La Junta...... Little log building erected in wildnerness nearly four decades ago in Wickham Addition was dedicated as a temple of learning in the fall of 1877.
A new school was on the hill south of the log school. It was an adobe structure that cost $750. The catholic parocial resides there now (1918 Newspaper)
In 1883 a two story, four room stone building was erected a few blocks east of the adobe structure. It was thought there wasn't a need for the new school but in a few years an addition was built on, and Columbian school erected. Lincoln school was known as school house #1.
- 8 July 1886 elected: J.G. Magee as Principal, W.H. Hart, Intermediate, Miss Mary E. Norton, Primary Teacher.
14 July 1888...Principal--Harry HART; Intermediate--Miss Mary E. LYON; Primary, Miss Clara HILL.
In 1895 Otero County High School #1 was organized. The Building was erected on San Jaun Avenue.
In 1912 Park school on Santa Fe. was built. C.M. HERREN was Principal at one time.
In 1914 North La Junta school house was built. (In April 2000 I visited in La Junta. the North La Junta school is in ruin. It has not been used for a number of years. A flood in 1999 did not help the condition of the school.)
In 1880 Kindergarten was started in La Junta
In 1913-1914 total school enrollment was 1,603 pupils.
I remember that about 1944 Columbian school burned and was not replaced. I was to start first grade in this school but had to go to Park school which was a few blocks further.
I went to school at Herron Junior High School and that was to have been where the High School was at one time. The Herron Junior High school building is no longer standing when I visited there in April 2000 but the auditorium is in use as a play house.Here
The building where I went to high school was the Junior High School when my daughter went to seventh grade at the school in 1982-1983 school year. A new high school was built by that time on a site a few blocks to the south and east of the old La Junta High School.
I visited the site of La Junta High school that is now the middle school, in April 2000. The school has some new windows. The walk way on each side of the main building that goes to buildings on each side has been enclosed with roof and windows. That part was an open outside walk way on the second story. A picture isFront Viewand Back View
Park school was a square building that had a basement where the rest rooms and lunch room area was. When I was in third grade, a class room was also located in the basement. The first floor had four rooms one on each corner and a large hall and stairs going up to the second floor, which was also four rooms. The Park school building was still standing in 1983 and it had some sort of offices located in the building. View Here
New Columbian school was built on Grace Avenue about 1947. I went to 4th,5th,& 6th grades there. It is known as Columbian school. View Here
Lincoln school was still in use as a grade school in 1956. It has since been made into offices. It is still an attractive brick building in April 2000.
There has been only 1 middle school and 1 high school.
Otero Junior College is also in La Junta.View Here
La Junta High School
Information & Classes©Joyce Johnson(1998)
- 8 July 1886 elected: J.G. Magee as Principal, W.H. Hart, Intermediate, Miss Mary E. Norton, Primary Teacher.