Near Crosbyton in Crosby County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Big Four School

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 7, 2017

1. Big Four School Marker

Inscription. The community of Big Four lies a few miles north of Crosbyton. The W.H. Hames and M.A. Reynolds families moved here in 1902 and 1909, respectively, and four houses were built on land owned by the Morrison brothers around one windmill which supplied water for all four houses. With the coming of settlers, the Parker and Fowler families soon called for a school house. In 1909 Hames and S.K. Freeman built a one-room school house. In 1916 a new two-room school house was built for the growing big four community. In 1936 an auditorium was built on the school grounds to be used as a community center.

Big Four School was one of five rural schools that remained in Crosby County in 1953. Critical problems confronted the rural school, including lack of financial resources, poor facilities, difficulty in maintaining students, and inability to secure qualified teachers. Rural schools existed for a specific purpose, and when the big four school could no longer compete with larger schools, it closed. The two-room school building was moved in the mid-1950s to be used as a school for the Crosbyton Independent School District’s African

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American students. The school building later burned to the ground. The school district gave the Big Four School auditorium building to local residents with deed stipulation for use as the big four community center. The wooden building was last utilized around 1980, when it was used for Big Four club meetings. The building was turned back to the school district in 1981. With the poor condition of the auditorium building and lack of funds to restore it, the property and building was sold in 2011, resulting in the demolition of the auditorium and the erection of a new home.

Erected 2015 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18086.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Windmills series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.

Location. 33° 44.474′ N, 101° 14.937′ W. Marker is near Crosbyton, Texas, in Crosby County. It is on Farm to Market Road 651 north of Farm to Market Road 1471, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crosbyton TX 79322, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 7, 2017

2. Big Four School Marker

this marker is on Texas’ South Plains.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Mount Blanco Community (approx. 3.7 miles away); G. W. Smith Home (approx. 5.3 miles away); Citizens National Bank (approx. 5.6 miles away); Henry Clay Smith (approx. 5.7 miles away); Crosby County (approx. 5.7 miles away); Crosbyton (approx. 5.7 miles away); a different marker also named Crosby County (approx. 5.7 miles away); The Rock House (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crosbyton.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 7, 2017

3. Big Four School Marker

View south on highway FM-651.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2017. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 945 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.