In those early days, especially in rural and farm areas, taking a photo of anything of importance was a luxury, a far cry from today when a picture is a click away on our phones! This lone lackluster photo of Haxtun Colorado, taken in 1899 and may well of been only a few years into the organization of this great community in the northeastern plains of Colorado.
As the town grew in population from 20 in the late 1890's to more than 1,200 in 1919, the need arose for more building of schools, churches, and establishments.
The tiny white structure in the background to the left was the very first school in Haxtun. The education during that time was taught by August Johnson. It was his brother Charles who took the grainy photo. (The family owned Johnson Meat Market in the early 1920's.) The school house was also used as a church.
With the growing numbers, the bustling town needed a new school. In c.1900, Haxtun community members built the Cement Block School which was a grade school and high school combined. The blocks were made from materials from a creek bed south of Haxtun. Several other businesses in downtown Haxtun were built with these blocks.
Again the need arose for a separate grade school which would be built on this same location on West Fletcher Street. The new high school would be constructed on the north end of town.
Designs were made, and a grade school that would accommodate grade 1-8, was built in 1919. The high School was also built around that same time.
In the early 1960's, plans were made to demolish the grade School (which educated students for more than 44 years), and establish a new elementary school (N. Colorado Ave.) across the street from the high school. Ground breaking on the new school was completed 1961. The cornerstone was laid on May 26, 1962 and dedication of the new school was held in April of 1963. Superintendent was C. Buford Plemmons, Principal was Brad Clark and Lloyd Skold was the President of the School Board. Many of the surrounding community schools, which included Rockland, Fairfield, Buffalo Grass and Highland Center all closed their doors about this same time and were bused to Haxtun to attend school.
More Building! Again, details were drafted and a new modern high school would be built on the west side of the elementary school. (The above photo says that the demolition was in 1989, but the new school was not completed until 1990, so not certain of the time frame.) The community used the gym/auditorium a few years before it was also taken down.
The new Haxtun High School, 201 W. Powell, Haxtun Colorado was completed in 1990 with a dedication ceremony in March 17, 1990.
Welcome to Bulldog Country!
The current high school and elementary (above photos) have both seen many changes through the years with the addition of a Jr. High wing, roof updates on both schools, parking lot changes, extensive playground work, new fencing, technology advancements, new carpet, changes to locker rooms in the high school, and complete renovation of the gym floor with new bleachers installed. (I am sure there are more!) Just within the past 2 weeks the football field has a new gate entrance sign!
A lot has changed over the vast number of years from that plain white wood structure that served 10 children, to the modern educational system of today! Haxtun takes pride in learning about the past educational history, taking that knowledge to a new generation of learning, producing high quality students. Build it....they will need it!
Thank you to Nora Hofmeister for the current photos!
Love this! Thank you so much. Makes me remember all my time in Haxtun. Came back in 2015 to see my Mom’s headstone.