Skolan i Las Animas är byggd av Nels T Nelson:
http://lasanimascolorado.net/index_files/Page846.htm Även i Hispania News:
Columbian School recognized
as a building deserving to be
preserved
Columbian School is listed in the Buildings of the United
States, Buildings of Colorado by Tom Noel. This is a series
of books on American architecture compiled in each state,
with the objective to identify and celebrate the rich cultural,
economic and geographical diversity of the US reflected in
the architecture of each state.
Columbian School. BCHS and the Bent County Courthouse
were the only buildings that were selected from Las Animas.
Description: BN03, Columbian School. 1916,
Nels T. Nelson,
W.F. Mowbrayh, and F.W. Foote, builders. L946, addition.
1026 6th St.
This single-story brick school on a rectangular plan has a
central open courtyard and a two-story gymnasium on the
north. The Mission Revival style is evident in the curvilinear
parapets with quatrefoil ornaments and in the arcade on three
sides of the courtyard.
The two-story addition at the northeast corner is larger but
sympathetic, with light and dark beige brick contrasting subtly
in tone to highlight brick patterns in the full-height entry
surrounds. The nearby cottage, built for band practice, has
been remodeled for classrooms.
Builder, Nels T. Nelson, who
came from Sweden via Ishpeming, Michigan, built many stone
buildings in Fort Lyon, Las Animas, and Cripple Creek.
Despite efforts to develop a regional architecture, modern
Colorado communities differ little from others in the US.
However, somewhat distinctive are the Hispanic towns of
southern Colorado. Columbian is the only known Mission
Revival School with open Mission Courtyard in Colorado. It
should be preserved.
Demolition of Colorado's architectural heritage sparked a
grassroots movement. In l! 966, SHPO offices in each state
were federally funded to identify, designate, and preserve the
buildings of architectural value and significance.
The President of the US supports Preserve America Awards
and grants to communities that undertake preservation efforts.
As a national reaction to urban renewal demolitions and
some Americans trend toward disposable architecture, the
preservation movement found strong support in Colorado..
Now many communities consider their architectural heritages
and undertake preservation efforts and many have passed
preservation ordinances with controls over demolition or abuse of landmarks.
Colorado Preservation:
(4) BENT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
People are startled as they enter Las Animas from the west side and suddenly pass by the imposing, three-story, massive-columned old Bent County High School. Believed eligible for national and state registers of historic places, the now empty school was designed by Swedish architect James Larson in the neoclassical style with construction completed by Nels T. Nelson in 1913. The base of the building is faced with local buff-colored sandstone up to the water table course, which is cut sandstone of a different variety. Upper levels are faced with buff-colored, iron spot, dry-pressed face brick.
In 1939, the original high school was extended with the addition of a middle school on the east side. The addition, with elements of Art Deco and Art Moderne, was designed by Walter De Mourant and John Gray of Pueblo, and is believed to be a feature that contributes to the historic register eligibility of the building as a whole.
The old Bent County High School is also noted for its association with significant persons who attended school there, namely U.S. Ambassador Llewellyn Thompson, who was an expert on Soviet affairs and served under President John F. Kennedy during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis; Ken Curtis (born Curtis Gates), “Festus” of the long-running television series Gunsmoke; and author James Michener's wife, Mari (Sabusawa) Michener.
The local school board does not want to continue maintaining the high school, which has been out of use for years. However, with offices in the adjoining old middle school building, the school board may be interested in remaining on site if a viable use can be found for the old high school.
(Meddelandet ändrat av izla 2010-06-14 16:34)