselli and current Chamber of Commerce President Erika Simmons. Courtesy photo, Ledger Dispatch.

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the City held a ribbon-cutting at the Old Schoolhouse, 14531 East School Street, to mark the end of the restoration that followed the April 2023 fire. Officials from Amador City and the Amador County Chamber of Commerce took part, and Foothill Kitchens catered a luncheon in the Community Hall afterward. The Ledger Dispatch covered the reopening on its front page: Newly-restored Amador City Schoolhouse reopens.

What was done

The Amador City Hall Fire Remediation Project addressed the structure, building systems, fire safety, and accessibility. On September 8, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution 655, accepting completion of the project and authorizing a Notice of Completion. The final payment was $54,074.55. The agenda, resolution, and notice are in the September 8, 2026 council packet. The minutes of that meeting are in the October 13, 2026 council packet.

What is in the building

  • The Community Hall downstairs, with a kitchen, where the City Council now meets.
  • Two studio apartments, both currently rented.
  • A public restroom.
  • A conference room upstairs that is still being restored. The Council has begun looking at whether it could serve as a public library and reading room.
  • Schoolhouse Park, with a playground and a half court for basketball and pickleball.

City Council meetings

Regular City Council meetings are held in the Community Hall. Parking is available by driving down the gravel driveway on the north side of the Schoolhouse and parking at the pickleball court. Agendas and packets are posted on the meetings page.

Renting the Community Hall

The Council approved a rental packet for the Community Hall on September 8. The hall is about 900 square feet and is ADA accessible. It holds 50 to 60 people seated at tables, 75 to 90 for a standing reception, or 110 to 120 in rows of chairs. The rate is $45 per hour between 8 AM and 9 PM, with a refundable $225 cleaning deposit and a refundable $25 key deposit. Tables, chairs, heat and air, a refrigerator, and a large microwave are included. The kitchen is for finishing and serving prepared food, not cooking from scratch. A $1,000,000 liability policy naming the City as additional insured is required.

For information and a rental application, contact City Hall at 14203 Main Street, 209-267-0682, 9 AM to 12 PM Tuesday through Thursday. The rental packet and facility use policy are in the September 8, 2026 council packet.

A crowd stands along the porch of the white schoolhouse beside a wooden fence, watching the ceremony.
Residents and guests gather along the porch of the Old Schoolhouse during the October 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Courtesy photo, Ledger Dispatch.

Thanks

The City thanks the residents of Amador City; the Sutter Creek Fire Protection District; Larry White and Frank Whitmore of Weber, Ghio & Associates; Weatherby Reynolds Fritson Engineering; John Allen Construction; the Amador County Historical Society; Amelia Ambroselli and Alyssa Luft of the Amador City Business and Community Association; and Foothill Kitchens.

A short history

  • 1857: An early schoolhouse is reported in Amador, with Mrs. Hoyt teaching about 20 to 25 pupils.
  • 1878 to 1879: A rear wing adds two larger classrooms.
  • 1890: A Sanborn fire insurance map identifies the public school property.
  • 1927: Mary Gross Botto is identified as the grammar school principal.
  • 2023: The April fire begins a period of repair and rehabilitation.
  • 2026: The restored schoolhouse reopens for civic use.