Valley View School, located two miles west of Salida on County Road 140, represents one of the last of more than 30 rural school districts formed in Chaffee County at the peak of mining activity. Built in 1903, this one-room schoolhouse held classes for up to 42 students from ranching families. The property includes a rectangular plan, gabled roof, cloakroom, tall narrow windows, one large classroom and outdoor privies. One teacher commented: “The outbuildings should be fixed to prevent the drifting of snow in them. They should be whitewashed inside and plenty of lime scattered about.” Besides a schoolhouse, the building was also a community center.
Due to consolidation of the county school districts, Valley View was sold to a private owner in 1958. In 2004, George Richardson, as executor of the estate of Roberta Koenig, deeded Valley View and its site to the Salida School District.
The school district’s original plan to use the site as an alternative high school has been postponed. The historic school remains empty and is deteriorating. How can it be preserved and used for educational purposes?
The National Trust for Historic Preservation advocates renovating existing schools or re-using buildings for school use as a sustainable practice. Through the Helping Johnny Walk to School: Sustaining Communities through Smart School Policy Program, the National Trust provides grants, technical assistance and new research to encourage community-centered schools. Look up “Neighborhood Schools” on www.preservationnation.org.
Also, stayed tuned to Rocky Mountain PBS for the possible rerun of a program which aired in September called “Our Living Legacy: Colorado’s Historic Schools.”
Many thanks to Gary Higgins and Jackie Powell of Central Colorado Preservation Partners, who shared information from their report, The Historic Structure Assessment of Valley View School. – by Leslie Walker, Salida Realty
