Celebrating Conifer’s Little White Schoolhouse centennial

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In 1923, a postage stamp cost 2 cents, a movie ticket 35 cents and people were listening to songs like “Yes, We Have No Bananas.” In the 1920s, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge were presidents — and in Conifer, the Little White School- house opened its doors. at local centennial event was celebrated on Aug. 5 by the Conifer Historical Society with a party including cake, ice cream and music, plus reminiscing by the school’s former teachers and a celebration of Conifer’s history. e theme of the event was “Remember the Past, Enjoy the Present and Embrace the Future.” e building was a school until 2012, and since then it has been the historical society’s home.

“We need to honor how the people lived (in the 1920s),” said Carla Mink, who has a long history with the building, having been the preschool director there from 1983 until 2012 and then working with the Conifer Historical Society. “We need to honor their sacri ces to start our beautiful town.”

Mink and several former teachers talked about their time teaching youngsters at the school. ey agreed that what made the school so special were the children, their families and the special bond among everyone.

“It was like having a family outside my own,” Mink said, noting that the rst children she worked with in 1983 now are 44 years old. “Seven of my students eventually brought their kids to school here. It was like they were all my grandkids.”

Kimberly Barben said the building had heart.

“It was the way you felt when you came in this place,” said Barben, who taught in the Little White Schoolhouse from 2001-2012, then moved to West Je erson Elementary School when the schoolhouse closed. She now is the preschool director at Elk Creek Elementary.

“ e sta was wonderful, and it was such a strong community — a family,” Barben said.

Linda Koch, who taught at the preschool from 1998-2012, agreed.

“All the children were so special,” she said. “I still run into (some of my former students).”

Wendy Moore and Louise Decker, who are Conifer Historical Society members, attended the centennial celebration because they like history, and as they put it, they like “old stu .”

Decker said she had been an elementary school teacher in Clear Creek County, so she likes learning more about history at di erent schools

“It’s important to keep history going,” she said.

Building history

Mink has written a history of the Little White Schoolhouse, and the following are excerpts from her work:

“(After) J.J. Mullen had donated one acre of land on the northern section of his property known as Bradford Junction, the dream of a new school could become a reality. Conifer school district taxpayers (met) to issue bonds to build a new school house. After a few more meetings, it was decided to build the new school on the Mullen land.

“Nine school children of various ages patiently waited for their school to become a reality, as the parents of those children helped with the construction of the schoolhouse. … It opened its doors on Feb. 12, 1923. … e rst teacher was Mrs. Charles Kuntz.