Q: My grandparents and my father moved to northeastern Colorado in 1917 and bought a quarter section of land in eastern Logan County.
Located on this land was a schoolhouse. Records show that this school was “District 42 for Logan County” until at least 1911. By the time my relatives bought the land in 1917, it had become “District 99.” With the arrival of my relatives, and their purchase of the land, the school ceased to exist. What is the “name” of the school? Someone said that at one time it may have been called “Zion School.”
A: In the late 1880s, the one-room school was referred to as the “Little Sod School.” The teacher for years was Carrie G. Ayres, who taught all grades. The school then became the Mount Zion School in its last school year, 1917-18.
There is nothing that remains of the school, but a marker north of Sterling at the location reads, “Sterling’s first school. Carrie G. Ayres teacher.”
St. Anthony’s Catholic School opened in 1918, after Mount Zion School closed. The new school consisted of two small frame buildings where
English-speaking children were taught and another small building where German-Russian immigrants, who spoke a Slavic language, were taught. In 1922, the classes merged. The school now serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Source: Pat Maucher, local Logan County historian
Q: I moved here from Florida, where the lowest octane unleaded gasoline you can find is 87. In Denver, the lowest octane available is 85. Why the difference, and does this difference affect an engine’s performance?
Nancy Jerman, Denver
Q: We just moved to Colorado and wonder why the gasoline octane ratings at the pump are different here than other states. In Colorado, the standard fuels available are 85, 87 and 89 octane. In other states where we have recently traveled, Kansas and Missouri, the octane ratings are 87, 89 and 91. Why is 85 octane sold in Colorado? Our pickup requires 87 octane.
Laurie Tompkins, Castle Rock
A: Octane is an index number that measures combustion. American refineries produce gasoline with octane levels ranging from 85 to 94. Colorado and some other Rocky Mountain states have minimum octane levels of 85 for regular gas, while most states with lower elevations have a minimum level of 87. Lower air pressure at higher altitudes allows vehicles to perform as well with 85 octane as they would with 87 at lower altitudes. It is suggested that you try 85 octane in Colorado, which should be sufficient. If you hear a pinging or knocking in your car, you may want to switch to a higher octane.
Sources: Denver Post archives; Stan Dempsey Jr., Colorado Petroleum Association
Compiled by Bonnie Gilbert
