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The History of the Pioneer Valley and Pioneer Valley Elementary
Nels. B. Nelson was the first homesteader on the land purchased to build Pioneer Valley.
This was the original family to live in this area. The Bethel School District purchased the
property for Pioneer Valley from Darrel and Naome Squire. They had a Charolairs
cattle ranch with a barn and a house. The barn was removed to make way for the playfield,
and the house is still used for Challenger High School. The school district purchased
40 acres at approximately $ 13,000 per acre. The design for the school was completed
in 1990. The construction began in June of 1990. The school was originally built to hold
525 students. The school opened in September,1990. Pioneer Valley was named by
Jean Casadoro, a teacher in the district, through the naming contest.
Pioneer Valley students and staff chose the school mascot the “Explorers.”