About

Martin N. Everitt arrived in Colorado from Cass County, Ohio during the Gold Rush of 1863. He and his family spent their first night in the area where Sloans Lake is now located. There is evidence that Mr. Everitt first tried gold mining but soon settled on a homestead which included the 160 acres extending from West 32nd to West 38th Avenue and east from Wadsworth. He became widely known for the fine fruits and wheat his farm produced.

On May 16, 1867, he called the first meeting to organize a school district in Wheat Ridge at his home at 35th and Teller. This resulted in a temporary school building being erected on the northeast corner of West 32nd and Wadsworth. The permanent Everitt Middle School was built in 1873 at West 38th and Teller Street.

One of the Everitt sons, Neal, owned and farmed the 80 acres of land that contained the current site of The Manning School. A grandson, Monroe Everitt, lived on this land until 1966.

Mr. Everitt died at the age of 53, leaving his wife, Lois, and seven children. The philosophy he lived was one of service to his community and his community honored him by naming a street in Jefferson County for him. We are pleased and proud that this middle school bears the name of this distinguished pioneer.

The current site of Everitt Middle School was acquired in March 1960 and was dedicated to the community on December 9, 1966. From this moment, Everitt has been a constant in the Wheat Ridge community with thousands of successful students receiving a quality education and contributing back to their communities.