New trusses were installed on the Coal Creek School building Sept. 16 as part of the ongoing restoration project. Each truss had to be individually built to fit between the original trusses. The new trusses bring the building up to code for snow loads. The white building behind the crane is the privy/coal shed with was restored in 2015 by local donations. Many names of children who went to Coal Creek School are on the walls in the privy. Once the roof is done, the gable ends and trim will be restored and painted to match their original (1892) appearance. This Saturday, exactly 124 years from the dedicatory ball for the school, the Rio Blanco County Historical Society is sponsoring a Rubber Ducky Race fundraiser for the restoration project. Visit the historical society’s booth at the Fall Festival in downtown Meeker on Saturday for details and one of their famous root beer floats. The Rubber Ducky Race will start at 2 p.m. at the Fifth Street Bridge and end at the 10th Street Bridge.
