A sign near the corner of West Prairie and Cemetery Avenue states:
Colorado County
Historic
School Site
This was the location of
Eagle Lake High
1891 - 1970
One of the early schools in
Colorado County
which served
the people of this area.
This plaque commemorating
the historic school
was donated by the citizens of
this area and sponsored by
the Colorado County Historical
Commission.
1988
The first three public school buildings in Eagle Lake were located on this site. The first two were made of brick. The first building was constructed in 1891 and replaced in 1911. The second building was replaced in 1925 after cracks appeared after an ice storm in February of 1923.
Various news articles from 1891. (link below)
Eagle Lake is soon to have a new, large and commodious schoolhouse, the work upon which will be commenced next Monday by the Messrs. Wirtzs, contractors, of this city. The new building is to be 85x32 feet, two stories high, each story to be divided into two rooms, the partition of the upper rooms to be moveable, allowing the whole story to be thrown into one room as an auditorium for school exhibitions, lectures, etc. Mr. H. Conner, the energetic local lumber dealer, has four-fifths of the lumber on the ground, and will rapidly place the remainder of the material, so that the work may not be interrupted, and the building will be completed long before needed for the fall term. The Citizen desires to congratulate the energetic citizens of the little lake city on their bright educational prospects.
Colorado Citizen, April 16, 1891, page 3
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Our school house is fast being completed. The contractors, Wirtz Bros., say it will be all complete about the 20th of June. It is an imposing and substantial building and when fully completed will be one of the most commodious buildings in the country. When it is completed we ought to have a big ball and supper and give ourselves up to enjoyment for one night anyhow. For, in our humble opinion, there will be an impetus given to Eagle Lake that was brought about by the building of this house.--Eagle Lake Canoe.
Weimar Mercury, May 30, 1891
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EAGLE LAKE ITEMS
The finishing touches have been put on the school house by the painters, and we now have a handsome school building, and if the city council can get the right man to take charge of the school, a flourishing school, can be built up here, which will doubtless add greatly to the prosperity of our little city.
The Eagle Lake dramatic association has been thoroughly reorganized and is now under the able management of Mrs. J. A. Guynn, and can but succeed. This company will render the Soldier of Fortune at the new schoolhouse on the evening of the 14th, for the purpose of raising money to put a fence around the school building. This is a laudable and praiseworthy enterprise and we hope to see the house crowded on that occasion. We feel that we can safely promise those who attend a nice and pleasant time, and the full value of their money in pleasure and fun.
Shall a school tax be levied for the purpose of running our schools eight or ten months in the year? is the question now agitating the minds of our good people.
Colorado Citizen, July 2, 1891, page 3
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EAGLE LAKE ITEMS
The city “dads” have at last succeeded in selecting a principal for our high school. The gentleman selected, Prof. W. G. Smiley of Ohio, comes highly recommended, and we hope will succeed in building up a first-class school. It is greatly to be regretted, however, that the school board could not find a suitable man south of Mason & Dixon’s line.
The city schools will open on the 2d Monday of this month and continue 10 months.
The city council decided at its regular meeting Tuesday morning that the school tax for this years should be one-half of one per cent. This tax, in addition to the public fund, will be sufficient to continue the school the whole year.
Colorado Citizen, September 3, 1891, page 3
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EAGLE LAKE ITEMS
The Eagle Lake high school opened Monday with one hundred and forty pupils, under very favorable circumstances. Prof. Smiley and his assistants seem to be doing first-class work and if they are properly supported by the city council and encouraged by the people generally, we see no reason why ours should be inferior to the best schools in the state.
Colorado Citizen, September 24, 1891, page 3
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EAGLE LAKE ITEMS
The city council, at a regular meeting last Tuesday, decided to furnish the fourth room in our school building, and appointed a committee to buy the necessary school furniture at once. At the same meeting Miss Annie Collins of this place was elected teacher. Miss Collins has been living here for a number of years, and has the entire confidence of the people, and is thoroughly qualified to teach, and will doubtless give perfect satisfaction.
Miss Mattie Neville of Chappil[sic] Hill, N. C., the first assistant in our high school, arrived Monday, and has taken charge of her class. She comes very highly recommended from the old “north state, “ and also from Texas, and we believe will add greatly to the interest of the school.
Colorado Citizen, October 15, 1891, page 3