Allison School

Alison School c. 1910
Allison School about 1910
Left to right: Anna Lewis, unidentified,
Modeste O’Brien, Essie Smith (the teacher), Janie Callister, Emma O’Brien, Richard Lewis, Charlie and Leslie O’Brien. Standing next to brick school.
This is the second school building in District 18.
From the Douglas County Historical Society Collection.  #1992.001.0654.0005

Allison School July 4th
Interior of the Allison School, perhaps decorated for the Fourth of July.
From the Douglas County Historical Society Collection #1992.001.0654.0017

.....One of the oldest schools in Douglas County, the first Allison School (District 18) was a frame building which stood on the east side of Cherry Creek north of the present Stroh Road south of Parker, Colorado. Around 1879, the community decided to erect a new brick building further to the east near what would become the Allison Ranch.

.....Frank H. Allison came to Douglas County in the 1880's with his wife Isabelle. They had two sons, Dean and Archibald. Around 1885, he completed construction on his "Twin Houses" near the school. Allison discovered that the water on his land had "medicinal properties of value without the injurious sulfates." Allison decided to build a springs resort on his ranch, which opened in February of 1893.

.....The school had between 10 and 18 students registered at any one time, but only 5 to 10 students on average attendance days. Around 1902, the school began to be entered into the teacher's record book as the Allison School, before that it was simply "District 18." Sometime between 1913 and 1918, the school was consolidated with Pine Grove (District 10)and Plainfield (District 29) to form the Parker Consolidated School

..... The building was torn down and the bricks were used in buildings on nearby ranches.

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