City/Town: • Oklahoma City |
Location Class: • School |
Built: • 1928 | Abandoned: • 1987 |
Status: • Abandoned |
Photojournalist: • Michael Schwarz • Mary Evans |

Half of the two acres of land for Sunnyside School Dist No. 36 was donated and was constructed by Lambert Construction built this school for $6,600. It is a single-story brick building with a small porch door entrance on the northeast corner. On the backside of the building is an entrance to the basement. Sunnyside School No. 36 was used as a K through the eighth-grade facility with roughly a hundred students. Its first teacher was Miss Fern Wilson who did an excelling job in making it an accredited school fit for educating students on the outskirts of Oklahoma City.
In 1955 a school bond election was held by C.E. Grady, county superintendent, for the annexation of Sunnyside School No. 36 into the Star District 46. Voters would be asked to approve a $151,000 bond for a new four-room grade school. Sunnyside made the consolidation and its days as a school were over. But that wasn’t the last time it had youth through its doors becoming a youth center for a number of years until they moved out in 1984.
The Oklahoma City School Board and Viola Askew, a descendant of the land donors for Sunnyside, came to an agreement to sell the two properties together for a minimum of $35,000 and half the proceeds going to Mrs. Askew. While efforts were underway to get the building sold the building was leased to the New Faith Baptist Church in 1986. Pastor Joe W. Hollins said ” It’s a beautiful opportunity for us and I just thank God it happened,” after hearing the school board’s approval of the lease. OKCPS Board members voted 7-0 to lease the old Sunnyside School to the congregation of 55 for $200 a month. The New Faith Baptist church would have the opportunity to purchase the building after a two-year leasing period. But unfortunately, they wouldn’t get the opportunity to after legal troubles arose surrounding the property’s ownership.
Viola Askew had grown tired of waiting on a deal to be settled and felt that the real estate agent in charge of trying to find a buyer hadn’t tried hard enough. In 1987 she sued the OKCPS and the church claiming that she owns the land that Sunnyside sits on and upon donating the land to the district stated that the land must be returned to her if it seized to be used as a school anymore. Mrs. Askew passed before the suit was settled and it is unclear what ever happened after that. The building sat abandoned for decades, being purchased recently.
This is private property, trespassers will be prosecuted. If you would like to photograph this site please contact Tim Dunn: 405-203-5790.
Article by AOK Photojournalist Emily Cowan.
Gallery Below
[Photograph 2012.201.B1221.0299], photograph, January 17, 1947; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc608795/: accessed May 16, 2021), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.
“12 Aug 1955, 20 – The Daily Oklahoman at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/449402173/?terms=sunnyside%20No.%2036&match=1.
1409176. “Oklahoma City Public Schools Board Meeting Minutes, 1986.” Issuu, issuu.com/metrolibrary/docs/okcps_board_meeting_minutes_1986a.
—. “Oklahoma City Public Schools Board Meeting Minutes, 1987.” Issuu, issuu.com/metrolibrary/docs/okcps_board_meeting_minutes_1987a.
—. “Oklahoma City Public Schools Board Meeting Minutes, 1987.” Issuu, issuu.com/metrolibrary/docs/okcps_board_meeting_minutes_1987a.
“19 Feb 1931, 8 – The Oklahoma County Register at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/594392774/?terms=sunnyside%20school%20district%2036&match=1.
“8 Jan 1929, 2 – The Vista at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/608419327/?terms=sunnyside%20school&match=1.
“Board to Lease Former School.” Oklahoman.com, 22 Apr. 1986, www.oklahoman.com/article/2145059/board-to-lease-former-school.
“Old Schools Never Die … They Just Change Classes.” Oklahoman.com, 8 Sept. 1986, www.oklahoman.com/article/2159154/old-schools-never-die-they-just-change-classes.
“Site Sale Plan Due for Action.” Oklahoman.com, 16 Jan. 1984, www.oklahoman.com/article/2054008/site-sale-plan-due-for-action?.
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emily,
I am writing a book about the okcps and would like to include your narrative about Sunnyside if I can get your written permission. Id appreciate it muchly.
Contact me at:
Barbee Stueve
405-317-0785
barbeestueve@cox.net
Just got in contact with the owner (if you are entering this property without calling, shame on you, he was EXTREMELY easy to get ahold of). This article is in severe need of an update, however. Tim says it is currently under renovation and is working on being restored. He has crews working on it each day and it is no longer abandoned. He was very kind and explained the situation when I called, 17 people since January have gotten tickets there, none of which called first. Thank you Tim for being so patient with my call, and I hope… Read more »
I agree that this article needs an update. This was written several years ago and we will get in contact with the owner to do a new one with much needed info updates.
I went to Sunnyside #36 on NE 63rd street. The Sunnyside on I 35 and 33rd street was Sunnyside #20. We played them in softball and other games along with Oakdale which is huge and and a very update district feeding into Edmond High schools. Lonestar at Hefner and Eastern (Blvd in Edmond) is abandon. Pleasant Hill and Spencer was to large for us to interact with but still having active school. As far as the pictures I do have some. I would have dig very deep and look long and hard to find them. As I understand it from… Read more »
[…] close enough to see through the foliage, you can spot the old concrete plaque informing you this is Sunnyside School built in 1928. (Note: This paragraph was edited to correct factual […]
I am so sad. I, so wanted that property for just the school.
I went to Sunnyside school when I was in the 3rd grade but it was located at I-35 @ 33rd st in Edmond. Oklahoma
It was torn down a long time ago and I am looking for pictures of it
So glad to get this info. I've been so curious. I pass this school building everyday and wondered about it. Thanks for the info. I find it interesting.
This property has been purchased.
If you would like to photograph this site please contact Tim Dunn: 405-203-5790.
Do not trepass without permission.
We would like to request the administrators of Abandoned Oklahoma update the information on this location. We are concerned for the safety of photographers.
We have updated the post. Thank you for telling us! Is there any history you can tell us about this school? If so please email, or what ever is convenient to you, schwarzcreative@gmail.com. Thank you!
The property deed had a reverter clause, so the school district would be wise to utilize in some ways as a nature/outdoor experience type of school for the district. Otherwise the heirs of the original donors could claim the property back.
I am looking for old pictures of students who atended this school
It seems I recall an auction sign up infront of the school sometime last year. It would be interesting to know who bought it and what they want to do with it.
I'll look into it I'm quite now too! Thanks for sharing!
Sunnyside was a Elementary thru 8th grade when it started – http://starspenceralumni.homestead.com/History.ht… and a Vintage photo -http://starspenceralumni.homestead.com/files/sunnyside.jpg ,
& I remember seeing a sign on it a year or so ago by OKC Pub Schools trying to sell it as Surplus, I always thought it was a shame to let the old historical Building sit empty & thought it would make a good home for the Spencer Historical Society (or at least a museum of sorts on the history/ development of Spencer)
Hello, I'm actually from Cushing, and in discussing this with my parents (I'm only 22), they couldn't remember where this school used to be located? They could only think of another school here that is just as old but it was called 'Happy Valley School' and that is the only one that comes to mind.
Where might that school be located approximatley? Is it still around?
off of 63rd street in Spencer, OK. next to a green pasture on the north side of the road. look hard its hidden behind trees and stuff. Easier to see when coming from Harrah, towards OKC. you'll see it on the right side of the road.
Oh haha, thanks! I know where sunny side is, I was talking about happy valley school. Thanks for the help though! Lol
Cushing oklahoma
Nice post man! You beat me to this one! Haha. I need to stop being lazy and post these places up.
The outside (shell)of this school still looks pretty stout…in Wagoner County someone took a school older than this one and turned it into a private residence…this one would be cool too if someone did that.I love the old corner stone/plaque and the old red brick.
That would be really cool to see! Problem is that people are fighting over who currently owns the property right now. So we’ll have to wait and see.
Where is this school located in OKC?
I literally just drove down the street and found it… I’m terrible with directions
the property has been purchased.
no trespassing without permission.
tim dunn 405-203-5790.
thanks.