by: Matthew Self
COTTONWOOD FALLS (KSNT) – A local developer is inviting people to an upcoming open house in Cottonwood Falls later this month as a historic Kansas school reopens.
Frontier Development Group (FDG), based out of Manhattan, significantly renovated the interior of a former Chase County school to transform it into the Cottonwood School Lofts living space. Now, the FDG is inviting locals to swing by the school to see the changes firsthand.
The FDG will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25 at 401 Maple Street in Cottonwood Falls. This will be followed by an open house that lasts from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the same day at the nearby community center just west of the Cottonwood School Lofts.
The Kansas Historical Society (KSHS) recognizes the old two-story limestone school building as being the former site of the Cottonwood Falls Grade School. The building, constructed in 1904, was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2021 for its connections to education and its architectural significance, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Tyler Holloman with FDG told 27 News earlier this year that a more than $2 million investment was made in renovating the old building and turning it into modern living spaces. Traces of the building’s former purpose as a school can be found in the building’s architecture and living units which contain original chalkboards. You can learn more about the project on the FDG’s website by clicking here.
For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.
Source: https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/120-year-old-kansas-school-to-reopen-with-fresh-new-look/
