Sterling’s First Public School

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 8, 2011

1. Sterling’s First Public School Marker

Inscription. This tablet commemorates the establishment of the first public school in the Sterling settlement, October, 1875. It was taught by Carrie G. Ayres, later Mrs. J. N. Hall of Denver. The sod schoolhouse stood 3160 feet east and the sod fort built by the early settlers for protection against the Indians, 4200 feet southeast of this point

Erected by Elbridge Gerry Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 39.252′ N, 103° 10.894′ W. Marker was in Sterling, Colorado, in Logan County. It was on State Highway 138. This marker is located approximate 2.5 miles northeast of Sterling. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Sterling CO 80751, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was

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in the Eastern Plains.

It was also in the American Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Indian Wars 1864-1869 (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Overland Trail (approx. 2.4 miles away); Valley Station (approx. 2½ miles away); Original Building (approx. 2½ miles away); Old Sterling (approx. 2½ miles away); Sterling Union Pacific Railroad Depot (approx. 2½ miles away); The South Platte River Valley (approx. 2½ miles away); William Shaw Hadfield (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sterling.

More about this marker. I visited Sterling in November ,2025 and February, 2026. I looked for this marker along the highway between the road and rail tracks. While I believe I found the location the marker is no longer there.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 8, 2011

2. Sterling’s First Public School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,026 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on February 20, 2026, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 1, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.