Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the artist’s name that designed a recognition plaque.

History lovers filled the Old Dillon Schoolhouse on Tuesday, July 1, to celebrate the building’s addition to the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. Visitors enjoyed punch and heard remarks from Sally Queen, the Summit Historical Society board president.

Queen started her speech talking about the Ladies’ Aid Society, a predecessor to the historical society, that moved the schoolhouse from its now-submerged location in the old town of Dillon to the new one.

“If they hadn’t moved it to here, we wouldn’t be here today,” Queen said. “What makes this day special is all those contributions in the past to preservation.”

Colorado State Senator Dylan Robers and Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, who represent Summit County’s state legislative districts, attended the ceremony. They said the schoolhouse, originally built in 1883, joining the state register was a testament to the historical society’s hard work.

“My grandfather taught in the one room schoolhouse in Williston, North Dakota,” McCluskie said. “I was back there visiting our farm about a year ago, and there is nothing left but a few bricks and a hole in the ground.”

McCluskie said Summit County has not had a building join the state register since 2014, in part because of the hours of work it takes to nominate a historical building for the list. 

“I hope that we as a community can join together support the Summit Historical Society in continuing that preservation work for another, 10? Ten buildings that you have in mind?” McCluskie said to Queen, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Roberts and McCluskie spoke about History Colorado and the work they do with the state’s history nonprofit organization as legislators. Roberts said learning about the organization’s “incredible work” is one of the most interesting parts of the state budgeting process.

As longtime supporters of History Colorado, Roberts said of himself and McCluskie, it was exciting to see the organization recognize the work of people in their districts.

“In places like Summit County, where we see constant change and development, to have a historic place like this, where locals and visitors alike can come and see what Summit County used to be like, is so important,” Roberts said.

Queen said the state register has no official recognition plaque, so the one now hanging at the front of the schoolhouse was designed by historical society vice president Sandy Watson. Queen told the representatives that History Colorado should adopt the design as its standard.

The process of getting the Old Dillon Schoolhouse on the state register went faster than usual, Queen said, thanks to the work of former society director Jordan Bennet and the collaboration of local officials, including the county commissioners and Dillon Town Council.

The two boards worked quickly to sign an intergovernmental agreement supporting the schoolhouse’s addition to the register to help the society meet an Aug. 1 deadline last year.

“That all happened in two weeks, so when you need us down there in Denver, just give us a call,” Queen said to McCluskie and Roberts. “That enabled us to get this done in five months, which they said was historical.”

Queen said the application process started with getting local governments’ support, but History Colorado’s main focus in assessing applications is what makes a building significant or special. 

The people of Dillon put $3,500 into the schoolhouse construction in 1882, a significant amount of money according to Queen. She said special trim around the windows and doors of the building exemplify the people’s intent to use the schoolhouse to attract families to Dillon.

“They made it fancy because Dillon didn’t have gold of Breckenridge or the silver of Montezuma,” Queen said. “They wanted the families to come to Dillon. Still the same today. A lot of the past comes to today.”

There were standard methods for building one-room schoolhouses, but with how few remain today — especially ones set up like a 19th-century schoolhouse — Queen said that fact makes the Old Dillon Schoolhouse special.

“We have day campers coming next week, so we take them back in time with the school desks, with it set up as a school,” Queen said. “They can have that early education experience. They get slates instead of iPads.”

The historical society will host a workshop with History Colorado to help explain the process of adding a historical site to the state registry July 28 at 10 a.m. at the schoolhouse.