The Greeley Building - 710 11TH AV

 Print Listing Historical Name - Greeley High School and Grade School Addition
Style - Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival; Romanesque Revival
Built Year - 1895, 1902-03
State ID - 5WL315

Description - This Romanesque Revival and Classical Revival style building is a roughly rectangular, two story (plus a basement) brick structure with an asphalt shingle, hipped roof. Roof features include wide overhanging eaves, dentil molding, a frieze, a pediment on the west elevation and a pediment on the east elevation. Brackets are under the eaves of the southern half of the high school portion of the building and adorn the pediment on the east elevation. The south elevation includes a row of five windows on the first and second floors separated by sandstone with words carved into it: “Liberty, Literature, Science, Art, and Justice.” Stone arches are over each of the second floor windows on the south elevation of the high school building, and there are sandstone pilasters between the windows, connecting the arches. The windows are one-over-one wood frame double hung and narrower one-over-one wood frame windows with narrow sidelights, creating a letter “H”. Also on the south elevation, the main building entrance is located between the main facades of each building where the addition is connected to the original high school building. There is an arch over the stone steps leading to two pairs of wood paneled and glazed double doors. The grade school has one-over-one wood frame double hung windows with two light transoms above. Rounded arches are used over windows on the east elevation also. The entrance porches on the east elevation have brick and stone arches. There is a semi-circular extension on the north elevation of the building which was used for the Greeley Public Library until 1907. There is a swag and shield motif on the frieze under the bracketed eaves on the south elevation of the high school building, as well as the name “Greeley High School.” A January 16, 1896 Greeley Tribune article described the exterior of the building: “The foundation is of stone, red sandstone being used above the ground; the building is of pressed brick set in red mortar with red sandstone trimmings, occupies a space of about 100 feet square including projecting entrances and library, has two stories with basement and is 50 feet high... Cut in the stonework on the front between the windows of the first and second stories are the words: ‘Liberty; Literature; Science; Art; and Justice,’ and on the cornice the names of men prominent in science and literature (Franklin and Longfellow). The building presents a neat and substantial appearance and except the lettering mentioned, little money has been expended in needless ornamentation.”

Historical Background - The Weld County School Board wrote a letter to the Greeley Tribune in 1894 indicating the urgent need for a new school due to overcrowding. Denver architect Harlan Thomas and Denver contractor J.W. Hill were hired to design and build a new school in 1895. It was completed in November 1895 and remains the oldest existing school building in Greeley. The relatively simple design of the building, with few elaborations is due to the economic situation of the times. A more elaborate design was originally proposed, but with the Panic of 1893, the Greeley Tribune endorsed a simple design to save money, which was built. Overcrowding required the addition of the west wing, which was built to house the grade school, and the 1895 building then was used strictly for high school. The high school building was in continuous use until 1912, when a new high school was built on 15th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. After 1912, the high school and the grade school buildings were used intermittently until 1948 when the City of Greeley purchased the property from School District #6. The City utilized it for a youth, recreation and senior center at various times. It has recently been purchased by a private owner and is used for office space.