Prowers County Tuberculosis Sanitarium, Southeastern Colorado
Location: Lamar
County: Prowers County
Date Constructed: 1935-37, 1940
Built by: WPA
Architectural Description:
This college building consists of three sections built at different times. All of them are constructed out of random-coursed quarry-faced ashlar stone. The main section is shaped as a shallow “U” and has two levels. Inside the “U” there are two balconies with stairs leading to the ground in opposite directions. Each bay of this section has a stepped parapet rising to its center. Attached to the west is a two-story addition with a gable roof. Attached to the south of this addition is a one-story hipped-roof addition. The west end of the two-story addition has four rows of six dress-faced white limestones on the second-story level.
Historical Background:
Each section of this college building was built as WPA projects. The main section was constructed in 1935 as a tuberculosis clinic. It received $27,000 in federal grants, and $7,000 from Prowers County. The “U”-shaped building’s design reflects its intended use with plenty of windows for light and ventilation, a porch for sun baths, and a heating and ventilation system for “uniformly healthful temperatures indoors.” In addition to the between thirty-five to seventy men employed to complete this project, four NYA youth were also utilized. Before the TB clinic was ever opened, the function of the building changed to that of a junior college. The Junior College of Southeast Colorado opened in 1937 with thirty-one students. The second section of the building was added in 1940 with a federal grant of $27,134 and a local contribution of $10,266. Reportedly, the third section was added in 1940 and housed the library. The enrollment of the school steadily increased over the next two decades and outgrew the stone building. In 1964, the city of Lamar donated land for a new college and the school soon moved. Today, the building is used as apartments.