Stone Canyon School



Stone Canyon School, known as District 15, was a shared district with Larkspur School. The school sat at the entrance to today’s Emily Griffith Center, located west of Highway 105, where an apple tree still marks the spot where the school stood.  Bids for the building of the schoolhouse started in mid 1897 as the following notice from the Castle Rock Journal shows:  Larkspur, Colo. Aug. 7, 1897. “Sealed bids will be received on Monday, Aug. 23, 1897, up to 9 P.M., for the building of school building in Dist. No. 15, in south end of District. Plans and specifications can be seen at Larkspur school house. The board reserves the right to reject any or all bids. John Dufva, Secy.”

Most students that attended the school lived close enough to walk. A saw mill in the area employed many families whose children attended the school.  One student, Betty Prince, a founding member of Larkspur Historical Society, recalled walking and riding her horse to the school. She also recalled that when the Stone Canyon School closed she attended Larkspur Elementary school.

The book ‘Our Heritage the People of Douglas County’ had an entry about the much respected John Hammond. He told of building a house in Castle Rock in 1947 with lumber from the Stone Canyon School. John Hammond became Sheriff of Douglas County and was well known in Larkspur.

 It is estimated that the school closed sometime between 1936 and 1947.  It is known also that the building was used as a private home for a short time before being torn down.  As you look at the photo below, notice what looks like an air conditioning unit hanging out the side window. It is thought that this photo was taken after the school closed.




LHS updated 2/10