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MORGAN COUNTY |
BrushALL SAINTS CHURCH OF EBEN EZER This traditional basilica plan church was built in 1916 following the design of the Denver architectural firm of the Baerreson Brothers. The church is located on the grounds of the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, a sanatorium established by Rev. Jens Madsen and his wife in 1903. It is significant as a statement of Danish influenced architecture and for its historical association with Danish Lutheran immigrants of the region. CENTRAL PLATOON SCHOOL 
Constructed in 1928, the Central Platoon School was an early Colorado adapter of the platoon form of student organization. Remaining in service until 1997, the predominantly two-story Italian Renaissance style brick building, designed by noted architects Mountjoy and Frewen, reflects the design principles for an effective platoon school as set forth by Roscoe David Case in his 1931 book, The Platoon School in America. The system divided the elementary school population into two groups that rotated between teachers and classrooms for instruction in traditional and specialized subjects. EMERSON THEATRE / SANDS THEATRE 
The Emerson Theatre (now the Sands Theatre), with its V-shaped marquee sign,
has continuously served as Brush’s primary indoor public entertainment venue for
almost nine decades. Started in 1916 by locally prominent citizen Charles W.
Emerson, the building housed other small businesses off the lobby that provided
food and tobacco for movie-goers. The current owner, Joe Machetta, ran the theater
with much of the early equipment since 1958. The Sands Theatre continues to serve
as a landmark to the Brush community. GERMAN EVANGELICAL IMMANUEL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
The German Evangelical Immanuel Congregational Church is a good example
of Late Gothic Revival church architecture. The church possesses the distinctive
characteristics of this style, including pointed arch windows, tracery, square
tower, and masonry construction. The design is the work of Denver architect Walter Simon,
as well as builder Frank Kenney, a well-known Colorado contractor. The 1927 building is
one of Simon’s earliest commissions. In addition to designing numerous buildings
across the state in the various revival styles popular at the time, the church is his
only known example using the Late Gothic Revival style. KNEARL SCHOOL Built in 1911, the school primarily offered classes in grades one through three. It served the needs of immigrant families, first Germans from Russia and then Hispanos, who worked the extensive sugar beet fields around Brush. The oldest surviving school in Brush, it operated for 61 years until school consolidation forced its closure. The school typifies many small, early 20th century civic buildings with its simple design, symmetrical classical massing, and utilitarian space planning resulting in a dignified and functional structure. RANKIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Constructed in 1907, the church is a very good example of the
Gothic Revival style. The building epitomizes the primary characteristics
of this style as seen in its steeply pitched cross-gabled roof, masonry
construction, stepped buttresses, crenellated square tower, pointed arch
openings, and windows with label molds and tracery. The church has undergone
minimal alterations; an educational wing was added to the southwest corner
in 1963. (Photograph 2006) Fort MorganFARMERS STATE BANK BUILDING Denver architect Eugene G. Groves designed the Art Deco bank building. Completed in 1930, the one-story building features carved buff colored Indiana limestone. Built by John H. Bloedorn, Sr., a prominent social leader in town, and his brothers, the structure was one of the most complete and up-to-date bank buildings in the state. FORT MORGAN ARMORY The 1922 State Armory in Fort Morgan is associated with the community’s
military and recreational development. The construction of the building
represents the initiation and maintenance of a National Guard unit
in Fort Morgan. The Armory’s dual purpose of serving as a community
center fostered the growth of entertainment and recreational opportunities
in the town. The Armory is representative in its design and construction
of National Guard Armories built throughout Colorado in the 1920s
as part of a nationwide movement to provide for internal defense
in cases of social unrest. The Fort Morgan Armory was built on a
standard plan designed by Denver architect John J. Huddart. The
National Guard adopted the plan for at least twelve of its armories
constructed throughout the state. Only seven of the Huddart armories
survive. FORT MORGAN CITY HALL The 1908 city hall was part of the growing municipal infrastructure developed by the town’s first superintendent, George Cox. The building originally housed not only the city offices but also the municipal electric generation plant and water pumping station. FORT MORGAN POWER PLANT BUILDING The power plant, a concrete post-and-beam industrial structure clad in red brick, was constructed in 1923 under the supervision of its designer, George Cox, Fort Morgan city superintendent. The building housed the highest pressure steam plant in the state at the time of its construction. The construction of the plant reflects the maturity of the city, as it provided critical infrastructure for the growing community. FORT MORGAN MAIN POST OFFICE Built in 1917, the building’s classically derived Federal style is most commonly associated with southern and eastern architecture. At the entrance, the symmetrical building is dominated by a monumental pediment supported by four columns. Listed under U.S. Post Offices in Colorado Thematic Resource. MORGAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND JAIL 
In the midst of the Great Depression, the county commissioners took advantage of a federal construction grant from the Public Works Administration (PWA) to match county funds toward the erection of a new courthouse to replace a 1907 building. The 1936 courthouse is a good example of the Art Deco style and an important work by the major Colorado architect Eugene G. Groves. During the lean Depression years, Groves stayed busy completing commissions on several PWA-funded projects. The 1921 jail replaced the original 1898 facility. The property is associated with the New Deal Resources on Colorado’s Eastern Plains Multiple Property Submission. RAINBOW ARCH BRIDGE Charles Sheely’s Colorado Bridge and Construction Company completed this multi-span, reinforced concrete fixed rainbow arch in 1923. Based on a design patented by Iowa engineer James Marsh, it is the only Marsh arch in Colorado and is reportedly the last bridge built by Sheely. Listed under Highway Bridges in Colorado Multiple Property Submission. SHERMAN STREET HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT The district includes four large residences associated with individuals important to the history of Fort Morgan’s development. They were constructed between 1886 and 1926, on block deep lots, carved from the original 160 acre tree claim filed by George Warner in 1883. The well-preserved residences include two Queen Annes, a foursquare with Craftsman detailing, and a Georgian Revival. HoytHOYT SCHOOL 
Built to replace a smaller schoolhouse in the same location, the
Hoyt School building provides physical evidence about the conditions of
rural education in Colorado in the early twentieth century. The schoolhouse
served as the educational center for this agricultural community from its
construction in 1918 until consolidation forced its closure in 1946. During
the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed
an addition that included a stage at the head of the classroom and stairs
leading to a new basement. The basement, a typical project for this New Deal
federal relief program, contains a small kitchen used for the preparation of
student hot lunches. The adjoining larger room served as a cafeteria where
students ate what might have been their only complete and hot meal of the day.
As the largest school building in the district, the Hoyt School also served as
an important meeting place and social outlet for area residents by hosting
dances, elections, local fairs, dinners and the Literary Society. (2007 photograph) WigginsLONG MEADOW COMMUNITY CLUB BUILDING 
As a meeting place of the Long Meadow Community Club, the building
served as the center of community meetings, entertainment, social
events, and charity work. The building consists of a former army
barracks joined in 1949 to the retired 1908 Long Meadow School.
The women’s club began meeting in member’s homes in
1932 and did not have a permanent facility until purchasing the
schoolhouse in 1947. The club is representative of many local organizations
created to strengthen community ties and to provide informal social
and recreational opportunities. OLD TRAIL SCHOOL The circa 1912 Old Trail School exhibits the distinguishing characteristics of a rural one-room schoolhouse. The school building was relocated twice during its period of historical use and again after being taken out of service. |
National Register 7/20/2007, 5MR.614
421 High St.