photo page 20

Back during the very early 1900's, there were schools scattered across Turley, OK. One was near 31st street and North Lewis Ave. Antoher was on the North West corner of 86th Street North and the Midland Valley RR. and even another school was built at the N.W. Corner of 76th Street North and Peoria Ave. The picture at left is that one room brick school building at 76th and North Peoria. We know of one family that went to this small school house and that was the Bussman Family. Even though, Lottie Bussman was too young and by the time she became of age, she had to attend the newly built Turley school at 61st and North Peoria, what is known today at Cherokee School.

Where the present Cherokee School is now, a section of land was purchased at 61st North and North Peoria Ave. The first building erected was a two story four room school building. It had three classes for each room and went from the 1st grade to the 12th grade. On the map below, the first building (Item "A" below) was built in 1908 on the South West corner of the school property. Item "C" was a fence and

property section line. On the South side of this fence was a Hamburger Joint (Item "B") where the present day faculty parking lot is today. They named this school the Turley School.

As the community of Turley, Oklahoma grew, it became necessary to construct more class rooms. So the construction started up again. This time to build the three story red brick building on the North West corner of the lot. That would be Item "G". It was a 12 room building and housed 1st grade through the 12th grade. This 3 story building was built in 1920.

The way Turley was growing, it was time to build even more classrooms. The Withe Building (Item "E") was built in 1934. It extended up to the Gym and Auditorium (Item "H"). It was about 3 years later that they added even more classrooms around the old Gym (Item "H") and built a new Gym and Auditorium (Item "M"). During that construction, they had aquired the land on the South side to the creek. They extended the classrooms (Item "J") back to the South East and later they added a couple of Kindergarten classes (Item "K").

Now to fill in some blacks. After the 3 story building to the left was built and opened for classes, the 1st school building at top (Item "A") was tore down.

After the new Gym and Auditorium was constructed, the Old Gym was converted into the School Cafeteria. with the Kitchen on the west end where the Stage was. A Hall, washroom and Custodian office was on the East end.