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Wayside School

Wayside School

City/Town:
Location Class:
Built: 1916 | Abandoned: 1969
Status: For SaleAbandonedDemolished
Photojournalist: Emily Cowan

In 1916 Wayside was approved for a new brick one-story school with a basement and modern facilities. The space was used for community events, suppers, reunions, weddings, etc and continued to host such activities for years to come. The district was one of the wealthiest in the county with over $500,000 of taxable property.

The architect of the building was C. A. Henderson of Coffeyville. However, the school district ran into some issues with the construction contract. When bids opened up Zollars and Carson made a low bid of  $9,000, the board of education did not immediately award the contract and had to consider what to do next. But after negotiation, a bigger bid was placed of $11,375 and Zollars & Carson was given the construction contract. Wayside School contained four classrooms, heating, plumbing, and electricity. The gym itself somewhat resembles that of the one in Coyville.

The school served grades K-12, Wayside Panthers dominated basketball, spelling bees, baseball, and track. Wayside High School closed in 1968 for the same reason many others did, a decline in enrollment led to no state funding. The district consolidated with nearby Caney Valley USD 436. In 1969, local vandals caused $500 worth of damage breaking almost all of the windows on the west side of the building.

During a road trip in December 2023, I found the school’s gymnasium was just a pile of rubble. The small classroom building was still standing but in rough condition. A new for sale sign was placed by the property with the contact info of Land and Lifestyle Properties (620) 577-4487.




Bibliography

https://www.newspapers.com/image/381437592/?terms=new%20wayside%20school&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/517906720/?terms=%22wayside%20school%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/609655116/?terms=%22wayside%20school%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/517906810/?terms=%22wayside%20school%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/609607965/?terms=%22wayside%20school%22&match=1

Wayside school Wayside school

Wayside School
Emily Cowan

Emily is a three-time published author of "Abandoned Oklahoma: Vanishing History of the Sooner State" - "Abandoned Topeka: Psychiatric Capital of the World" and "Abandoned Kansas: Healthcare in the Heartland. With over two hundred published articles on our websites. Exploring since 2018 every aspect of this has become a passion for her. From educating, fighting to preserve, writing, and learning about history there is nothing she would rather do.

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Emily Cowan

Emily is a three-time published author of "Abandoned Oklahoma: Vanishing History of the Sooner State" - "Abandoned Topeka: Psychiatric Capital of the World" and "Abandoned Kansas: Healthcare in the Heartland. With over two hundred published articles on our websites. Exploring since 2018 every aspect of this has become a passion for her. From educating, fighting to preserve, writing, and learning about history there is nothing she would rather do.

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