Highway

Highway. Community History. In honor of the people who lived here from 1892 to 1957, and built this community., Life in the community, which at one time included 2 general stores, a barber shop, blacksmith shop, grain grinding mills, church and family residences, centered around Highway school. There was always an active ladies home demonstrations club and in 1931, a community builders club was organized for the betterment of homes, schools, roads, farming, etc, in the community. Demonstrations on contour farming, and terracing were held and high school boys were taught to survey terrace lines for farmers. , Through the committee on rural electrification, electricity was first introduced to the community on Dec. 24, 1939 by the Northfork Electric Co-Op., The brick building to be occupied by Consolidated District No. 3 was dedicated Friday, April 14, 1922. It was built next to the Dallas-Canadian-Denver (DCD) Highway, from which it got its name. Students brought honor to the name "Highway School" until it was closed in 1957., Scholastic and citizenship achievement, 4-H Club and athletic activities offered a broad range of opportunity to learn responsibility and prepare for life's challenges. Family support and community spirit to excel was strong. , On July 3, 1971, the Highway School Alumni Association was formed and their first reunion was held on that date. Highway School Alumni, parents and neighbors have met annually since that time., Community Churches , Highway Missionary Baptist Church , Taylor Church of Christ , Ural Baptist Church , Zion Chapel Free Methodist Church, Special gratitude to Phyllis Jones Henry who has , been Sec. Treas since the beginning in 1971., Highway School Alumni Association , Oklahoma Historical Society , Dedicated July 4 1997, Historical Monument Committee Members , Joe Cain - Chairman , Phyllis J. Henry - Secretary , T.C. Henry , Jessie E. Henry , Ann Britton , Joe Britton - Vice Chairman , Glenna Evans - Treasurer , Jimmy Evans , Elwanda B. McGomas , Doyle Bloomer . , Captions , Upper Left: John Hestand's Blacksmith Shop , Middle Left: E.L. Sanve Store , Center: High School , Center Left: June 16, 1921 there was an election at Taylor School for the consolidation of Taylor and Sadler Schools and parts of Ural and Poarch Schools. It carried by a vote of 108 for and 54 against. July 2, 1921 school bond election in the new consolidated district carried by a vote of 105 for and 34 against. , Center Right: July 15, 1921 the new Consolidated District had its first annual meeting. They voted for an eight month term of school. This first year the name selected for the new district was Highway. Land for the memorial was given by the children of Aud Kennemer. Art work by Joe R. Waldrop. , Upper Right: School Gymnasium , Middle Right: The Jr. Sr. Room , , 2nd Plaque on flat stone of marker , Teachers of the Highway Community School , Anderson, Benny . Armstrong, E.R. . Askins, W.I. . Austin, Nora B. . Bishop, Birdell . Brewer, Dr. and Mrs. Wallace . Bright, Ruby Hagin . Cannon, D'Lila . Capps, Willie Jewel . Cherry, Myrna . Clearman, Thelma . Cunningham, Russell . Daniels, Thomas and Molcie . Day, Blonda . Evans, Bill and Mabel . Fisk, Evelyn . Folks, Cecil and Walene . Fowler, Lois . Hanni, Olga . Hill, Estelle . Hill, Victor . House, Opal . Howard, E.G. and Ethel . Keith, O.T. and Chloe . Kelly, Bess . Kysar, Ned . McCollom, W.J. . Moore, Olive . Peatling, Carmine . Piergy, Will . Poff, Thelma . Slater, Mr. and Mrs, Preston . Smith, Vivian (Creason) . Sorrell, Ella . Tomlinson, J.B. . Vaughan, Robert and Beulah . Vaughn, W.T. . Veach, Lam . ...anve, Ilene . Birchheld, Maud . Baber, Mrs. Earl . Bashum, R.O. (1st Supt.) . Belle, Erna . Brown, Monte . Bullington, Sy . Byrom, Mary Edna . Cox, Kenneth . Crane, C.A. . Cunningham, John . Devault, Eddie . Edwards, Rob . Elkouri, Evelyn . Gilchrist, Lois (Jones) . Gilliland, J.R. and Sarena . Johns, Chaude . Jamison, Mr. . Kane, Rosemary . McFarland, Eloise . McGee, Horace . Montgomery, Claude . Rice, Kirk . Simpkins, S.L. and Edna A. . Simpson, Mable . Stead, Nona Lee . Thomas, Grover . Tomlinson, Mrs. Willie . Vincent, Cora . Weil, Herb . Wilson, Alex Sr. and Visa . , The school lunch program was started in 1936 by Supt. A.N. Wilson and Mrs. Lyda Jane Carruthers. The first menu of soup and crackers for 5 cents, evolved into an excellent hot lunch program. On June 26, 1938, Lydia J. Carruthers was awarded the certificate of merit by Governor E.W. Marland, for her leadership in promoting the health and welfare of the school children of Oklahoma through the school lunch program. Other area ladies that managed and worked in the lunchroom until the school closed in 1957 were; Esther Lee Bills, Mamie Cain, Ola Culberson, Alma Hill, Thelma Hyder, Mattie Lundy, Gladys Mooney, Lillie Ross, and Laverne Webb., The heating system was a 1921 model steam boiler that did an excellent job of heating the school building. It was fired with coal until 1926 when the Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. made natural gas available. The sanitation facilities were outdoor privies. The only hand washing facility was the pump spout at the cistern where rain water was caught from the building roof for drinking water. The janitor pumped the drinking water by hand, carried it down stairs through the basement, up another set of stairs into the auditorium and poured it into a wooden barrel, which had 4 brass drinking spigots attached to it. The wash water was then carried back outside. In the early 1950's, water was piped in and bathrooms and showers installed., A.O. Cain was the first janitor-custodian. Others that worked through the years were: Walter Bowen, Alton Cain, Fred Cain, Loyd Cain, Pete Connors, Mr. Covington, Mr. Glover, Spot House, Jesse Johns, Earl Kennemer, Frank Lane, Arthur Ross, and Charley Webb.