Okmulgee High School - Torchlight Yearbook (Okmulgee, OK)

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num HT 5ixrimKE.?i?Z?.gWiE 0liMl'l1GlCIC HIGH SCHOOL, 0KMl'I,Omc OKLAHOMA SPECIAL SENIOR EDITION 1940-41

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OKM LGEE HIGH CHOOL Before the influx of the white man, Oklahoma plains were silent, unex- plored, covered with tall-waving grass. Indians lived here, unmolested exccpt for an occasional white exploring par- W. Legends of our country say that once Vkfashington Irving was on such an exploring party. When night came on. the scouts selected a spot for a camp, and on that spot today stands Okmulgee high school, erstwhile Washington Irving high. Though there is no proof of his presence, this folk- lore is believed by many authorities on his life. When Oklahoma became open for settlement, white people moved in to take their place beside the red. At the turn of the century, need was felt for better facilities for this rising town, capitol ot' the Creek Indian nation. Jacob Bozarth, a city pioneer, in 1901 offered a block of land to the city for educational purposes. A one-room frame building served as the first school. As the town grew, a two-story brick building replaced the original one, But even this was soon outgrown, In 1915, the original cost being 597,- 100, the present academic building was constructed. The high school had been inadequately situated in the old Lee high school, now used for junior college purposes. Back all the classes moved to the old lot. A short five years elapsed: Ameri- ca was in and out of the warp pro- hibition was passed, prosperity was coming, Okmulgee was growing rich in oily our population increased rapid- ly in the 'teen period. The vocational building with all its fine eouipnwnt was built at a cost of 5256175 in 1920, Offices, library, cafeteria, and 3, few clasrooms were built between the two buildings in 1927 for an additional S107,255, Dealing in figures, this makes an initial investment on the block at S460,530. A truly staggering total! The Indians no longer roam the plains: the frontiers are gone. But as normal Americans we may look back upon our school's romantic history and be proud of the progress and mo df-rn ideals that have characterized it through four decades.