Bent County High School

Listed: 2004

Constructed: 1913

Threat: Demolition

Closest Town to Resource: Las Animas

Significance: One of the threats facing many historic schools is the tendency for communities to build new public school campuses far from the center of town, typically in outer-ring suburbs or on the edge of small towns. Older neighborhood schools are abandoned, often without a new use in sight. The challenge facing many historic schools is finding a new compatible use. Constructed in 1913, Bent County High School was attended by U.S. Ambassador Llewellyn Thompson (an expert on Soviet affairs who served under President John F. Kennedy during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis); Ken Curtis (“Festus” of the long-running television series Gunsmoke); and author James Michener’s wife, Mari (Sabusawa) Michener). In addition to its association with significant persons, the school is known for its imposing three-story columned architecture. Believed to be eligible for the National State Register of Historic Places, Swedish architect James Larson designed the now-empty school in the neoclassical style, with construction completed by Nels T. Nelson.

The school has been vacant, and interior chalkboards and doors have been scavenged. Still, the beautiful stamped tin ceiling remains a testament to a time when schools were deemed worthy of thoughtful and beautiful architectural detail. The structure itself is sound, and it is easy to imagine the school being reborn as one of the finest structures in Las Animas. The Las Animas School Board and Bent County Commissioners had discussed demolishing the building, but this has not occurred, and the building remains mothballed.

Site Needs: Reuse plan, funding, discussions with County.

Update: CPI recently paired an interested developer with Bent County to discuss their interest in redeveloping the high school into studios. The developer met with the county and discussed incentives and potential tax credits.

Listed: 2004

Constructed: 1916

Threat: Demolition

Closest Town to Resource: Las Animas

Significance: The Columbian Elementary School was constructed in 1916 to replace the first Columbian School constructed in 1887. The school was built with an inner grassy courtyard and a colonnade of brick arches reminiscent of a time when forts were necessary to protect early pioneers and settlers. The building was abandoned for the newly completed Las Animas Elementary School, and bids began coming in for its demolition. Supporters hoped to find a re-use for the building, but school officials favored demolition. Despite Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s efforts with the local school board, the Columbian School came down in February of 2006 despite a purchase offer from a Las Animas resident rejected by the school board.