Morey Middle School (christened as Morey Jr. High School) occupies a piece of prime downtown real estate, a block bound by Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets. In 1889, the block on which Morey Middle School now stands was home to St. John’s Seminary,
an Episcopal girl’s boarding school. It was a
“magnificent stone building” containing 350 rooms.
Total cost for the land and the building was $200,000.
Many of the west’s most prominent young ladies
graced Wolfe, Jarvis and Matthew’s Halls. In 1916 the
building was transformed into a large art studio
building. It became a haven for fine artists, musicians,
painters, sculptors, and actors- the art studio center
of Denver.
During September of 1919, the property was
purchased by Denver Pubic Schools for $100,000 to be
the site of the newest, and largest Junior High School
in the city. Wolfe Hall was torn down in 1920, and the
new Chester S. Morey Jr. High School was opened 0n
September 6th, 1921 of the following year and dedicated on
November 20, 1921. Morey is the oldest junior high school in Denver, CO.
