Do You Know This Building?
 Answers:
1. c) Saguache The two-story H-shaped building, designed by the Denver architectural firm of Manning and Frewen, is a good example of the Mediterranean style. Elements of the style are reflected in the tile roof, restrained ornamentation, brick construction, and the round arched windows and entry. Popular in Colorado during the 1920s, this style was frequently used for schools. Gold-seeking prospectors founded the town of Saguache in 1866. Ranchers (primarily cattle, but also sheep) soon followed and settled the area permanently. Saguache is the county seat of a county comprised of seven, widely scattered, sparsely populated towns. Several buildings and locations housed the town’s school until this building was constructed in 1915. Grade levels ranged from the first through the eighth. Due to the geographical isolation within the county, many families had very little contact with others. Consequently, it was necessary to teach two separate classes for first and second graders. One class was in English and the other was in Spanish. It was here that the Spanish-speaking children learned English with the integration process taking two years. Educators hoped that children would learn English and then teach their adult family members. The ultimate goal was the desegregation of the community. Although there is no written documentation of this integration process, locals who attended the school recall the separate classrooms. The building served as the town’s elementary school until 1967, when construction of a new school forced its closure. The building was vacant for a short period in the 1970s. The county’s social services and the senior citizen center moved into the building in 1980. The Saguache Elementary School, also known as the Courthouse Annex, was listed in the State Register of Historic Properties. |
