History Colorado’s State Historical Fund has announced that the Town of Parker is the recipient of a $100,275 grant for rehabilitation of the Parker Consolidated School at the Mainstreet Center. The grant will help fund Phase I of the rehabilitation of the old schoolhouse, including restoration of the historic windows and screens at the front façade of the building, restoration of the historic entrance and upgrades to the mechanical system.
Located in the heart of Old Town next to the Ruth Memorial Chapel, the Parker Consolidated School opened in 1915 and housed students in grades 1 through 12. When it opened, water was supplied to the facility by a well and restroom facilities were two outhouses. There was no electricity in the building until 1924. The school district sold the building in 1970 to the United Methodist Church and a large addition was made to the south end of the main building.
Since the Town’s purchase in 1995, the complex has been known as the Mainstreet Center and has served as a hub for cultural and community activities, including youth theater performances, recreation classes, a small history museum and multiple Sunday church services. While it has always been an important community gathering place, the complex will play a key role in the development of Parker’s Creative District at Old Town as a destination for arts, entertainment and creative activity. Construction work will begin this summer.