Time Line of Historical Events for the IDAHO SPRINGS SCHOOLS   1861 to 1986

186l

The first School in Idaho Springs was situated on 17th Avenue. Ms. Anna Marble was the first teacher.

1862 to 1867

The school building in Grass Valley (Approximately in the 2400 block) burned. School was then moved to John Iverson’s old shop. Miss Samantha Flack was the teacher.

1868 to 1869

Idaho Springs schools were organized as School District number five. Mr. Griswold was the first Secretary. No records were kept.

1871

The Spanish Bar School is united with Lower end (East) of town. The School building is built on the southeast corner of 12th and Colorado Blvd

The desks for the school were brought overland by ox-teams.

1880

Room was added to the 17th Ave. School. Enrollment was 100 students. Money to buy furnishings for the school was raised by fund raisers such as dances.

1884

A new recitation room was built on the east side of the 12th avenue School. A scarlet fever epidemic caused spring closing of school.

An election for $15,000.00 in bonded indebtedness passed, 59 for – 4 against.  Nine lots were purchased at 13th and Colorado Blvd for a new eight-room school.

1885

Grass Valley School Circa 1885

1888-89

The school year was changed from ten to nine months and 11th grade was added.

1890

The Grass Valley School District number 15, after several attempts, was consolidated into District number 5.

First High School graduating class members were: James Coddington, Jesse Woodward and Viola Greenlee.

1891

The second story of the building was finished. The first piano was purchased. Electric lights and bells were installed.

The two graduates in the class of ’91 were Minnie Clute and Janie Janes Birkins.

1892

Teachers were Miss Ager, Miss Ashmun, and Miss Havens in the grammar grades and Miss Lamphear, Miss North, and Miss Frazier for primary grades. Miss North remained for 6 years, Miss Frazier for 5 years, and Miss Lamphear for 2 years.

1894

Miss Darlington was the only new teacher. Janie James Birkins was appointed to Grass Valley school.

1895

Graduating class members were: Olive Filteau, Nellie Jones and Harrison Montague.

Twelfth grade is added.

The basement of the main school was divided into two recitation rooms and a laboratory.

A school is established at Gilson Gulch. Olive Filteau is in charge.

1896

Janie Jones Birkins placed in charge of Grass Valley School

The graduating class of five were: Jesse Coddington, Fred Collum, Charles Filteau, Maggie Gray-Hinkley, and Minnie Young.

1897

Miss Mary Collins from Boston was appointed Assistant Principal

The school was overcrowded with double sessions in lower grades.  The school also used two rooms in an adjoining house.

The graduating class was made up of four girls: Fannie Plummer, Emma Balker(later taught at Alice school) Louise Theobold, and Emma Taylor.

1898

There were few teacher changes. Miss Olive Filteau was a new teacher at Grass Valley.

Three lots were purchased at the west end of town for a new school.

Graduating class numbered  14.

1899

An entire new School Board is elected: Mr. Birkins, President; Origin Hall, Treasurer; and Mr. Noxon.  Class graduates were; Edwin Richards, Anna and Margaret Barkley, Thomas Colburn and Margaret Bond.

1900

The Grass Valley frame school is replaced with a brick building.

The brick school building erected at the west end of town was used for the lower elementary grades.

The west end school building has now served as the Baptist Church for many years.

A frame school building was constructed for Gilson Gulch School.

The bonded indebtedness for the school district was paid off.

The graduating class numbered five: Harry Comstock, Cliftonia Hanning, Rebecca Harper, Muriel Hill, and Charlotte Nicolson.

1901

John Roberts remained as President of the School Board.

The graduating class numbered six: Frank Kooken, Louis Oliver, Edith Orvis, Ethyl Robins, Sidney Varney, and Robert Wilkins

1902

A school is established at Chicago Creek. Enrollment is 26 students.

1906

The Plummer family of Idaho Springs donated necessary funds to construct the two-story Manual Training building.

The graduating class numbered five.

1909

Idaho Springs High School won the State Basketball Championship by defeating Castle Rock 20 to 19.

1912

The Chicago Creek School is closed. The High School graduating class numbered seven.

1928

Margaret Carlson begins teaching career at Idaho Springs.  She teaches fourth grade for four years.

1932

Margaret Carlson begins teaching second grade. She will continue as the 2nd grade teacher for fifteen years.

Idaho Springs High School discontinues football.

1936

The Idaho Springs High School basketball team wins the Mountain Valley League Championship.  They then lose to Denver teams for State Championship.

1937

A new high school  is completed at 13th and Miner St. It is a modern facility.  The Cost of the school is $100,000.

The Class of 1937 is the last graduating class from Colorado Blvd H.S.

There are 29 graduates which was the largest graduating class to that date

A new grade and high school building was built at 13th and Colorado Boulevard and was occupied by 150 students.  Originally, classes were separated by grades in four rooms on the first floor.

Total cost of the building was $16,400.

1943

The Class of 1943 is the first graduating class to have completed six years in the new high school. There are 26 graduates, several of which were serving in the United States Armed Forces.

The basketball team wins second place in the Mountain Valley Tournament and then loses both games in the District play-offs.

1946

The basketball team wins the Mountain Valley League title.  It advances to semi-finals of Class C playoffs only to lose to Fleming.

1947

Margaret Carlson is named the Principal of the grammar school.  The high school resumes eleven-man football.

The first kindergarten class was established. Margaret Carlson was also the first kindergarten teacher.

Pictured above are members of the original kindergarten class while attending their 20th reunion. First row left is Joyce Smith, Diane Wamsley, Lela Foster. Second Row left Ron Kamby, Dierk Brown, Bruce Edwards.

1954

The school building on Colorado Boulevard is condemned. Pictures above show the demolition of the  building.  From left are: Mrs. Keplinger, Dorothy Carlson, Margaret Carlson, Mr. Keplinger and another man  inspecting the contents of the corner stone.

New elementary school construction was begun.

1955-56

The Idaho Springs High School football team is Metropolitan League Co-Champion.

1956-57

Idaho Springs High School begins competing in track in the Metropolitan league.

1958

Idaho Springs High School begins varsity wrestling.

The first football game, pictured above, was played on Golddigger Field. The Idaho Springs team lost to Alameda by two touchdowns.

1959

All Clear Creek County School Districts are reorganized as Clear Creek County RE-l.

Idaho Springs High School wins the Metropolitan League Sportsmanship Trophy.

1960

The first High School graduating class for the combined school district had forty-one students.

1961

Idaho Springs High School wins the boys basketball league championship.

1969

A new high school building (Shown above) was constructed on Chicago Creek. It is first used in April of 1969.

1972

Margaret Carlson retires from school system.

1973

Clear Creek High School wins the League Wrestling Championship.

1982

Clear Creek High School baseball team wins the Metropolitan League Championship.

Clear Creek High School wins Outstanding Jazz Band in the Colorado West Invitational Music Performance Festival.

1983

Clear Creek High School Football team wins the Division Football Championship.  Clear Creek High School baseball team wins the Division Championship.

1985

Clear Creek High School Football team wins the Division Football Championship.

1986

Clear Creek High School wins the League Wrestling Championship. 

The elementary School in Idaho Springs is named “Carlson Elementary” in honor of Dorothy and Margaret Carlson.

1987

Clear Creek High School Football team wins the Division Football Championship.  Clear Creek High School wins the boys basketball Division Championship.

1989

Clear Creek High School Boys alpine skiing team wins the AAA State Championship.

1990

Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School girl’s cross country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School girl’s cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.

1991

Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross    country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.

1992

Clear Creek High School boys’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School boys’ cross country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School boys’ cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.

1993

Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.

1994

Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.

1995

Clear Creek High School wins the Class AAA girls basketball Runner-up.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.  Clear Creek High School wins the Regional Mock Trial Championship

1997

Clear Creek High School is runner up in the “We the People” State Competition.  Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

1998

Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the Regional Championship.  Clear Creek High School girls’ cross country team wins the AAA State Championship.  Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” State Runner-up.

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

1999

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” State Runner-up.  Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2000

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” State Runner-up.  Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2001

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” State Championship.  Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2002

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2003

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” State Runner-up.

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2004

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2005

Clear Creek High School wins the “We the People” District Championship.

2007

Clear Creek High School wins the League Wrestling Championship.  Clear Creek High School boys’ cross country team wins the League Championship.  Clear Creek High School wins the girls basketball District Championship.  Clear Creek High School wins Best in Class at the Winter Park Ski Music Festival.  Clear Creek High School wins the Regional Mock Trial Championship.

This time line was originally written by Les Clark, Class of  ’44, and has been added to since. Any input from readers is welcomed (email to dtomlinson@msn.com).

Information that will expand the history past what is shown would be appreciated.

Plans call for the insertion of more historic photos of the schools and activities as they become available.