The History of Wann School

As published in the Warrior 1951 - 1952

The town of Wann in 1901 set one-half mile east and one-fourth mile south of the present site. The town consisted of one combined store and post office, a blacksmith shop, and a one-room frame school taught by Mrs. Pet Graham.

In 1902 the Katy Railroad was put through this area. The town of Wann was moved to the present site to be near the railroad.

The school, after the town moved was located slightly west from where Gaut's now live. This school was an Indian school. It was held under the Five Civilized Tribes. The teachers were appointed by the Indian Board of Education at Tahlequah. There was a fee of one dollar each month for all white children attending this school.

The town was at this time growing rapidly. The number of school children increased until there were considerable more than one hundred students in the one room building. When it became evident that a new and larger building was needed, Mike Patrick donated ground for the building. The new building was built about 1908, where the present building now stands.

The first eighth grade graduates were in the spring of 1909.

The Wann School house burned down on June 19th, 1916. It was struck by lightning about eleven o'clock at night. The blaze was discovered around midnight. The only thing that was saved was one teacher's desk. The school had just bought a new piano, and it burned with the building. The school building was valued at $12,000. The insurance on it was only $4,000.

After the school house burned, school was held in the stores and churches for one year while the present building was under construction. The new building brought consolidation and a high school to Wann. The school was consolidated in the fall of 1918 with Goebeck and Blue Ribbon.

In March, the year 1919, a movement was made to form a consolidated district at Wann to be comprised of Districts 7, 8, and 20. Petitions together with polls of the district 20 were filed in office of County Superintendent on April 1.

On April 24, at 2 o'clock the election was held with the result that 198 votes were cast for the consolidation and 48 votes were cast against. Mr. H.B. Grist was elected director; Mr. C.C. Fitzsimmons, clerk; Jim Steward, member of the New Consolidated District.

On April 24, 1919, an election for the consolidation for districts 7, 8, and 20 were held at the Wann School House. C.C. Fitzsimmons was elected chairman and Mr. J.M. Black was secretary.

The new school board took oath on April 26, 1919.

The new district was known as Consolidated District No. 2.

E.R. Bell was Superintendent.

In 1920, 21, J.M. Black was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mrs. Black, Jone Grace Comstock, Ruth Scott, Carrie Jacobs, Gladys Hall, Mrs. E.L. Jorms, Bevington and Iris Grist.

In 1921, 22, Mrs. J.M. Black was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mrs. Black, L.T. Ball, Mary Cantrell, Mrs. Beasley, Isabell Huffer and Ruth Pass. The Seniors of that year were: Clarence Reese, Ray Jones, Mattie Taylor and Ruth Maxwell.

In 1922, 23, W.H. Kilgore was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Kilgore, Paul Williams, Ethel Henderson, Isabell Hinder, Ruby Joe Rutherford, J.E. Colume, Mary Woodard, and Martha Kilgore. The Seniors were: Forest Williams, Walter Luke, Henry Burrows, and Paul Clifford.

In 1923, 24, W.H. Kilgore was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mr. Kilgore, Orem Hendrickson, G.D. Hendrickson, Myrtle Erst, Thelma DeGeer, Martha Kilgore, and Linda Harwell. The Seniors were: Joe Bevington, Gladys Reese, Opal Goddard, Blanche Winkler, Tina Pottinger, and Mildred Walker.

In 1924, 25, W.H. Kilgore was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mr. Kilgore, P.M. King, G.D. Henderson, Minnie Rogers, Iva Mae Cookreau and Alice Oakson. The Seniors of this year are not available.

In 1925, 26, John E. Cauture was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mr. Cauture, Munice Jones, Mildred Gregg, Alice Nickle, Thelma McMurry and Marguarett Hunt. We have no record of the Seniors for this year.

In 1926, 27, A.G. Fanning was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mr. Fanning, H.H. Beasley, Pearl Hunt, Virche Thedford, Lola Vineyard, Mildred Gregg, Mrs. R.W. Dilday, Ora Barber, and Flora Loomis. The record of the Seniors of this year is not available.

In 1927, 28, A.G. Fanning was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Fanning, Paul Clifford, Vivian Shadox, Mr. Paul Clifford, Mae Blevins, Virche Thedford, Anna Larwood, and Elene Staddard. The Seniors of this year are: James Sproul, Rube Suagee, Olive Davis, Thelma Grove, Helen Harris, and Lena Burrows.

In 1928, 29, A.G. Fanning was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Fanning, Norma Joe Dickerson, Paul Clifford, Laura Davis, Lily McCall, Mrs. Paul Clifford, and Anna Larkwood. The Seniors of that year were: Dorothy Adams, Eugene Davis, Leona Brink, Dorothy Harris, Samuel Hunt, Alba L. King, Thelma Mead, Gertrude Morgan, Selma Scholl, Millie Smith, Marjorie Strain, and Laura Brink.

In 1929, 30, A.G. Fanning was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mr. Fanning, Norma Joe Dickerson, Paul Clifford, Laura Davis, Lily McCall, Mrs. Paul Clifford, and Anna Larkwood. The Seniors were: Bevis Lockridge, Ethel Morgan, and Alberta Greenfield.

In 1930, 31, A.G. Fanning was Superintendent. The Teachers were: Mr. Fanning, S.B. Snyder, Miss Thelma Bennet, Imon Boler, Laura Davis, Lily McCall, and Lola York. The Seniors were: Cecil Smith, Wallace Cushenberry, Hal Winkler, Harold DonCarlos, Bernice Clifford, Cleo Kier, Kenneth Osborn, Harold Strain, and Mae Johnson.

In 1931, 32, A.G. Fanning was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Fanning, S.B. Snyder, Miss Thelma Bennet, Bertas Roland, Laura Davis, Lily McCall, and Lola York. There is no record of the graduates for this year.

In 1932, 33, R.L. Sanders was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Sanders, S.B. Snyder, Miss Carrie Grant, Owen C. Grant, Laura Davis, Lily McCall, and Mrs. William Cook. The Seniors for this year are: Thelma Pike, Anna Cooksey, Margaret Adamson, Elsie Pierce, Irene Bailey, Willie B. Lockridge, Lily Hampton, Floyd Durst, Orlie King, Francis Burrows, and Floyd Ehart.

In 1933, 34, R.L. Sanders and Ira E. Hunt were Superintendents. The teachers were: Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Hunt, Virginia Hodges, Leila Hamphill, Janet Roland, Owen Grant, Bryan Shadley, and Bernice Clifford. We have no record of the Seniors for this year.

In 1934, 35, W.W. Schueltz was the Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Schueltz, Leland Dove, Violet McMurtrey, Arthur Aitken, Owen Grant, Bernice Clifford, Marjorie Strain, and Mrs. Grant. The Seniors were: Grace King, Robert DonCarlos, Uel Underdown, Ruth Strain, Clarence Bailey, Woodrow Stats, Grace Lockridge, and Basil Gaut.

In 1935, 36, W.W. Schueltz was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Schueltz, Thomas Thorne, Hattie Bentley, Bernice Clifford, and Marjorie Strain. The Seniors were: Harold Taylor, Carl Stall, Laura Stall, Gladys Lutke, Steryl Smith, Elizabeth King Keys, Wilda Hawk, Lee Brooks, Evelyn Hasseburg, and Elizabeth Hasseburg.

In 1936, 37, Albert Dillon was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Dillon, Arthur Aitken, Hattie Bentley, Bernice Clifford, Marjorie Strain, Nettie Bryant, and Thomas Thorne. The Seniors were: Jewel Taylor, Claudine Potteiger, Vern Potteiger, Birdie Yeubanks, Shirley Adkins, Lorene Crittendon, Christine McClure, Anna Peters, Glenn Smith, Dorothy Brooks, Harold Strain, Lawrence Clifford, and Ardelia Salomon.

In 1937, 38, O. Cargile was Superintendent. The teachers were: Hattie Bentley, Laura Davis, Nettie Bryant, Sally Cargile, and Marjorie Strain. The Seniors were Luciel Myers, Marvin Taylor, Ester Esley, Dorothy Hanson, Helen Holland, George Eaton, Venson Logan, Morgan Osborn, and Thela Whitwer.

In 1938, 39, W.H. Wilks was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Wilks, Bill Gordon, Nelda Self, Eddie Lee Marks, Bernice Gordon, Laura Davis, Nettie Bryant, Marjorie Strain. The Seniors were: David Nicholson, Virginia Caldwell, Marvin Armstrong, Louise Winkler, Betty Beard, Mildred Miller, Beulah McGowen, Bob Bailey, Ray Smith, and Elbert Sanders.

In 1939, 40, Mr. W.H. Wilks was Superintendent. The teachers were: Bill Gordon, Mrs. Marks, Miss Harritt, Bernice Gordon, Nettie Bryant, Laura Davis, and Marjorie Strain. The Seniors were: Francis Hunt, Donald Morgan, Opal Smith, Marjorie Whitwer, Ernest Peters, Glenna Myers, Mary Nicholson, Ottis Clayton, Beth Reese, and Earl Clayton.

In 1940, 41, Mr. W.H. Wilks was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Wilks, Bill H. Gordon, Mrs. Eddie Lee Marks, Mary Harriet, Bernice C. Gordon, Nettie Bryant, Laura Davis, and Marjorie Strain. The Seniors were: Lawrence Shull, Maxine Caldwell, Frank Bates, Betty Jones, Warren Bailey, Louise Pear, Willie Stull, Leroy George, Daryl Adamson, Virginia Steward, Gene Taylor, Chester Hines, Elsie Brooks, Ronald Brinker, Virginia Scholl, Bud Neill, Edna Scholl, Richard Stout, and Martha Hairston.

In 1941, 42, W.H. Wilks was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Wilks, Bill Gordon, Mrs. Pysher, Bill Miller, Miss Muncy, Bernece Gordon, Nettie Bryant, Laura Davis, and Jewell Taylor. The Seniors were: James Bailey, Paul Clayton, Helen Hunt, Bette Strain, Latrell Jones, John Cook, Vernon Paclean, Edna Bonham, Mary Kay Beard, Beutah Hines, Harvey Hunt, Jaunita Busey, Leona Claypool, Lula Brooks, Pauline Bear and Wilan Muncy.

In 1942, 43, Mr. W.H. Wilks was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Wilks, Bernece Gordon, Pauline Miller, Mrs. Bill Gordon, Nettie Bryant, Laura Davis, and Lorene Crittenden. The Seniors were: Jean Hulse, Lida Durst, Warnie Mead, Loyd Armstrong, Mella Legan, Darrel Jones, Leonard McGowen,

In 1943, 44, James M. Staten was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Staten, Virginia Taylor, Mr. Perganant, Mrs. Corley, Mrs. Evelyn McKee, Ester Hackendorf, Jewell Taylor, and Bernece Clifford. The Seniors were: Phillip Smith, Anne Battle, Rosa Lee Ford, Kathryn Hicks, Marie Staten, Beatrice Neill, Maxine Clark, and Haskel Clayton.

In 1944, 45, James M. Staten was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Staten, Geneva Patty, Alberta Katushek, Lucile A. Belvin, Mrs. Daisy Bailey, Gladys Gordon, Jewell Taylor. The Seniors were: Beryl Taylor, Donald George, Mary Claypool, Marjorie Peckock, Bette Claypool, James Perkins, Jean Davis Isabella Anderson, and Mary Caldwell.

In 1945, 46, James M. Staten was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Staten, Alvin W. Gower, Mildred Gower, Evelyn McKee, Marie Staten, Jewell Holland. The Seniors were: Peggy Ortwein, Bob Mead, Tommie Hulse, Janey Brinker, George Chapman, Oma George, and Bill Dean.

In 1946, 47, Roy L. Ladd was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Ladd, James Staten, Ester Andrews, Marie Staten, Lorene Elliott, and Clara Hagerman. The Seniors were: Billy Robinson, Betty Clayton, Dorothy Martin, Mitchell Tieaskie, Marjorie Camren, Cecil Landrum, Billy Adamson, and Patricia Ortwein.

In 1947, 48, Roy Ladd was Superintendent. The teachers were Mr. Ladd, James Staten, Ester Andrews, Marie Staten, Clara Hagerman, Aladayne Locke, Josephine Taff, Betty Walker, Louise Moore. The Seniors were: Fred Crites, Garland Walker, Daisy Johnson, Garver Cameron, Ida Hadley, Frank Gaskill, Lois Armstrong, Margaret Staten, and Everett Compston.

In 1948, 49, Roy Ladd was Superintendent. The teachers were: Mr. Ladd, Aladayne Locke, Louise Moore, Willie Lockridge, Lorene Elliott, Betty Walker, and Clara Hagerman. The Seniors were: Thelma Martin, Richard Compston, Donnie Hulse, Wayne Snow, Edith Claypool, Jessie Sturgeon, Leon Gaskill, William Taggart, Ida Lee Brooks, Jessie Greenfield, Johnnie Parks, Lorene Armstrong, Jack Claypool, Clara May Sturgeion, and Jackie Clayton.