Shawnee School

Last day of school, Shawnee School, 1927.

Established in 1897, Slaghts School was originally built along Park County Road 64, approximately half a mile from the town of Shawnee. As Shawnee grew into a more significant community by 1899, the school was renamed Shawnee School to reflect the town’s prominence. This modest, one-room schoolhouse provided education for students in grades 1 through 8, with class sizes varying from just two students to as many as fifteen. Despite its small enrollment, the school played a vital role in the local community, offering a foundational education to generations of children.[1] 

Shawnee School, 1991.

Shawnee School operated continuously until 1943, at which point it was closed, likely due to declining enrollment or shifts in the community's population. However, the school briefly reopened in 1945 and remained in use for two more years before closing again in 1947. In 1948, a state-mandated consolidation effort required the closure of smaller rural schools across Colorado, marking the official end of Shawnee School as an active educational institution.[2] 

McGraw Memorial Park property sign, Park County, Colorado, 1995.

For several years, the schoolhouse remained at its original location, standing as a quiet reminder of the area's early educational history. In 1953, the building was moved closer to the Park County Community Center in Shawnee, where it found new life as a Sunday school facility. This repurposing allowed the historic structure to continue serving the community in an educational capacity, albeit in a different form. Recognizing its historical value, the Park County Historical Society relocated the schoolhouse once again in 1983, ensuring its preservation for future generations.[3]