Meeker

Social Saturday to benefit restoration of Coal Creek School

phBUFCoalCreekSchool in 1896
Pictured is Coal Creek School in 1896. On Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Buford School, the White River Community Association will hold an old-fashion dessert box social and dance, and the public is invited to take part. The event is to raise money for restoring the Coal Creek School, similar to what the group has done with The Buford School.
BUFORD I More than 30 years ago, when Janet Clark first came to reside along County Road 6, she remembers recognizing the stately old building as an abandoned school. Now she is spearheading the Rio Blanco County Historical Society committee that is restoring Coal Creek School as an educational and interpretive center for community and visitors.

In July, Coal Creek School was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. That was a major step in the process toward restoration of this unique historic landmark. The old school was the pride of the rural community upon its completion in 1892, but has stood idle for many years.
Overwhelmingly positive response and support received by the Rio Blanco Rural Schools Project for the rural school site signs and driving tour brochures was the spark needed to begin the application process. History Colorado personnel helped with information and advice for grant funding the Coal Creek School building assessment as a viable candidate structurally, architecturally, and historically.
The next step was the nomination for historic designation on county, state and national registers that make the Coal Creek School restoration project even eligible for grants.
Learning about the preservation and restoration process has taken Clark and her team to the nomination review meeting in Denver, History Colorado State Historical Fund Roundtable held in Meeker, Hayden Heritage Center and Elkhead Schoolhouse Tours. Other historic places within our community and around the state have been compared and studied. Shared stories and photos from local residents or their descendants have brought the history of Coal Creek School to life.
Reminiscent of the pioneer times, restoration of the Coal Creek School needs to be a community-supported endeavor. While funds are available partially by state grants, events to raise the required matching funds will be ongoing.
The first major fundraising event is an old-fashioned dessert box social and dance on Saturday, running from 5 to 9 p.m., hosted by the White River Community Association at the Buford Schoolhouse. The Buford School went through a similar process not many years ago. The public is invited to make this the highlight of your Labor Day weekend.
Click on www.rioblancocounty.org/news to follow the rest of the story!

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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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