Primary Wing Dedication

From the dedication of the Primary Wing in 1989

The first school for the children of the Timnath area was built in 1866 about a half mile east of the Larimer County line. In 1869 Larimer County organized its school districts. Soon a log school was built northwest of the twin bridges at a cost of about $900. There were 18 students in the first school. By 1879 it held about 50 students.

In 1880 at the May school district meeting it was decided to divide the district. The north district, named Fairview, built their school north of Timnath where it stood until it was razed in 1974. The south district built the Riverside School southeast of the old log school.

In 1900 Fairview voted bonds to build the two room school house at the edge of Timnath in order to add two more grades to the curriculum. After the new school was built, most of the higher grade pupils of Riverside attended Timnath by paying tuition.

In 1914 the districts were consolidated. Timnath Consolidated School for grades 1-12 was started. The school was completed in 1919. This building is now used as the Art Room. Prior to 1919 the high school students had to ride the train to Fort Collins to attend high school.

On Thursday, March 21, 1935, a fire started in the lighting of the school stage. No one was injured, but the building was destroyed and only the brick walls were left standing. The following Monday classes were held in the church, the bank building, garages, and basements all over town. The school was rebuilt by men who were part of Roosevelt’s PWA program for the unemployed. The new building was built exactly as it was before the fire.

During the 1953-54 school year the gymnasium was added on.

In 1960 Poudre R-1 School District was formed. At that time Timnath High School closed and the students attended Fort Collins High School. Boltz Junior High School opened in 1973 and the junior high students from Timnath transferred. With the junior high school gone, that left Timnath as an elementary school.

In 1987 plans were being readied for the new addition to Timnath Elementary School. A committee was formed and plan began. Construction was complete and classes moved into the rooms in the spring of 1989. The new addition to the building contains 18,400 square feet and currently houses the K-2 classrooms, our Literacy Lab and the ELA program.

The general contractor for the addition was Rhoads Construction of Fort Collins. The school was designed by Robb, Brenner and Brelig, Inc. with George Brelig as the architect.