About 19 miles south of Silt on West Divide Creek, there still stands the remains of the cement foundation of the Flat Iron Country School. The school got its name from the mountains just east of the school. The first school was actually a bunkhouse in 1929 on the Terrell property. It was soon too small for the growing community, so the people of the area decided to build a school. They all pitched in to cut the logs and build the one room school. The school had no electricity but used kerosene and coal oil lamps, it had a pot belly stove and water was hauled. The parents furnished the wood and coal for the stove. Students brought their own lunches and walked or rode horseback to school. The Flat Irons School, opened in 1930 and soon became the center of the community, hosting parties, dances, box socials and more. Everyone from miles around attended. If anyone could play an instrument they would take a turn at providing some music as it was usually morning before everyone went home. The school remained open for about 10 years. By then World War II had started and that changed the make-up of the community.The history of the Flat Iron Country School provided by LaVerne Starbuck. The property is now owned by the Silt Historical Park and it is with their permission that this geocache was placed. The Park is open May thru October, at 707 Orchard Street, Silt, or by appointment. Call 970-618-4182 for more information about other historic sites in the Silt area.
Once you turn on County Road 344, it is 6.4 miles to the Flat Irons Country School site. There is a large pull-off on the west side, big enough for 6-7 cars. You can see the remains of the cement foundation, behind which is plenty of scrub oak and of course the creek. This is a dirt road so if it is dry, a car can make it, but otherwise a high clearance vehicle is a good idea, especially if you want to continue on up to the historic Cayton Ranger Station, just 2 miles further on.
This is traditional, small cache in a unique gamepiece. BYOP. One of the Silt Historical Park's blacksmith's made the one of a kind brass FTF "coin". A wood bead, brass button, guitar pick and an arrowhead is the original swag.
Flat Iron Country School
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