Sara Yarnell (Brenda Vaccaro) is a pretty but determined and strong schoolteacher who leaves what she considers to be a dull existence in Philadelphia to teach school in the west in 1870.
She settles in Independence, Colorado where a one-room school had been established but had been abandoned. She re-establishes the school and subsequent episodes relate her struggles to teach the children (and adults) of a growing town in a ruthless territory.
Sara befriends Julia (Mariclare Costello) and George (William Wintersole) Bailey, and their son Georgie (Kraig Metzinger) – and their housekeeper, Claranet (Silvia Soares) – and local rancher Emmett Ferguson (Bert Kramer).
Other regular characters include Martin Pope (Albert Stratton), the publisher of the town newspaper (The Bulletin); town mayor Claude Barstow (William Phipps); boarding house owner Martha Higgins (Louise Latham), her husband Samuel (Al Henderson) and their daughters, Emma (Hallie Morgan) and Deborah (Debbie Leyton), and rancher Frank Dixon (Jerry Hardin).
Sara Yarnell
Brenda Vaccaro Emmett Ferguson
Bert Kramer Martin Pope
Albert Stratton Julia Bailey
Mariclare Costello George Bailey
William Wintersole Martha Higgins
Louise Latham Samuel Higgins
Al Henderson Emma Higgins
Hallie Morgan Deborah Higgins
Debbie Leyton Claude Bristow
William Phipps Georgie Bailey
Kraig Metzinger Claranet
Silvia Soares Claude Barstow
William Edward Phipps Frank Dixon
Jerry Hardin
