Cottonwood Falls School

In 1903, the Kansas Legislature authorized the Cottonwood Falls School District to issue $8,000 in bonds to build a new grade school. However, when project estimates came in at $10,000, the community had to call for a vote to approve additional funds. Despite the increased cost, the bond issue was overwhelmingly supported, with 346 votes in favor and just 2 against. With funding in place, the community turned its attention to selecting a site for the new building. On November 24, 1903, over 200 voters (about 25% of the town’s population) attended a school board meeting, where they voted 109 to 19 in favor of a “beautiful knoll” in the center of Cottonwood Falls. The location was seen as ideal, providing good visibility from all parts of the town.

Soon after, the school board sought bids for construction, but when the bids came in on February 15, 1904, they were higher than expected, surpassing the original $10,000 budget. On February 18, the Chase County Leader suggested that the community might need to approve more funds to ensure the building’s quality. In response to popular demand, the school board accepted a bid from local contractors Rettiger and Norton for $12,975, with the understanding that the community would provide the additional funds at the June annual meeting.

Despite delays in funding, construction began promptly once the contract was signed, with site excavation starting in late February. By early June, the contractors had completed the stonework for the building’s first floor. In late June, the community approved raising the mill levy to cover the extra cost, but public concerns persisted. The News Courant raised a safety issue about the building’s single exit, suggesting that the law required two exits for public buildings. Although the law didn’t mandate more than one exit, the paper continued to press for a second door to ensure safety.

Another point of contention was the building’s cupola. While the design featured a wood-framed belfry intended to elevate the American flag, it was criticized by the News Courant for detracting from the building’s aesthetic. The blame for the unpopular design was placed on the out-of-town architect, J.D. Walters, who had also designed a similar cupola for Kansas State University’s Fairchild Hall. The belfry was removed during the building’s 1915 expansion.

As the school year neared, it became clear that the building wouldn’t be completed by the original September 5th start date due to delays in construction. By mid-August, the contractors predicted the building would be ready by September 12th, but it wasn’t until September 26 that the school opened. Though the opening was low-key, local news described the building as “roomy, well lit, and well ventilated,” with modern features such as steam heating. However, by the time the school opened, its six classrooms were already overcrowded, with 238 students enrolled. The town’s population had grown from 842 in 1900 to 921 by 1915, and the school quickly became too small to meet the growing demand.

At the 1915 school meeting, it was decided to add an extension to the building. The school board proposed a $12,000 bond issue to fund the expansion, which was approved by voters with a 171-10 vote. However, construction delays meant the new classrooms wouldn’t be ready in time for the fall semester, so the district temporarily relocated younger students to the nearby Presbyterian Church. The expansion was completed in early 1916, and the new facility added enough space to accommodate 450 students, which was expected to meet the district’s needs for years.

By the 1920s, the Cottonwood Falls School building continued to serve the community, although the district’s population peaked in 1920 and began to decline in subsequent decades. By 1960, Chase County’s population had dropped significantly, and the state began to mandate school district consolidation in response to declining rural populations and rising educational demands.

In 1962, a state mandate for physical education programs forced the district to take action. After two failed bond attempts to build a new school, the district passed a $195,000 bond to expand the building with a new gym, music room, art room, locker rooms, and a kindergarten classroom. Construction was completed in time for the 1963 school year, and the new facility was celebrated by the community.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the building saw only minor changes, such as ADA accessibility upgrades in the 1990s, including an elevator and ramps to connect the original 1904 building with the 1963 addition. Cottonwood Falls School remained in operation until 2010 when the district consolidated its elementary schools, closing Cottonwood Falls School and moving all students to Strong City Elementary.

Cottonwood School Lofts 

A local nonprofit group purchased the school building and has done its best to keep up with the property to prevent further deterioration and seek restoration. Frontier Development Group was selected through a competitive RFP process.

Due to the rural location, Frontier led efforts to form an RHID tax abatement district and qualify the project for MIH and KHITC awards. Due to a shared entrance with a community center, plans were developed in close collaboration with the non profit group and include utility, travel, and parking easements.

Frontier has done an incredible job restoring historic buildings across the great State of Kansas. Some of you might be familiar with their work on another building we have listed here, the Genn Hospital that they have beautifully restored in the 512 Spruce Apartments.

The Cottonwood Lofts are expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2025 and will have six two-bedroom lofts and one four-bedroom loft. Bringing back a treasured gem in the city of Cottonwood Falls.

Gallery Below of Cottonwood Falls School