| City/Town: • Wagoner |
| Location Class: • School |
| Built: • 1959 | Abandoned: • N/A |
| Status: • Demolished |
| Photojournalist: • David Linde |
A few months into 1959, the City of Wagoner proposed a brand new school to be built just West on the outskirts of town. Voters approved a $37,469 bond issue for the new building which would replace the current building for Star School District No. 11 students. The building would consist of two classrooms, office space, stage, kitchen, two restrooms, dressing rooms and an auditorium. Architects J. Scott Workman of Tulsa was the architect and J.V. Powell was the general contractor of the project. Open house for the school was held on September 11, 1959, with the welcoming teachers being Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Hickman and Board members Ira White, L.H. Dockrey, and Guy Cooper.
The Star School, which started out as a one-room schoolhouse set to make their rural community just as advanced with the right tools as any other school. Prior to building the new modern brick building, the one-room schoolhouse was in need of many repairs and most students were being transferred to the city schools. After building the new school the district was just as advanced as the others. Sixty-two students were enrolled with teachers Jim Zachary, Barbara Alsup, and Loretta Berry.
It’s unknown just exactly when the Star School became abandoned, probably the 1990s. It then became a popular place for kids to go and hang out, graffiti and drink causing great neglect to the building. This led to the eventual demolish of the Star School.
Gallery Below of Star School
https://www.newspapers.com/image/593573445/?terms=star%20school&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/509105956/?terms=star%20school&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/593573527/?terms=star%20school&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/632242617/?terms=star%20school&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/700732195/?terms=star%20school&match=1
https://gateway.okhistory.org/search/?q=star+school+wagoner&t=fulltext&sort=&fq=dc_type%3Aimage_photo
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I attended Star School in 1963 in first grade ?I remember the pie suppers and CHRISTMAS AND OTHER Holiday Festivities there Sad to see it in ruins If any one who reads this went to this school at the same time I did I send my regards, Thank you Star School! I won't forget you! Bob Dalton Dulen Jr.
Wow, You actually went there?
I believe the original Star School, a frame building, burned and this brick building was its replacement. My grandfather attended Star School as a child, my grandmother taught elementary school there during the depression and my father went to 1st grade there.
The building has now been bulldozed and is just a pile of rubble.
The original Star School had two rooms and an office. The "Little Room" was for grades 1-4 and the "Big Room was for grades 5-8. This building was built in the late 50s I believe. Our entire community life revolved around this school and consolidation was devastating to our pie suppers, Christmas programs, Easter programs, and yearly end-of-school picnics at Honor Heights in Muskogee–fond memories.
I remember you …the Jacksons went to school there Paul, Shirley, Carolyn, Billy, Dorothy. We too have many fond memories! Phyllis always got cake for prettiest girl at the pie suppers. We loved the Hickman's! So many great memories. I wouldn't trade the country school memories for anything! Carolyn Jackson Gardner,
t MY
I remember walking around in this school when I was a kid back in like 1985 or so, and it was already abandoned back then. It looks like it must have been pretty heavily gutted (or ravaged by time?) over the last 25 years…. I seem to remember a stage (first pic?) but I swear back then it still had curtains, seats, everything. Unfortunately I don't know anything about its history
Interesting stuff do you get here. Can somebody tell me more details about this place please. It looks so creepy.
Star School was built in the 1910-20’s. A piece of the property was donated by a Creek family member from their original allottment to build a school for their children. The building that is on the property is not the original. I’m not sure when that was built. The tornado shelter might be part of the original school. The shelter may be out of old brick.
Only resource I gotten about this school that it was built in the 1940s.
Yup, thats about all I could find on it too…