The Delta independent., 1904-01-22
little settlement called Delta.

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Ambitious and enterprising youni
men, merchants, farmers. doctors ant
lawyers came here TO start in business
As the education OF their children wa,
one OF the first things 10 be thought OF
a log school house was built and Mrs
A. W. Carr employed as teacher. The
building was situated in the south
eastern part OF town. south OF Seventh
street. Set back among the sage brush
with the thin smoke curling from the
chimney, it presented lonely aod
primitive picture. 1t was heated by 4
sheet iron coDirivance more funnel
than a stove. from which the building
later took tire and was burned down
After this school was kept in 40 old
claim house. called the Briggs cabin
Tue next teacher was Miss Jennie
Purdy. now known to our people as Mrs
Wm. Ashe. After this the leg cabin
which is still standing on Main street
near the Delta house. was used for
school purposes, the teacher being Miss
Abbie f Parks.
In 1888 the frame structure built as
the First NJ. E. church was used as the
school house here the teacher was at
fret Miss Nellie Hatch who resigned
and was succeeded by L. c. Alley.
By 1884 the population Of Delta.
had so increased that the people be
lieved that new school facilities were
needed so they built a brick school
house consisting OF three rooms. two be-
low aud one above, AT the time they
built this they thought that the three
rooms we're all that would ever be needed
In this school house. still standing as
part of the present building, two teach
ers we're employed. L c. Alley as first
teacher and Hattie Hauser as assistant.
About this time Professor P. NJ Condit,
who visited Us and lectured at the
Methodist church last summer, was em
p'oyed as principal and Miss Mary Viii
500 as primary instructor. Miss Emma
Myers being employed soon after.
Beginning with the year lss6. build
ings outside Of the town. but in district
uumoer one, we're erected to meet the
increasing demands for seating capacity.
One building in the Gunnison valley
near. Mr.. Os-rbay's plac-, ooe on the
California mesa, near Mr.. Huutley's.
one down the Gupnison river. near
DJmin.uez, one in North Delta and
then another on the California mesa.
For awhile the school at Domipguez
Sas in separate district. M,ss Olive
Ingersull being teacher aud school
director aud her father'e family furnish.
ing scLoo. board. teacher and most Of
III. pupils. When this family moved
away the school district was re-sttached
to Dumber one.
Iu lsa3 the first addition WAS made to
the building 10 Delta and in 1903 the
present addition. North Delta's school
has been enlarged from one room to
three and three teachers employed. A
school house has been built 10 the
E-caiante canon. H. the Delta schools
there are ten TEACHERS em ployed. furnish
aug full twelve years course of study.
the completion OF which course admits
10 the state universities and all higher
educational institutions OF the state.
The people OF Delta and school distric;
Number One are proud OF their schools
and demand that in the future as in the
past, the SCHOOLS snall not only keep
pace with the development Of the town
and county, but shall oe well in advance
10 lead, to teach and to stimulate.
ULA KING.