Yuma County, Colorado
Photographs

Boulder's high school students during the Great Depression felt that a lack of money at home contributed to an increase in school activities, which brought about cohesiveness within the student body. One of their mainstays during this time and earlier was a dedicated teacher, the late Elizabeth Stine.

Stine had come to Boulder in 1912 and taught for 25 years. She never married, but instead she devoted herself to her students, earning their respect and praise, as well as that of parents and colleagues.

At the time of Stine's arrival, the city's only high school was on the south side of Pearl Street between 17th and 18th streets on land previously used for baseball games and an occasional circus. Even though "Boulder High School" was inscribed over its front entrance, everyone called it "State Prep."

The red brick building had opened in 1895. Before then, Boulder high school students had occupied rooms in Mapleton and Highland elementary schools, as well as in Old Main at the University of Colorado.

In 1924, the Camera reported that Stine was "relieved" of one of her classes to take on the new position of "dean of girls." In addition to teaching English and German, her new duties included acting as an advisor to the female students.

During several of Stine's teaching years, she took summer graduate school classes at CU. In 1928, she accepted a scholarship to study in Oxford, England. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and also participated in the activities of the School of Missions at Boulder's Chautauqua.

State Prep was steeped in its own traditions. Instead of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, its students were called "onies, toots, trips and quads." Every year the school held a "flag rush." With "toots" in pursuit, "onies" raced with the flag to the summit of Flagstaff Mountain. If they won, they gained the right to wear the school colors of purple and gold.

Stine resigned as dean in 1932 to resume her full teaching schedule. The small white-haired lady was said to have had a sweet disposition. Students praised her loyalty and patience in their school annual, the "Odaroloc" ("Colorado" spelled backwards).

At the age of 69, Stine retired. The year was 1937, the last for State Prep, as well. The school board had deemed the building "unsafe, unsanitary, badly arranged and poorly equipped." Federal funds became available to build the current high school at 1604 Arapahoe Ave.

State Prep was torn down in 1939. Preservation was not even considered. Instead, the building was sold to a Denver wrecking firm for $1,750. Some of Stine's former students stood and watched the demolition. Many were in tears. Stine probably followed her own advice, once printed in the "Odarolac" next to her photo. She had said, "If you can't do anything else to help along, just smile."

Stine died in Boulder in February 1952 at the age of 84. After funeral services, her body was transported to her childhood home of Hastings, Neb., where she was buried in a family plot next to her parents.