Thomas Jefferson School (Sacramento, California)

The original Jefferson School building, constructed in 1870, was the oldest in Sacramento, before it was expanded as part of a school building program planned in the 1920s. The original building was considered too small and did not have enough windows to allow for sufficient sunlight.^[2]

In 1919, Superintendent of Schools Charles C. Hughes proposed a bond to fund a district-wide program of school construction, seeking to build three new schools including a high school.^[2] It also looked to add to two schools and abandon and rebuild seven existing schools, including Jefferson School, on new sites.^[2] Many of the old school buildings were too small for the growing population and wood-framed, which was vulnerable to fire.^[2] The $2,304,000 was passed by Sacramento voters in October 1919.^[2]

In November 1919, local architects appealed to the Board of Education to appoint an architectural commission that would design the school bond projects and be paid 6% of project costs.^[2] The directors were hesitant and wanted to reuse existing school plans, but architect E. C. Hemmings insisted the buildings be unique and that it would save on costs.^[2] In April 1920, the board appointed an Architectural and Engineering Commission consisting of architects Hemmings and Jens Peterson with structural engineer George Hudnutt, for a 4.5% commission.^[2] Hemmings was chairman of the commission and responsible for the plans and designs of the projects.^[2]

Although the original plans looked to abandon the original building, the District was able to acquire the remainder of the south half of the site's block for $33,000.^[2] That spring, the contract for Hemmings-Peterson-Hudnutt was transferred to newly formed Dean and Dean.^[2] The school architecture program carried on smoothly, as James S. Dean had been working on the Jefferson School design since the commission's inception.^[2]

Jefferson School became a distribution center for sugar rations during WWII.^[2] The building was converted to administrative offices in 1949, where it was used until 2009 when it was converted to storage.^[2] $270,000 was budgeted and plans included construction of a school supply warehouse. Charles Dean was architect, with Harry Devine as supervising architect.^[2] The original building had its interior almost completely gutted and renovated.^[2] Additionally, a two-story addition was built at the rear (north) of the building, along with a one-story east wing.^[2] The 1948–1949 school year was the last time students attended school at the site.^[2]

In 2022, plans were proposed to restore and turn the building into modern housing.^[3]

• Sacramento, California