Babbs in Kiowa County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Babbs Switch Tragic School Fire

Babbs Memorial School

— 1925 —

Site of Babbs Switch Tragic School Fire Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

1. Site of Babbs Switch Tragic School Fire Marker

Inscription. On Dec. 24, 1924, 35 people lost their lives while attending a Christmas party in a one room frame school house. The fire was started by a candle on a Christmas tree. A school building was built here as a memorial and a model to point the way to safer county schools the nation over. The school was discontinued in 1943. Was dismantled and sold.

In Memory Of
W. T. Curtis — Mrs. W. T, Curtis — Edna Curtis — Francis Curtis — T. C. Coffey — Mrs. T. C. Coffey — Maudie Coffey — Orley Coffey — Dow Bowling — Maggie Bowling — Edward Bowling — William Biggers — Walter Biggers — John Duke — John Hebeasperger — Mrs. Rhoda Bradshaw — Mattie Mae Bryan — Earnest Peterson — Obil Peck — Ciryl Peck — Paul Peck — Vesta Jackson — Alice Noah — Lee Reville — Lillie Edna Reville — J. T. Goforth — J. B. Goforth — Juanita Stephenson — Mary Juanita Stephenson — Gladys Clements — Mary Lois Clements — Miss Isabell McNutt and the teacher Florence (Terry) Hill

Erected 1966

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by the Community Welfare and Rainey Mountain Extension Homeowners Clubs and Roosevelt Garden Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is December 24, 1924.

Location. 34° 57.478′ N, 99° 3.644′ W. Marker is in Babbs, Oklahoma, in Kiowa County. It is on U.S. 183 north of County Road E1420, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hobart OK 73651, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Kiowa Tribe,

in the Comanche Nation,

and in Southwest Oklahoma.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Garret A. Hobart (approx. 5 miles away).

More about this marker.

Site of Babbs Switch Tragic School Fire Marker (rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

2. Site of Babbs Switch Tragic School Fire Marker (rear)

Quarried, manufactured & erected by the Willis Monument Co. Granite, Okla.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Babbs Switch Fire. (Submitted on July 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View from marker towards location of former school. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

3. View from marker towards location of former school.

View from marker looking south on U.S. Highway 183. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 26, 2018

4. View from marker looking south on U.S. Highway 183.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,117 times since then and 117 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.