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Show Cross Currents November 20, 1998 t i f? miy.' 9 ii ak. Durango's biggest v '" , . ' fixer-upp-er ' 'v &&' . -- - 2 w V takes shape Written by Missy Vofel ' ike a groggy giant awakening from a long sleep, the former Smiley Junior . High in Durango is coming back to -- - life, bit by bit. Many a Durangoan older than 19 remembers maybe not so fondly spending a stint of his or her childhood within the three-stor- y buildings hallowed halls. However,- as newer middle schools were built, the schools population dwindled. The last middle school student walked out its doors in 1994, with the completion of Escalante Middle School. Since that exodus, the building has fallen by the wayside in more ways than one. For three years, the only occupants of the building, which was owned by School District were the nonprofit Family Center and charter schoolchildren who used the gym. With disuse came disrepair. The heating and electrical systems needed rehauling. A leaky roof caused water damage to floors and ceilings, which were already in bad need of fresh paint. Vandals had made holes in floors and walls, and damaged other parts of the building. In order to keep operating the building as a public school, the district needed to repair I - - - 9-- The S lice While it may be nice to believe the former Smiley Junior High in Durango was named for the happy disposition of its students, it would be incorrect. small man With a big heart. During the depreslower than the sion, he gave himself a pay-cu- t one recommended by the school board so teachers could have higher salaries. The building was actually named for Emory But this is not to say he was a softy. Former students remember him as a force to be reckoned with and obeyed, local historian Duane Smith wrote in his book Rocky Mountain Boomtown, that Smiley was a shy, dedicated man who "knew every child by his or her first name and frequently visited classes in the five school system. E. Smiley, who was superintendent of Durango School District 9-- when the school was built in 1935. Smiley began his career in Durango schools in 1903 as principal of Durango High School, it was here that he met his future wife, music teacher Goldie Hocker of Durango, in 1906, Smiley became superintendent, a post he held for 37 years. During his reign, Smiley was considered a "He just devoted his entire life to the schools of Durango," his wife fold Smith. in schools prompted the Overcrowding of Dwaego construction of the new junior high school in 1935. It was funded by a $97,000 bond and $86,198 from Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Public Works Fund. year later. It was the Lions Club of Durango that championed naming the school after Smiley despite Smiley's 'sincere protest," according the same architect who high school and the Elks Lodge to draw up plans for the junior high. He to Smith. The city enlisted had designed the new For several decades the school was used as a junior high and then a middle school. As the student body grew, the Arts and Sciences annex was built across the street, to the south of Smiley. Evenfuolly, students outgrew both of these buildings and were moved to newer was Colorado Springs architect Charles Thomas. Thomas designed using the Mission Revival style, with curvilinear parapets, wall buttresses and arched doorways and winschools. dows. The annex is now home to two charter bid to went The winning construction schools and the Smiley school has been sold to Raymond Whitlock at a price of $191,188. Construction began in 1935 and finished a a private arts and education entity. |