Jefferson Co.Okla. School Info.

Early Day Jefferson County Schools
submitted by Dick Samples - transcribed by Sheridan Brandon Drowatzky

When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, schools had formed in Addington, Atlee, Bugscuffle, Cornish, Fleetwood, Oscar, Ryan, and Terral.

In 1894 Cumberland Presbyterian College was founded in Ryan. The Southwestern Academy of the American Congregational Church was founded in Hastings in 1903. Neither is in existence today.

Overall, about 65 schools districts have existed in Jefferson County. Some of the districts were a result of consolidating the original one-room schools.

Addington schools were originally known as "subscription schools." In 1892, the first school was erected on Branch Creek. Miss Emma Elkins was the teacher for the first term. (closed 1961)

Belcher Hill School was organized in 1910 four miles south of Hastings. Ida Young was the teacher when it first opened in the fall of 1910. (closed 1930)

Among the first students were Marie, David, John, George, and Mable BELCHER; Lena and Betty BROCK; Guy, Maudie, Ruty and Pat FITZGERRALD; Eddie and Luther GILLISPIE; Lela and Crocket HALL; Dwight, Damron, Roy, Raymond, Lee and Nita JONES; Lola and Viola MILLARD; Jim and Jessie PLASTER; Bessie, Willie, and Ulmet SILKWOOD.

Courtney School (Love County) was located in Courtney until the Courtney schools consolidated with Belleville, Petersburg, and Rubottom and other communities in that area. (Petersburg closed 1947)

Little is known about Fleetwood School which was located in Fleetwood. The building no longer exists It was often used for political meetings, pie suppers, and church. (closed 1927)

In Grady’s early days, Fair View School, organized in 1888, and Gann School (closed 1928) existed. Later Grady School was organized. It consisted of eight grades and four rooms with a gymnasium. Eventually the enrollment was so small that eight grades were taught in one room, and the school consolidated with larger schools. (high school closed 1928)

Hastings School was in existence 1968. It was consolidated with other districts.

The Irving area was home to Banner, Lookout and Valley View rural schools (all closed 1922). Later Irving became the first consolidated school in Jefferson County. J. M. Dyer was the first superintendent, and the first school board was composed of Bruce Anderson, J. K. Heath and Charley Oakes. Not long after a new school building was built, Irving was required by Oklahoma to consolidate with a larger school. (closed 1957)

Madden Grove School was named for a man with the last name of Madden. In 1912 a room was added on to the one room school in order to accommodate the 100+ students who were attending the school. I have no data on when the school ceased operating. (closed 1947)

Oscar School was located east of Oscar, across from the cemetery. In 1929 a new building was built for 1^st through 8^th grades. In 1954 the Oscar School consolidated with the Ryan Schools. (closed 1956)

Ryan
Prior to statehood, the first school in what is now Jefferson County was at the Baldwin store and post office. This was about one mile from Ryan at Rock Crossing on Beaver Creek. Parents paid tuition for their children to attend this school. School was in session three months a year.

The first school in Ryan was a "subscription school." It was held at the Presbyterian Church.

Terral Schools opened 2 September 1907, just prior to statehood. The principal was J. O. Scott.

Waurika Schools have been in existence since at least statehood. At one time there were two elementary schools, Irving on the west side of town and Hillcrest on the east side. Hillcrest was located in what had been Waurika High School and a new high school was built at the corner of East D and Elm. In the latter half of the 20^th century, new schools were built on the northeast edge of Waurika. Irving School, 107 W. Anderson, is now the City Hall. Hillcrest, NE corner of Park and Pine, was torn down and the bricks were used to build a private home.

Atlee	1952	Melrose	1930
Asphaltum	1941	Mt. Home East	1958
Beam	1947	Mt. Home West	1946
Bellview	1929	Mud Creek	1947
Bethel	1926	N. Center Point	1930
Big Valley	1927	Oak Hill	1947
Blue Grove	1927	Opie	1950
Brown’s Chapel	1947	Plainview	1929
Bummet	1935	Prairie Chapel	1930
Center Point	1939	Richland	1929
Chapel Hill	1941	Riverview	1926
Claudcroft	1927	Roche	1927
Claypool	1959	Rocky Knob	1942
Deer Grove	1947	Spears Chapel	1929
E. B. Ranch	1947	Spring Hill	1925
Ferguson	1930	Sugden	1953
Goodwin	1929	Sunnyside	1929
Holly Hill	1941	Texas	1947
Independence	1930	Union Hill	1953
Linwood	1933	Union Valley	1956
Lone Star	1925	Woodrow	1947
Lookout	1922	Wray Chapel	1929
Major	1947

Thanks to Dick Samples for acquiring the information above for us to use. [and thanks to Sheridan Brandon Drowatzky for formatting this for use on the Jefferson Co. website!]