Parachute Schools and their history

Bookcliff School

 

Granlee School

 Ruth Funk Benson arrived in Grand Valley in 1927 to teach school at the Granlee School. She had graduated not long before from the University of Colorado Normal School in Boulder. She and her sister, Roberta had planned to teach together in a 2 room school somewhere near Craig but when that fell through they chose schools that were near enough to each other that they might be able to occasionally visit each other. Roberta went to teach at the Cattle Creek School near Carbondale. Upon arrival by train in Grand Valley, Ruth was met by Albert Allen who drove her to the Allen home, where she "boarded in'. They lived about a mile from the school. One of her students was Jaunita Benson, the youngest child of Cade and Bertha Benson. Her older brother, Charlie, ranched there with his dad. Ruth and Charlie were married in May of 1929. written by Shell Kammer

  Ruth and Charlie Benson

 

Map showing where the schools were located

 

Battlement Mesa Gathering at the Old School House-1940
First Row: Rueben Nordstrom, Freddie Gardner, Ida Nordstrom, Alberta Gardner, Helen Roe, Clara Yates, Sonny Roe, Verda Gardner, Barbara Hatch, Geneva Stone, Jeannine Herwick, Anita Stone, Benny Hatch, Frank Roe.
Second Row: Jack Morrow, Bell Morrow, Mrs. Roe, Shirley Stone, Addie Williams, Julia Morrow, Mary Duplice, Doris Yates.
Third Row: Ethel Aringer, Polly Wehr, Mona Gardner, Edna Hatch holding Erlene, Mrs. Adelia Underwood.
Forth Row: Clyde Morrow, Roland Gardner, Hazel Mayfield, Mildred Wilshalen, Stella Cline, Laura Herwick, Etta Gardner, Sarah Williams, Susan McLane.
Fifth Row: Fred Werhonig, Earl Hatch, Bill Duplice, Jackie Williams holding Rolly Gardner, Guy Herwick, Edward Roberts, Dan Duplice (Just his hat showing), Harry Underwood, Hank Aringer, Edwin Roberts, Grandpa Aringer, & Theo Stone.
Photo and names courtesy the Zelda Herwick Montoya and Carol Herwick McManus collection.

The first school house built in Parachute after the voters approved a bond issue of $5300 in 1890.  Courtesy of Colin & Winifred Clem

The same school building after an addition was built in 1911 and a high school now provided for the area.  Courtesy of Daisy Green

Grand Valley High School women's basketball team of 1927
Back row: Ruth Jenny-Marjorie Armstrong-Helen Unland-Olive Duplice-Irene Layne-Mildred Miller.
Front row:Unknown teacher-Dorothy Sukeforth-Doris Unland-Iva Kerlee-Unknow teacher.
Photo courtesy the GV High School Annual of 1927.

The original Battlement Mesa Schoolhouse was constructed in 1889 out of logs.
In 1897, it was replaced by a stone structure of native red stone hauled from a rock quarry two miles away.
When it was built there was only one room, but an addition was added in 1907 creating the “T configuration”.
The 1889 log schoolhouse was abandoned once the new school was built and became the residence of R.O. Gardner who taught at the schoolhouse.
The first image appears to be that first log building, despite the misleading label. The caption says its1928, the teacher was Albert Gardner, and lists 22 students by name:
Ruth Morrow,
Bob, Oscar and Estella Ewin,
Malcom, Sarah and Jack Williams,
Tom and Olive Satterfield,
Freda and Orville Mahaffey,
Lloyd, Dempsey, Edward and Edwin Roberts Hazel Gardner
Emma Spencer,
Mildred Allot,
Art and Carl Green,
Maurice and Harry Pontius.
Ancestry records show that student Orville Mahaffey was 11 years old in 1928. So the date is probably correct.
Ancestry records show that R. O. Gardner was 21 years old in 1897 when the stone school was built. His son Albert was 23 years old as of the 1928 photo. So apparently son followed father as teacher.
The second image is the stone school.
Thank you to Sharon Beth Cranston of the Grand Valley Historical Society for help with the photos.

The Grand Valley School built in 1937 and three new classrooms (at the right of the picture) added in 1965.  Courtesy of Floyd McDaniel   Is currently operated as: Grand Valley Center for Family Learning @ 100 East Second Street Parachute, CO 81635

 

Current Grand Valley High School @ 800 Cardinal Way, Parachute, CO 81635

 

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