51 Years Ago
Students at Mitchell Elementary School in Golden are going to mark the Centennial-Bicentennial by hauling a 100-year-old school building from Golden Gate Canyon to their schoolyard.
Golden Daily Transcript - May 2, 1975
Mitchell Elementary School students visited City Council in April of 1975 to propose a project to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial and Colorado's Centennial.
The Guy Hill School was a one-room schoolhouse that had educated generations of children in Golden Gate Canyon. The building was no longer used as a school and was sitting on private land. The owners (Ramon and Marie Bisque and Frank and Darlene Stermole) were willing to donate it if the children (and their adult assistants) could move it.
Six students presented to Council:
- Carrie Montoya introduced the project, explaining what they hoped to do.
- Bonnie Adams explained that the school had been built by canyon residents when Golden Gate Canyon was the main route to the gold mines in Gilpin County.
- Carol Ostrenga described the plan to restore the building and place it in the Mitchell schoolyard, which at that time was at 12th and Jackson. They planned to add a school bell, a 35 star flag, a wood-burning stove, and kerosene lamps. They also hoped to obtain a buggy to park next to the school and surround the school and buggy with a white picket fence. They planned to seek help from area high schools and trade schools.
- Cindy Miller reported that Bo Bowers had offered assistance from Marine Corps Reservists and the use of a truck to transport the building from the canyon into Golden. She explained that ten electric lines and three traffic lights stood in the way of the move.
- Timothy Lind reported that they had requested a $2500 grant from the Dept. of Education but had been turned down. He went on to say that they hoped to get some donated materials, planned to collect cans and bottles, do an art sale, show movies with admission fees, and donate babysitting money.
- Cathy Warton asked Council approval for a moving permit and a building permit as well as permission to build a foundation and to get gas and electric connections.
Council approved the project and promised to waive all permit fees. By June, the school was on its way to Golden!
When the original Mitchell School on 12th Street was demolished, the Guy Hill School building was moved to the newly forming Clear Creek History Park. There, it is used for summer camps and History Park events.
