History
District No. 2
The first Denver public school in District No. 2 was located on the north side of Larimer between 10th and 11th Streets. A two-story building, owned by Asa F. Middaugh, was leased on December 1, 1862 and Abner R. Brown filled the position of principal. However, District No. 2 was destined to follow in the troubled footsteps of District No. 1 - more students than available space. Needed funds were obtained in 1865 and the district purchased the Idding property located at Lawrence and 11th Streets, a two-story building built in 1861 as a general store. Later, in 1863, it was used as a warehouse by the U.S. Government for storage of munitions and was known as the Arsenal. It was proposed that the newly remodeled building become known as the Arsenal School.
An addition was built in 1871 and the school was renamed; it became the 11th Street School. Rebuilding was undertaken again in 1873 with the old arsenal section of the building being replaced by a new building. By 1884 the building had deteriorated so badly that the taxpayers requested the school board build a new building. The school board acknowledged the need and a new school, named Washington School, was built on 11th Street next to the old school.
Following in the footsteps of District No. 1, District No. 2 also initiated a building program to accommodate the growing number of school children.
The high school, established in 1881, was located at Central School and the first graduation took place on June 13, 1884. Following completion of the Franklin School, the high school moved into the new building and the next move was to the new all high school, grades nine through twelve, built in 1892.
Arsenal School was the first location to house the school administration and from there it was moved to Central School. A later move was made to Franklin and the third move was to the new high school. The position Superintendent was not created until 1871. Prior to that each principal reported directly to the school board. During the life of District No. 2, three men were Superintendent: W.A. Donaldson (1871-1879), H.F. Wegener (1879-1891), and L.C. Greenlee (1891-1902).
