Fort Thomas
Arizona
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Fort Thomas Unified Schools
About us
Fort Thomas Unified Schools serves two distinct rural communities, Bylas and Fort Thomas--one on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and the other off. Foremost in the focus and mission of our school are the concepts that:
- school is for children
- the school belongs to the community
- schools are people developers
- self-effort educates.
Our staff remains highly-focused on delivering each of our students an excellent education and helping them reach their highest potential. From our principals to our playground monitors, the dedication and commitment here at Fort Thomas Unified Schools is evident.
History
In 1864, the U.S. government created a territorial outpost to provide protection for settlers in the Gila Valley. This camp, named for Arizona's first governor, John N. Goodwin, was destined for disaster. There were unethical contractors, whose adobe buildings crumbled in just a few short years, a spring that swarmed with malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and sickness and disease so prevalent that they were forced to abandon the camp.
On August 12, 1876 a "New Post on the Gila" was to be selected to replace Camp Goodwin, which had been abandoned. The new location, seven miles above Camp Goodwin in Graham County, would come to be known as Camp Thomas in honor of Major General George W. Thomas of Civil War fame. It wouldn't be until 1882 that the name would be officially changed to the current Fort Thomas.
By the time it was known as Fort Thomas there were already 27 buildings at the fort. They were all adobe buildings with shingle roofs. Officers' quarters were heated by stoves and fireplaces and other buildings by stoves. They even had water piped into all the buildings, but alas, there was no sewage system. Malaria remained a problem, however, and Fort Thomas was often called the worst Army post in the United States. Because of the flagrant fraud and monetary abuse in building Camp Goodwin (Fort Thomas' predecessor), and the fact that Camp Goodwin was a complete loss, no funds were made available for Fort Thomas. So, two years after it was begun, in 1879, the Fort consisted of only five structures, two adobe barracks, a guardhouse, an adjutant's office and a two-room shack for use by the commanding officer and his family. The soldiers built these themselves.
Fort Thomas Unified Schools serves two distinct rural communities, Bylas and Fort Thomas--one on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and the other off. Foremost in the focus and mission of our school are the concepts that:
- school is for children
- the school belongs to the community
- schools are people developers
- self-effort educates.
Our staff remains highly-focused on delivering each of our students an excellent education and helping them reach their highest potential. From our principals to our playground monitors, the dedication and commitment here at Fort Thomas Unified Schools is evident.
History
In 1864, the U.S. government created a territorial outpost to provide protection for settlers in the Gila Valley. This camp, named for Arizona's first governor, John N. Goodwin, was destined for disaster. There were unethical contractors, whose adobe buildings crumbled in just a few short years, a spring that swarmed with malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and sickness and disease so prevalent that they were forced to abandon the camp.
On August 12, 1876 a "New Post on the Gila" was to be selected to replace Camp Goodwin, which had been abandoned. The new location, seven miles above Camp Goodwin in Graham County, would come to be known as Camp Thomas in honor of Major General George W. Thomas of Civil War fame. It wouldn't be until 1882 that the name would be officially changed to the current Fort Thomas.
By the time it was known as Fort Thomas there were already 27 buildings at the fort. They were all adobe buildings with shingle roofs. Officers' quarters were heated by stoves and fireplaces and other buildings by stoves. They even had water piped into all the buildings, but alas, there was no sewage system. Malaria remained a problem, however, and Fort Thomas was often called the worst Army post in the United States. Because of the flagrant fraud and monetary abuse in building Camp Goodwin (Fort Thomas' predecessor), and the fact that Camp Goodwin was a complete loss, no funds were made available for Fort Thomas. So, two years after it was begun, in 1879, the Fort consisted of only five structures, two adobe barracks, a guardhouse, an adjutant's office and a two-room shack for use by the commanding officer and his family. The soldiers built these themselves.