Historic Preservation

South Platte Hotel (2017-present)

The South Platte Hotel is a historic building located 11 miles east of Buffalo Creek. Originally only accessible by train, the hotel saw its heyday in the early 1900s and was rebuilt in 1912 following a fire. Today it is located off the Colorado Trail.

Students from the 2017-2018 8th grade Honors ELA class went on field experiences to the South Platte Hotel, wrote argumentative papers advocating its preservation, and hosted a workshop where experts in the historic preservation field came to the school. A few of the student essays are expected to be published in Historically JeffCo, the county historical society's magazine.

Mr. Reetz will be gauging interest from students in becoming this year's core team. Please come back for an updated timeline of accomplishments to this point.

Additional Materials

• Confluence of the Forks Resources from December 2017

Articles:

• "WJMS students pitch ideas for South Platte Hotel", Canyon Courier, February 27, 2019
• "What should we do with the South Platte Hotel?", Historically Jeffco 2018, pp. 58-60

Westall Monument (2012-2014)

Train engineer Billy Westall slowed a train in danger of derailing, saving nearly 450 passengers at the expense of his own life in 1898. A monument honoring this heroic act was placed a year later, overlooking the North Fork of the South Platte River. The river undercut the ground below the monument over the years, leading it to be nominated for the 2012 Colorado’s Most Endangered Places List.

A student preservation team, formed and advised by English teacher Frank Reetz, formed a partnership with Colorado Preservation, Inc. and Denver Water to preserve the monument. Over the next two years, the group surveyed the site, cleaned up weeds and debris, and raised funds to have the monument moved to a more stable location along with replacing signage about the event. The monument was moved on December 9, 2013, and rededicated on April 18, 2014.

Look below for a timeline of the project. I believe in authentic experiences that take our students beyond the classroom walls.

Project Timeline

Thanks

Amy Johnson Photography · Anschutz Foundation · Colorado Preservation, Inc. · Conifer Historical Society and Museum · Denver South Park & Pacific Historical Society · Denver Water · History Colorado Center · Jefferson County Historical Society · Jefferson County Open Space · University of Colorado Denver Department of History · The Western History Collection at the Denver Public Library

Jessica Barbier · Adam Cornett · Dr. Rebecca Hunt · Tom O'Connell · Rachel Parris · Michele Radice · Brandon Ransom · Bob Schoppe · Neil Sperandeo

Additional Materials

Media:

• Photo album: Westall monument work and rededication, photos courtesy of Amy Johnson Photography
• Westall monument rededication program (PDF)

Articles:

• "Jeffco's Westall Monument highlighted", 22 Mar 2016 article in the Denver Post's YourHub supplement
• "West Jefferson Middle School students play a part in saving history", 16 May 2014 article in the Denver Post's YourHub supplement
• "Jeffco Students Champion Westall Monument", Historically Jeffco 2014, pp. 34-37.
• "Students protect train-wreck hero monument", PDF copy of 11 Dec 2013 post on Denver Water blog
• "Honoring a monumental act: West Jeff students restoring obelisk", High Timber Times, April 16, 2013
• "West Jefferson Middle School Students Learn About Historic Preservation via the Westall Monument", 8 Nov 2012 post on Colorado Preservation