Lower Valley Heritage Chapter

Lower Valley Heritage Chapter Lower Valley Heritage Chapter operates the Heritage Room at 325 East Aspen in Fruita.

08/24/2026

Lori Buck talks about her time in office as the first female Mayor of Fruita Colorado.

08/23/2026

A collection of five interesting facts about Colorado that most people do not know.

Stop by our booth at Fruita Farmers Market today. We’ll have some Fruita history and also this beautiful Mike the Headle...
08/22/2026

Stop by our booth at Fruita Farmers Market today. We’ll have some Fruita history and also this beautiful Mike the Headless Chicken quilt on display. We’re helping to raise funds so it can be framed and preserved at the civic center.

08/18/2026

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY to the PALISADE HISTORY MUSEUM!! On August 18, 2021, we officially opened our doors. Over the last 5 years, almost 3,000 people have visited & learned about the unique history of Palisade, Colorado.

If you haven't had a chance to visit, pop over and see us! If it's been a while, stop by again! There's always something new (old!) to see.

Museum Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. FREE admission; donations welcome.

This week marked the first day of school this year for Mesa County Valley School District 51. In 1951 the district was f...
08/14/2026

This week marked the first day of school this year for Mesa County Valley School District 51. In 1951 the district was formed and the independent, rural school districts in the area were merged into what we now call District 51 schools. The rural schools that existed before the merger were the backbone of the small communities that sprung up around the area – Fruita, Mack, Loma, New Liberty, Appleton were just a few. These schools were usually built by families and neighbors in the area. Sometimes when families moved or students were no longer able to attend the buildings were converted to a community center or were even sometimes moved to another location. But times changed and after the end of the Great Depression and soldiers returning from WWII more building and technology were making a new nation. Automobiles and school buses made it easy and convenient to move around. The need for small rural schools was declining. As the first week of the new school year draws to a close, we would like to feature the newest MCVSD51 school in the lower valley - Monument Ridge Elementary School.

Monument Ridge was opened in 2020 at 1501 K 4/10 Road. It has about 300 students and serves Pre-K through 5th grade. It is a modern school with all of the new technology of these times. We can't help but wonder what some of the students, teachers and parents from the early rural schools of our valley would think if they were to see our schools today. And we also hope that you all have enjoyed, and learned a little, from these posts during this week.

This week marked the first day of school this year for Mesa County Valley School District 51. In 1951 the district was f...
08/13/2026

This week marked the first day of school this year for Mesa County Valley School District 51. In 1951 the district was formed and the independent, rural school districts in the area were merged into what we now call District 51 schools. The rural schools that existed before the merger were the backbone of the small communities that sprung up around the area – Fruita, Mack, Loma, New Liberty, Appleton were just a few. These schools were usually built by families and neighbors in the area. Sometimes when families moved or students were no longer able to attend the buildings were converted to a community center or were even sometimes moved to another location. But times changed and after the end of the Great Depression and soldiers returning from WWII more building and technology were making a new nation. Automobiles and school buses made it easy and convenient to move around. The need for small rural schools was declining. As the new school year begins, we would like to showcase early rural schools in the area. Today is Star School.

In 1895 a one room school was built at 20 and L Roads for grades 1-8. According to a census of 1898 there were 56 pupils attending the school. The school burned in 1905 and a new school with two classrooms and a library. In 1917 that school also burned and children attended Central School in Fruita to finish the year. A new school was ready in the fall of 1917 and the photo shown is that school.

This week marked the first day of school this year for Mesa County Valley School District 51. In 1951 the district was f...
08/12/2026

This week marked the first day of school this year for Mesa County Valley School District 51. In 1951 the district was formed and the independent, rural school districts in the area were merged into what we now call District 51 schools. The rural schools that existed before the merger were the backbone of the small communities that sprung up around the area – Fruita, Mack, Loma, New Liberty, Appleton were just a few. These schools were usually built by families and neighbors in the area. Sometimes when families moved or students were no longer able to attend the buildings were converted to a community center or were even sometimes moved to another location. But times changed and after the end of the Great Depression and soldiers returning from WWII more building and technology were making a new nation. Automobiles and school buses made it easy and convenient to move around. The need for small rural schools was declining. As the new school year begins, we would like to showcase early rural schools in the area. Today is Hunter School.

This school was built in1895 on the NE corner of 21 and J 1/2 Roads. Grades 1-8 attended with Bessie Hunter, a Grand Junction High School graduate who had passed the test for a Teacher's County Certificate. When the school was opened a motion was made to name the school "New Hope". James Hunter, the board president, remarked, "Look at the bright young folks here. If that doesn't represent New Hope, I don't know what would." The motion was passed but the school was always referred to as Hunter School. In 1906 the school was moved to 21 & J Road.

08/12/2026

Jannae Moon talks about the history and legacy of Moon Farm.

Address

325 East Aspen
Fruita, CO
81521

Opening Hours

1pm - 3pm

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