This day, I was driving North for a class on NFPA 1236, but I was too tired and too late. So, instead of learning and particularly learning to launch deflagrating material, I drove around looking at schools and apparently the production of material which can deflagrate quite well.

The Industries of Northern CO Plains

Usually in the remote plains one sees agricultural works and little more. Once cell phones became common, towers and equipment buildings popped-up; families used to operate their own two-way radio towers too. After the fracking boom, drilling companies and after completion well service companies started popping up with big yards and lots of equipment. Now one sees the wells being connected by pipelines and compressor stations, dewatering plants and other facilities arriving.

Telecommunications

This building looks like it may be abandoned, from ribbing dilapidated on the roof to an HVAC unit that looks well worn

Transportation

The roads look like highways and almost feel congested.

Count the conveyances. (I counted five.)

FAA Radar Antenna

An unexpected facility to run across East of Platteville.

Oil and Gas

I don't actually know what these kinds of buildings do; clearly, more things to learn...

The ever consolidating school

School District No. 84 (1920)

This one Southeast of Evans. Per the LaSalle Area Historical Society it is the "BeeBee Draw School. Closed in the 1960's when the school districts in the area were consolidated. It has sat abandoned for several years."

Ironically despite the shiny new feed(?) silos, the cattle yard beyond looked abandoned too.

The bathrooms look like an addition but quite the large opening on to the East here; if it had been a wall of windows, it must have been pretty. (Oddly, I don't see any chimnies for heating though?)

Big Bend School

Falling into disrepair (no not really falling and brickwork is in amazingly good shape)

Per the LaSalle Area Historical Society: "The building was closed in the 1960's when the school districts in the area were consolidated. It has been used as a residence, business, and storage facility since it was sold." Per Pauli Driver Smith, "The Big Bend School District was formed in 1875." Though this building's age was unknown. The address is listed as 17744 Weld County Road 44.