Gove School – Gold Years of our lives

1. Aaron Gove – a short history– 1839 – 1919 - 80 years– Superintendent of DPS 1874 – 1904 (30 YEARS)

2. 1325 Colorado Blvd. – a short history– 1911 – 1976 (west side) 65 years

4050 East Fourteenth Avenue– a short history– 1976 – 2005 (east side) 30 years

3. Celebrating the people there (stories)

A Short Biography• Born in Hampton Falls N.H. 9/26/1839.• 1854 Normal, IL. – taught public school at 15.• 1859 taught at IL. Normal University.• 1861-1864 Civil War - 33rd volunteer IL. infantry Major.• 1865-1874 Leader at IL. Normal University.• Anna Steck – president of 1st Denver School Board.• 1874 Hired Aaron Gove as Superintendent.• MA Dartmouth 1878 / PhD. CU Boulder 1888.• President of NEA 1887 – 1888.• 33 degree Mason Grand Commander Knights Templar.• Western Sugar Lobbyist.• Founded the CEA & the Colorado School Journal.

Mr. Aaron Gove approximately 1874

As DPS Superintendent

• Organized DPS Administration.• First split school session & school lunchroom.• First Denver High School with full faculty.• Began first kindergarten in Denver.• Proposed compulsory school age laws.• Wrote his own spelling textbook.• Initiated Coordinator of Instruction position.• Started the CEA & Colorado Education Journal.• Highly esteemed by peers in 30 year career.

Building History1911 – 1975 1325 Colorado Boulevard

Gove’s Cupola – all 1000 pounds

History at 1325 Colorado Boulevard St.

• Elementary school in 1911 with 5 teachers.• 1917 –added 5 teachers & became a Junior

High.• 1917 - 4 portable classrooms on south side

from used WWI barracks with thin walls and coal stoves.

• 1919 Teller Elementary in basement & split session.

• 1932 gymnasium separated into boys & girls.

Wear & Tear on Older School Buildings

• Classrooms in the hall.• Teachers lounge in the boiler room.• Closet converted to the men’s restroom.• Chalkboards at elementary level heights.• Gymnasium on 3rd floor above auditorium. • 4 portables outside for expansion.• Wood shop for only 12 students & wood supply

room 30’ away.• Gove had a fantastic reputation of high quality.

Denver PostFebruary 12,

1950

Hill Jr. High planned to

open in 1955

$21 million bond to voters passed

1959 Harrison Sub-station explosion

• Public Service Company’s natural gas transfer station caught fire.

• Principal Marvin Powell evacuated all students to the east for safety before it exploded.

• Denver’s Mayor and the manager of Public Service both wrote letters congratulating Principal Powell because of his quick action and safety for the students at Gove.

The Horrible Traffic Accident

• March 23, 1966 while crossing Colorado Boulevard to their gym class activities on the east side two students were struck by a truck and killed.

• David Flournoy & Bobby Gash.• Annual award in their honor.

Crosswalk completed - November 1966

Gove’s Legacy – Ahead of Its Time

• 1942 Gove selected for National Study on Inner City busing – more natural integration at this location.

• DPS gerrymandered student boundaries.• 1969 PHNA started a legal suit based on

unequal equipment and facility uses. • 1973 “Keyes Court Decision” – mandated

cross town busing.

Denver Post 1968 over-

crowdedbuilding at Gove

Superintendent Oberholtzer’s 1962 proposal

• New Junior High at 32nd and Colorado Boulevard.

• Neighborhood opposition since Gove was already integrated – busing would have decreased the mix that Gove already had.

• Hill Jr. High built in 1955 to replace Gove.• Dr. Robert Gilbert proposed a new Gove be

built between 1972 & 1977.

More space needed – 3 portables & shop overhaul September, 1970

1976 - 2005

Our Deluxe New Building• Engineered & designed well. (so much larger)

• Lots of rooms for each department.• Separate gymnasium for boys and girls.• Large auditorium without distracting noises.• Big offices for administration & counseling.• Real restrooms & a nice big community room.• Large windows with natural lighting.• Big Industrial art shops, & separate music and

home economic facilities.

1975 - 2012 Time Capsule condition

Gove Community

School 1976-1977

Marty AhleniusDiana Flahive

Caroline MackeyCarol O’Brien

Chautauqua - T.R. came to Gove - fall of 79’

Succession of Principals at Gove• 1911 Ms. Josephine Moore • 1917 Ms. Jessie Hamilton• 1924 Ms. Mary Morris • 1944 Ms. Ruth Anderson• 1959 Mr. Marvin Powell • 1960 Mr. Harold Burn• 1965 Mr. Robert McComas• 1971 Mr. Bob Baker• 1974 Ms. LaRue Belcher• 1975 Mr. Robert Conklin• 1981 Mr. Walter Nordby• 1985 Ms. Marjorie Knoll• 1992 Ms. Pauline McBeth• 1994 Mr. Lawrence Tarver

January 27, 2005 - Denver PostStudent population decreased

Demolition of a nice building – January 2012

Ahaa –The Illusive Time Capsule was found by Mr. Ron Moyer & former student Cynthia Hamby

“The bridge” overpass on Colorado Boulevard came down also. - February 2012

Alumni & Faculty at the overpass just before its demolition.

Gove’s Historic Cupola was saved from destruction. (anybody want it?)

Mr. Green & Mr. Wells holding up the Cupola

Stories from Gove – a few to get you started(and more later tonight)

• Champagne in lounge at “the move”.• 6 pack of beer in the science refrigerator.• Fortune cookies in social studies class.• Correct daily attendance w/o robo-calling.• “The investigator” Mr. Hartley – It seemed like

he always found out.• Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, & The King & I.• Add your own memories here . . .• What a fun group we all shared called Gove.

The End