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NE CO Historic Photobook Blog
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Writer's pictureCindy Kipp

"The dormitory is not a loafing place for town boys and girls."

Updated: Jan 22, 2019

High school students in the early 1900's that lived in rural communities of larger towns didn't always have the opportunities to extend their education. In most cases the one-room schoolhouse only provided an eighth grade education. Distance was an issue as traveling was too expensive for the struggling farm families to send their son or daughter to high school. Many of those students had to stay home to work on the farm.


But..... if you lived around the growing metropolis areas of Holyoke and Haxtun Colorado in Northeast Colorado, you just might be blessed with furthering your education by way of a dormitory style living arrangement while attending Phillips County High School.

Posegate Hall, Holyoke Colorado, serving all of Phillips County, was built in 1919 and served as a dormitory until 1936, at which time was converted to housing for teachers and superintendents. It also was converted to a projection room, home economics, and a teachers's lounge.

High School Dormitory in the 1920's

Rules for Posegate Hall

1. Each occupant will be required to furnish the following articles. 1 pillow, 2 pillow cases, 1 pair blankets, 1 comforter, 2 bath towels, 3 face towels, wash cloths; and these must be changed weekly.

2. Occupants must be on time to meals or miss them, no deduction will be made for meals missed. Meals will not be served in rooms, except in case of illness.

3.Occupants must care for their rooms, i.e., beds made and rooms in order before school time.

4. Permission to spend the night away from the dormitory will not be granted, unless for special reason, neither will student be allowed to entertain guest overnight. Provisions will be made for parents of students who are ill.

5. Wrestling and loud talking in the building is forbidden.

6. Occupants must not bring cards, chewing-gum, matches or tobacco into the building.

7. Each student must bring a flashlight for emergencies as no other light but electricity is allowed.

8. Students must be in their rooms and be quiet after 7:30p.m. All lights must be turned off at 10:05.

9. The hour from 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. will be the social hour.

10. The outside doors will be locked at 10:05 p.m. Failure to be in at this time more than once, without permission, will expel the student from the dormitory. Permission to leave the dormitory after the evening meal must be obtained from the supervisor.

11. Written permission from parents is necessary for student to attend any social function not given by the school.

12. Students not rooming at the dormitory are requested to stay away from the institution unless they have some particular business there. In any case the management must be notified of their desire to enter the building. The dormitory is not a loafing place for town boys and girls.

13. Students are not allowed to have company during the school week.

14. No laundry work will be permitted. An increased rate for room rent will result in occupant attempting it.

15. A charge of .15 cents an hour will be made for use of an electric iron.

16. Occupants of the dormitory are requested to avoid the habit of borrowing from each other or from management.

17. When the occupants are careless about turning off lights, extra charges will be made.

18. Students who stay at the dormitory over Sunday are required to attend church. NO scuffling or loud talk will be permitted on Sunday.

19. Students who board here and room elsewhere are not privileged characters about the building.


Graduation Day, Phillips County High School, Holyoke Co. c. 1930.

The source for the photo and rules for Posegate Hall were submitted by the Phillips County Museum in Holyoke Colorado.

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Norma Nab
29 mar 2020

I am looking forward to seeing more. This a great site.

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