A Bit of History

Prior to 1870, Coaldale and the Arkansas River Valley area was inhabited by native Americans from the Southern Ute tribe. After the Civil War ended, more people began moving west for better opportunities, some for mining, agriculture, and with the advancement of the railroad during the 1870s, freight train stations also offered employment. The 1880 Census records show Coaldale’s cultural diversity. Residents came from eastern United States and Europe. One person listed was born on the boat crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Some were also freed slaves. All were seeking a better life. The Census also listed the labor diversity as people had to be resourceful and fill all the needs of a new and changing community. Among the occupations were: miner, freighter, engineer, farmer, rancher, railroad conductor, grocer, hotel keeper, blacksmith, postmaster, physician, teamster, carpenter, stone mason, miller, keeping house, seamstress, dentist, bookkeeper, and teaching school.

The first schoolhouse in Coaldale was of wood construction and not built to last. It was destroyed in the flood of 1921. But by 1923, a new schoolhouse was in the making. In an article from the Canon City Daily Record, July 25, 1923: “An attractive, modernly appointed school house to cost between $6000 and $7000 is being erected at Coaldale in the western part of the county. The work is being done by a Salida contractor and is expected to be completed in time for the opening of school year in September. The building will be of frame construction and will contain sanitary sewerage with bubbling fountains, etc. Water will be piped to the building from a nearby spring.”                           

On August 7th, 1923, the Salida Mail updated the latest developments: The school building “will have two rooms and will be strictly modern.” The contractor was A.W. Klarenbach and the building was completed by the fall term of school, 1923. Four years later, on October 21, 1927, the Salida Mail wrote “Pleasant Valley Resources Attract Earliest Settlers”. Coaldale received its name from the charcoal kilns located there. Pinon pines were used to make charcoal in nine brick “beehive” kilns for silver smelters in Leadville and Pueblo. At the time of the article, the population of Coaldale and the surrounding area was estimated at “between two or three hundred which supports a post office, one general store and a school.” 1951 was the last year classes were held in the Coaldale School Building. Cotopaxi, Coaldale, and Stout Creek schools consolidated May 7, 1956. The Coaldale Schoolhouse was deeded to the public as a community building. In 1989, Bill Parks formed the Coaldale Community Building Association. The building was registered as a historic site in 2004 and received a grant in 2011 from the Colorado Historical Society for restoration.  

Coaldale kilns when they were operating late 1800s and early 1900s.  The name "Coaldale" was earned by the constant stream of black smoke emitted by these kilns, night and day while they were producing the charcoal.

 “Pine charcoal is sold at fourteen pounds to the bushel, pinion, eighteen pounds, 2,500 cubic inches in measurement makes also a bushel.” There were times when they received 16 to 18 cents per bushel.  Some kilns produced up to 17,000 bushels a month      The McAllister Charcoal Kiln types were used throughout the region.  The kilns were built from brick or native stone.  The “Charcoal Burners” or owners of the business would buy wood from local cutters, and carefully load the kilns so that they would burn very slowly.  The remains of the charcoal kilns for which Coaldale was named.  There were at least 5 of these kilns at this location, and these historic kilns are still visible next to the road on Hayden Creek, County Road 6, Coaldale.  

Quoting The Leadville Evening Chronicle, 5/14/1884: •. .Among the first to introduce kilns was Mr. H. D. McAllister, of Utah under the patronage of the Germania or Utah Smelting Company, represented by Billing & Eilers.  Their smelting works belong now to the Arkansas Valley Smelting Company.  The burning of pit coal was then entirely abandoned.