How a Nineteenth-Century School House Became an Icon

By Donna Wichelman

Have you ever observed a house or building in the town where you live and instinctively could identify the period in which it was built? Historians and history aficionados know that they can place the era of a building by it's architecture. This principal of architecture applies to every era across the millennia, and it particularly pertains to school houses built in the United States during the nineteenth century. 

According to the Georgetown Trust for Conservation and Preservation, the brick building known as the Georgetown School built in 1874 and operated as a school until 1938—is considered “the iconic structure in the Georgetown Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District.” Reputed to be the oldest brick building in Colorado, its historical significance can’t be overstated, especially its contribution to the greater story of Colorado’s mining boom of the nineteenth century.

Georgetown School, Georgetown, Colorado: Donna's Gallery 2018

The school house’s architecture was both modern for its time and classic in its design. Similar school houses can be found across America with their Italianate elements. Features include low pitched or flat roofs, overhanging, double-bracketed eaves, emphasis on a vertical structure, tall narrow windows, a boxy symmetry, campaniles—an Italian bell tower--and decorative ornamentation. In every way, the Georgetown School fits the classic design that also includes carved keystones on both round and flattened arches and pilasters that marked the structure’s corners and flanks the central entry bay, which lies under a large gable dormer in the truncated hipped roof.

Italianate structures began to appear throughout the United States in the 1840s, reaching their zenith in the 1850s and began to disappear in the 1880s. Their architecture, especially in school design, mimicked Italian farmhouses and villas and were characterized by vertical and decorative detailing. They were normally two to three stories high, though more elaborate houses and government buildings could be four to five stories.

The hallmark of Italianate architecture can be identified by tall, narrow windows. Many have a crown that is typically in the shape of an inverted “U”. Other window crowns frame the entire window and often have some amount of ornamentation. At times, the crowns may be flat rather than round, but rectangular windows will normally be topped with ornamented pediments.

Cook-Rutledge Mansion in Chippawa Falls Wisconsin
ID 21935463 | Italianate Architecture © Joe Ferrer | Dreamstime.com

Albert Buildings on Queen Victoria Street in London EC4

ID 195238286 | Italianate Architecture © Nicoleta Raluca Tudor | Dreamstime.com

LaFox School, LaFox, Illinois in Kane County, 1871
C/O Dreamstime.com

During the Italianate period, the interior of the schools would have a series of cellular classrooms. Multi-story schools displayed symmetrical stairways or central open stairways with atriums. Another component was the assembly hall in which students would gather for morning announcements or special events.

Once again, the Georgetown School displayed iconic structure of this period. A student would enter through a set of double doors into a small vestibule, then ascend a short flight of stairs to the first floor central hallway. Tall four-paneled doors lined the corridor, each with a transom at the stop. Straight ahead she would view a symmetrical stairway of wood plank stairs leading to an an atrium and the second floor where she would find classrooms and a large assembly hall.

Entrance Vestibule, Georgetown School

Tall Door with Transom

Atrium from the Second Floor

The building was sold to a machine shop but fell into disrepair in the latter part of the twentieth century. In 2007, Georgetown Trust applied for grants to restore the building to its original glory. Eight years later, Georgetown saw its dream come true through generous grants, individual donations, and the Colorado State Historical Fund.

Today, the building operates as the Georgetown Heritage Center, serving the community in many ways, including housing the local history archive. If you happen into the Heritage Center on any given day, you might find Ms. Christine Bradley, local historian and author of The Rise of the Silver Queen doing more research and adding her contribution to the museum. She’s always happy to answer any questions you have about Georgetown, Clear Creek County, and Colorado’s rich mining history. 

For more information, go to www.georgetowntrust.org/heritage-center.

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna's love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic--an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys developing plots that show how God's love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, belonging, and forgiveness.

Donna was a communications professional before writing full-time. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two indie-published romantic suspense novels, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor, in her Waldensian Series. Her Gilded Age historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, released in December 2024.

Donna and her husband of forty years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. They love spending time with their grandchildren and bike, kayak, and travel whenever possible.