“HITHER BY THY HELP I’VE COME”
Platted on August 24, 1891, by Jasper N. Beaty and James W. Beaty under established name “CATLIN”. January 1, 1896, through a sponsored promotion of apples by the “Colorado Orchard Company” Town of Catlin was renamed Town of Manzanola via a vote of the people.
“Ebenezer’s”—Each person who has lived in Manzanola brought to it their hopes, dreams, talents and thus began the “characteristics” of our town with its own uniqueness.
The town of Manzanola has a rich history that spans back to its origins in 1900. This webpage is a compilation of various interesting facts and events about the Town of Manzanola. Learn more about the Town of Manzanola’s past by reading below!
1876-1880- NO. 3 School District was started in a one-room log cabin with a mud roof and dirt floor built by R.O. McClain on his property 3 miles west of "Catlin".
1880-1892-One-room log cabin became too small, once again R.O. McClain built a larger one room school with a wooden roof and floor. The land was donated by Jasper and James Beaty, located on the south side of Catlin Canal on Mulberry Street, inside "Catlin" city limits. Drinking water was brought in daily from Catlin Canal.
1892-1902-The one-room school became too small, so a new $4,000.00 two-story brick building was built on 2nd & Canal Street on land donated by
the Beaty Brothers. The second story was not finished inside till 1897 but was used for community gatherings and church meetings.
1902-the mid-section of the building "burned"; Community called the building the "High School" as it contained 1 through 12 grades. It was rebuilt for $8,000.00 with $1,800.00 for heater and furnishings and a garage built on the south side.
1924- "Second fire" destroyed the west half of the building, insurance provided $40,000.00 to remove the old burnt side and added on making the building as we knew it. The basement was added to provide location of basketball court (very dark and dreary).
1924-Community approved a $100,000.00 bond to build the new High School. Eight (8 acres) was purchased south of Beaty Park with plans drawn up by architect Temple H. Buell from Denver. Included a basketball court on south section with a balcony and seating on both sides of court floor. An auditorium on north with seating providing 500 opera seats with drop-down table arms, 3% slant to floor facing large stage. This building was dedicated on April 24, 1925.
1964-Community approved $180,000.00 bond to build new basketball gym on south side of High School, seating provided for 1,500 people, with concession lobby in front. The old gym was converted into a library with classrooms built on second floor.
1974-Replaced the outdated grade school with $329,000.00 bond. The architect was George Boyd Boys from Pueblo, contractor was Reeves Brothers from Ordway. February 1975 was the move in day and the old grade school was removed summer of 1975. This building was torn down in 2022 when High School addition was built to provide for 1 thru 12 grades.
2021-2022-"BEST Grant" $31,000,000.00 (31 Million) K-12 addition & renovation to the existing Temple Buell Jr/Sr High School building. Complex multi-phase project including 44,500 square feet addition housing elementary school designed to match the 19,000 square foot historic high School. A 4,000-foot bus barn-contractor was Nunn from Colorado Springs, and Wold Architects and Engineers.