The Wiley Rock Schoolhouse stood in shambles for years.

For four generations, the building in the farming community of Wiley, about 200 miles southeast of Denver, was a town icon, and it stood in ruins.

That is, until it was designated a historical site in 2004. It is being restored to its former glory.

The State Historical Fund announced last week that it has awarded 64 grants for historic preservation for cultural icons, including the schoolhouse.

The first round of grants for the 2008 fiscal year totals just over $4.7 million, reaching proj-ects across the state.

"It reaches into every corner of Colorado to help preserve our heritage," said Mark Wolfe, director of the fund. "It is for the farmers and ranchers in the southeast, the merchants on the Western Slope, the citizens of the small towns and the city dwellers in the Front Range."

Projects include the the Logan County Courthouse in Sterling, the Routt County Courthouse in Steamboat Springs, the Hayden Ranch in Leadville and the horse stalls at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.

The scopes of projects run the gamut.

The Logan County Courthouse is being renovated for use by the county. The Colorado State Fair project calls for major roof renovations to protect the 197 stone masonry horse stalls.

The water wheel at the Hayden Ranch will be restored to serve as a tourist attraction.

Other projects include archaeological assessments in Sand Canyon, renovations to the Old Fort Lewis College library and about $450,000 earmarked for cultural resource surveys, which should determine what areas citizens feel should be designated as historical sites.

Historic help

The top 10 preservation grants awarded by the State Historical Fund:

• Routt County Courthouse: $250,000

• Temple Emanuel (Denver): $227,730

• Bent County Courthouse and Jail: $226,128

• Colorado Springs Day Nursery: $200,000

• Colorado State Veterans Center: $199,730

• Schweiger Ranch (Lone Tree): $190,062

• Colorado State Fairgrounds horse stalls: $151,722

• Cultural resource survey of Las Animas, Pueblo and Otero counties: $149,690

• Temple Israel (Leadville): $149,373

• Logan County Courthouse: $149,000

coonsj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5617

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