Buckeye School achieves national designation

By Sue Wilcox
Buckeye Community Club

Built in 1925-26, Buckeye School on County Road 80 has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, effective June 26.

Ellie Jones spearheaded the effort, doing most of the research and application work. She was aided by Sue and Becca Wilcox, who took photos and a first-person history from Ed "Buster" Munroe, who attended Buckeye School for eight years when the school was new. His son, Monte, also attended the school.

Buckeye Community Club members will mark this achievement at their monthly get-together on Aug. 9, which will be a celebration barbecue potluck at 6:30 p.m.

BCC secretary-treasurer Edie Yates recently organized members to paint the entrance hallway and to paint and redecorate the restrooms for an open house held in June. Other planned improvements include painting the lower level and refinishing its floor.

Buckeye School is the only school of District No. 55 still standing and in its original location. Students attended Buckeye for grades one through eight and then attended high school in Waverly. When the school closed in 1960, the community's children attended Waverly School. Waverly Elementary School closed in 1992.

The nonprofit community club has owned the building and three acres since 1970, purchasing it from the consolidated Poudre School District for $767.

The club has found that historic designation comes with a bonus. Jones is preparing a grant proposal which would pay for the services of an architect to perform a structural assessment of the building. Other grants may be available if repairs or improvements are needed.