The Fruita Schoolhouse was built in 1896 on land donated by Elijah Cutler Behunin.
Behunin was the leader of the group of pioneers who cleared the wagon trail through
Capitol Gorge which allowed settlers and others to pass more easily though the Waterpocket Fold.
He and other early Junction settlers constructed the building. Even though only eight families
lived in Junction, these farmers had large families.
The Behunins raised thirteen children themselves, one of which, Nettie,
became the first schoolteacher at age 12.
Her first class in the chinked-log one-room schoolhouse had 22 students.
The schoolhouse also served as a meeting house and church.
Since 1924, the building was also used for dances, town meetings, elections, church youth activities, box suppers, and celebrations.
Classes of varying sizes and grades continued until 1941, when the school was discontinued for lack of students and the remaining students were bussed to Torrey.
In 1964, the National Park Service nominated the school to the National Register of Historic Places and subsequently restored the structure to the 1930s period.
Today, the school stands in its original location alongside Utah Highway 24.