History of the Ovalo District Number 19

The school we know today was in 1892 only a one-room building, about fourteen feet by sixteen feet, roughly constructed both inside and out. It was located just east of Bald Eagle Mountain on the property of Mr. A. B. Britton, Mr. Britton having deeded about five acres to the district for school purposes. The first trustees were Messrs. S. N. Landers, R. F. Ivey, and J. R. Landers and the first teacher Miss Ella Mills, who did a good piece of work for the girls and boys in her charge. In these days the pupils sat on a few long benches made by the patrons of the school. In the center of the room was an old wood stove that distributed the heat in anything but a proper manner. Drinking water was hauled in a barrel from a tank. About thirty-five pupils were enrolled in the first school, which was supported in good part by a small district tax. At that time the district was considerably larger than it is today, because, when Lawn and Dewey wanted schools, the territory embraced had to be divided.

The teachers up until 1910 were Miss Ella Mills, Miss Rode Freeman, Miss Daisy Reed, Will Shaw, Miss Bessie Andrews, Miss Ollie Crofton (now Mrs. Ollie Graham and a member of the present faculty). Miss Lucy Tinkle, Mr. Roscoe Tucker, Miss Dana Harkrider, Miss Hermia Cash, Miss Edith Lackey, Miss Helen Kessler and Miss Lena Tikker. Under the last two teachers named the old building was used for the last time.

In 1909 an eight thousand dollar bond was voted and the tax was increased. A four-room brick school building was erected at the foot of old Bald Eagle to the north, the old mountain giving a splendid "backing" to the school. Work began here in January, 1910, under the direction of Mr. M. C. Price and three lady assistants. Mr. Ellington most successfully taught the school for the next two years, the tenth grade being added during his second term. Mr. H. F.Powell followed Mr. Ellington and was also assisted by three lady teachers. Mr. Powell was decidedly "a man of his word" and was liked very much by pupils and patrons. In 1915-1916 Mr. S. E. Brogdon was principal; that year the little annex to the east of the main building was erected and the fifth teacher was added to the school. Mr. M. A. Williams followed Mr. Brogdon, assisted too by four lady teachers. During Mr. Williams' time Ovalo School first received State Aid. During the period of the World War existing conditions reduced the number of teachers to three, all women, with Miss Mary Danner principal. Only nine grades were taught. Mr. R. T. Stone, with three assistants, taught the school the following year. Although there were no formal graduating exercises under Mr. Stone, a number of ambitions boys and girls completed the work offered in the school and several entered colleges the following year. Miss Luella Moore, as principal, most creditably managed the school the year of 1920-1921 and presented two graduates-Lula Williams and Joe Bush.

The year 1921-1922, however, is "the year of years" for us, the Seniors of the Ovalo High School. Our district is now voting a dollar tax and trying to maintain the best school of its history. Our faculty consists of Mr. A. E. Fogel, Misses Alvora West, Thelma Longbotham, Brittie Blankenship, and Mrs. Ollie Graham. We are proud of the work we have done under these capable teachers and of the credits we will receive. Here are fifteen "rahs" for dear old Ovalo School!

BEATRICE RIDDLE

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