Little White School House to become a museum

The Conifer Historical Society wants to turn the town’s historic Little White School House into a museum and office.
The society already has talked with Jefferson County Public Schools officials about acquiring the building and hopes that a deal will be hammered out by the end of June, society president Janet Shown said.
The school district, to save about $20,000 annually, announced earlier this year that West Jefferson Preschool will move out of the schoolhouse and into West Jefferson Elementary School this fall. The school board officially designated the building as a surplus property at its June 6 meeting.
Shown and society vice president Suzi Morris didn’t say how much the historical society would pay for the building or for the building’s upkeep, but they agreed the building has been well maintained.
“It’s a preschool, so it’s in good condition,” Shown said.
Morris said some renovations may be done to bring the building back to its original state, such as taking down a dividing wall. The society hopes to open the building by the end of the summer.
“We have an event in August, and we would love to be able to have the event in that space,” Shown said.
Classes have met in the schoolhouse since 1923, making it the oldest building in Jefferson County in continuous use as a public school.

Contact Gabrielle Porter at Gabrielle@evergreenco.com or 303-350-1043. Check www.HighTimberTimes.com for updates.