DRY LAKE SCHOOL
Lewis Smith Reminiscing - Dry Lake School Historical Marker
Photo by Becky Hodges
Dry lake School was built about 1911 on land donated by Swenson Land and Cattle Co. near a 40 acre lake that was dry more times than it was full of water. Mr. Davis, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Doppson and Mr. Barley hauled 3 wagon loads of lumber to build the school. The first plans were to build a two-room school one mile south of the school site, but looking over the pasture it was decided that Dobson was a low spot and that it would be better to move to higher ground, which was one mile north. Added later were two more rooms and a stage with a roll-down advertising curtain. Here plays and school programs were presented on every holiday with costumes made from crepe paper. Mrs. H.P. Bell taught expression and Mrs. Buster Robinson taught music. One of the first teachers to live in the teacherage was H.A.C. Brummett.
In the beginning, this school had 7 grade and in 1914 was reclassified as a 9th grade high school. As the area population grew, a 10th grade was added in 1917, and in 1925 there were 11 grades. The community was proud of 10 graduates that year.
Red Rover, Flying Dutchman, Scrub, Baseball and other games were played at recess. On Fridays students "loaded up" and visited Espuela, Highway, Croton or other rural schools for a hot contest of baseball. In the 10's a basketball court was built outside and big bloomer suits were worn by the girls who played. There were no boring times as the school house was the focal point of social life for the entire community. Box suppers, quilting's, ice cream suppers, forty-two parties, and swing game parties were held with entire families attending.
Large families were located on every 80 to 160 acre plot in the Dry Lake area. Students walked or rode horseback as far as 5 miles. One of the first school buses was a surrey driver by Mr. R.P. Davis, who brought 8 to 10 children to school. After the principal started the early morning fire in the big wood stove two students were assigned the duty of taking out ashes and going to the wood shed for more wood. In later years coal with a coal scuttle was added. On very cold days the classes were held around the wood stove.
Drinking water came from a big cistern with each student bringing his own tin cup. Modernization came in the 30's when the W.P.A. rebuilt our outdoor privies with Will Leach and Newt Kidd doing the painting. In the 40's a lunchroom was added with Maggie Thacker as the only worker, serving from 60 to 65 students daily.
Some teachers remembered were M.K. Hull, Smith, Bell, Brummett, Pearson, Porter, Hargis, Freeman, Engleman and Cooner. Early families were: Cherry, Leach, Rogers, Smith, Bass, Puckett, Baker, Robinson, Holloway, Swanner, Hairgrove, Kidd, Hindman, Pickens, Russell, Powell, Dozier, Baze, Aston, Calvert, Delisle, Draper, Dopson, Davis, McBroom, McMahan, Gray, and many more.
As more modern eduction and progressive methods in school swept through texas, consolidation of small school with larger ones became very prevalent,. In 1952 Dry Lake School was one of the last rural schools in the area to consolidate with Spur. A conveyance was necessary to transport the students. Martin Turbyfill owned a truck in which he hauled grain in the summer, but it was adequate to bring the 40 to 50 students into Spur schools. He and some friends built a "mobile contraption" for the truck bed which could be placed on the vehicle during the school term and removed during the summer. Mr. Turbyfill was to only the bus driver, but also the best friend of the students. This mode of transportation was used for several years.
The once busy, populated community has very few families living in the area now because of the different farming methods and the changing economy. The school house no longer exist. Elmer Maben purchased it in 1957 for $1300.00, tore it down and used the wood in buildings on his ranch. Even tho the building is gone, most of the people have moved, and the area does not look the same, there are wonderful memories for the people who once lived a happy life and went to school in this community.
By Betty Miller LehewSource: Dickens County History...its Land and People © Dickens Historical Commission; Printer: Craftsman Inc. Lubbock, Texas 1986, page 484
Photo by Becky Hodges
The Dry Lake School Site Dedication was held Sunday, October 17, 2004 at 2 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Hindman which is located on the old school site. Harry Bob Martin, Dickens County Historical Commission President, explained the DCHC site marker program and introduced Neal Hindman. Mr. Hindman directed the dedication ceremony. Betty Lehew gave the history of the Dry Lake School.Ex-Students shared their memories of teachers, fellow-students, games, discipline, schoolwork, location of the schoolhouse, teacherage, privy, cisterns and game areas. Soldiers who were killed in WWII of Dry Lake families were remembered.
Gladys Hindman brought her report card for the school year 1924-1925. (All A's)
Attending the dedication ceremony were Gary and Jane Powell Bridge, Linda Hotchco, Cliff and Pat Hightower, Donald Lee Wilson and Dorothy L. Powell Wilson, Donald Delisle, Betty Lehew, Doug, Debbie, and Macy Hindman, Ruth Hindman, Graden and Billie Bass, Janie Alexander King, Jack Alexander, Adell Gannon, Bud and Nan Kidd, Glenn and Nell Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Bunk Smith, Ineta Cannon, Tennie Kidd Fry, Neal and Nancy Hindman, Harry Bob and Mary Lena Martin, Walt and Rebecca Stanley, Benny Robertson, Becky Hodges, Louis Ray Smith, Louise Wright, and Beverly Watson. DCHC expresses their appreciation to the Hindman family for sponsoring the site marker.
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