Share Our World: Fruita School Capital Reef NP

As I was driving along highway 24 through Capital Reef. I stopped and took pictures of the Fluted Wall and The Castle. Then I came to this historic school right off the road in the shadows of the Windgate Sandstone cliffs.

Fruita

A little time line of the area that is now Fruita

700s		This area was first frequented by Fremont Indians
		The left behind rock art, pit houses and extensive irrigation canals.
1800s		8-10 Mormon families settled in this area
-	-	-
1896		The Fruita school house was built
1930s		The surrounding canyons were protected by presidential decree
-	-	-
1937		Capitol Reef National Park was designated a national monument


1950s		The government began to purchase private land within the monument's boundaries
1960s		Paved roads come to Fruita
-	-	-
1964		Fruita schoolhouse is add to the US National Register of Historic Places
April 2021		Sara visits Fruita for the first time!
-	-	-

Fruita was originally called Junction and had a relatively long growing season and abundant water. The settlers from Junction and surrounding Torrey and Loa planted thousands of trees here in 22 orchards. Interesting to note that visitors my stroll through the orchards and eat as much ripe fruit as they want and when harvest begins people will pay for the opportunity to pick the fruit.

School house

The Fruita school house was built in 1896. Elijah Culter Behunin donated the land. He had 13 children, one of which was Nettie who became the first school teacher. She had 22 students 3 of whom were her siblings.

In 1964 the school was restored to the 1930s period and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

This little school house was in use until 1924 and also served as a community meeting house and church which saw dances, town meetings, elections, church youth activities and other celebrations.

Windgate Sandstone cliffs

Another look at the Windgate Sandstone cliffs near the school house. I was quite excited that I recognized the cliffs from my posts on the Fluted Wall.

It is dated in the Late Triassic which would make it 200 million years old. The formation can make vertical cliffs of up to 2000 feet (609 meters). It is typically pale orange to red in color, the remnants of wind-born sand dunes.

The Castle on the Fluted wall is 825 feet tall so I would guess that these walls are about that high too.