
Wayside School
On Texas Highway 70 about eight miles north of Pampa — just over the Gray-Roberts county line — there is a small building now known as the “Red School House” and a state historical marker which summarizes the history of Wayside School, District No. 5, Roberts County, Texas. In 1910, School District No. 5 had only three pupils: Goldie Poole, Jewel Poole and Opal Poole, rendered by J. A Poole of Tallahone. School board members were J. A. Poole and W. L. Sims.

Eloise Lane

Eloise Lane
To construct the red school building, George Montgomery, Homer Taylor Sr. and Earl Talley hauled lumber from the White House Lumber Co. at Pampa in horse-drawn wagons. Each year at Christmas time, these men — and possibly others — went to the Canadian River and cut down a tree which was brought to the school for the pupils to decorate.
When the red school building was first used in 1914, Pearl Crawford was the teacher with salary of $60.00 a month and Juanita Montgomery, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Montgomery, was one of the pupils. In 1915-16 and in 1919-20, Juanita Montgomery and Robert Montgomery were pupils. In 1923-24, Minnie Olive Montgomery and Roberta Montgomery were received from District No. 8. In later years, Robert stayed on the Montgomery farm. Juanita married Joe Massengale who had a store at Hoover. Minnie Olive married W. B. Jackson. Roberta, who married Dick Pugh, now owns Roberta’s Flowers at Pampa.
Edna Young, daughter of E. F. and Dulcie Young, also attended Wayside School when it opened in 1914. At Christmas time she married her neighbor, Homer B. Taylor Sr. In 1922 their son, Homer B. Taylor Jr. entered Wayside School, riding horseback the three miles from his home to the school. Homer Jr. gradu- ated from Pampa High School in 1934 and then attended Baylor University and West Texas State University. For a few years he participated in and also announced rodeos in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and Arkansas. He was a director of the Top O’ Texas Association for five years and announced the rodeo for nine years. While president and director of the Pampa Roping Club, he wrote a column for The Pampa News called “Rope Burns and Saddle Sores.”
Viola Haggard (Mrs. George Ingrum), whose family lived on the Martin farm nine miles north of Pampa, entered Wayside School in 1921 when Willa Embry was the teacher at a salary of $120.00 a month. While traveling the one and one-half mile distance from her home to the school, Viola rode “Trixie,” her Shetland pony, along a path that gypsies used. She had been told that gypsies stole children and were especially fond of little girls with blond hair. Since that was her description, she was apprehensive and sometimes cut across C. L. Thomas’ wheat fields to hide. When Viola’s younger brother, Ernest Burton “Buck,” started to school in 1924, Viola’s pony was exchanged for “Cap,” a larger horse, so that both children could ride. In 1926, Viola and Buck moved with their parents, L. B. “Bush” and Leona (Martin) Haggard, to Pampa.
The 1931-32 school term was 177 days. Grades 1-3 and 4-5 were taught by Ethel Poe Greenway at $120.00 a month. Pupils were Jack Sloan, Herndon Sloan, Freddy Sloan, Clinton Lee Caylor, Bob Caylor, Paul Ash, Dorothea Thomas and Anna Mae Cummings. Transfers to Pampa were Loretta Hogan, Kathaleen Sparks, E. W.Hogan Jr., Robert Hogan, Maxine Gowan, Anna Bell Holloway and Worth Seitz. Fred Sloan Jr., Herndon Sloan and Jack Sloan are listed in the Pampa telephone directory for 2000. Clint Caylor died on July 9, 2000. Bob Caylor lives at St. Louis, Missouri.
The 1932-33 school term was again taught by Miss Greenway with eight boys and one girl as pupils. C. L. Thomas, Fred Sloan and Paul Caylor were school board members. Juanita Montgomery began teaching the school on March 13, 1933 and finished teaching that school term, the last ever at Wayside School.
Bus drivers who transported pupils from Wayside to Pampa between 1935 and 1948 included J. T. “Skeet” Roberts, Paul Caylor, C. M. Broaddus, R. L. Gilpin and Jesse L. Gates. Their salaries ranged from $50.00 to $90.00 a month.
In 1949, construction of Highway 70 made it necessary to move the school building westward. Bills for the move indicate these costs: foundation, $336.30; moving, $100.00; red paint, fence posts, cement, etc., $915.03, while $925.00 was spent for painting, wiring and fencing labor.
Also in 1949, the Gilmer-Aiken school bill required that the dormant Wayside School consolidate and Wayside consolidated with Pampa. This ended the history of District No. 5 — but not the history of the “Red School House.”
(Much of this memento was obtained from a program given by Lorene T. Paris to the Wayside Club at the Red School House in 1974. )
Wayside community Settlers came to this locality in 1876. The county was organized in 1889. Pioneer school District no. 5 Originated by court order in 1890 to serve this area with schools known as Tallahone, Poole, and Wayside, taught usually in homes. In 1914, Frederic Foster of New York City gave this 2-acre school site to the county. The district bought materials, and patrons erected this 28 by 36-foot schoolhouse, painting it red. It soon became the focus for the community — site for elections, church services, and other activities, as well as housing the Wayside school. The trustees in 1914 were James A. Poole, J.m. Story, and Earl Talley. Despite enrollment fluctations caused by droughts, oil booms, and other economic factors, Wayside prided Itself on scholastic excellence. Beginning in 1929, high school students were transferred by bus into Pampa, Wayside district paying their tuition. In 1933-34, all grades were transferred — an arrangement used until 1950, when Wayside consolidated with Pampa. White Deer Land Co., successor to original donor Frederic Foster, then deeded the red schoolhouse for continuing community use to trustees Paul Caylor, R.E. Montgomery, and J.T. Roberts. Current trustees are C.W. Osborne, J.T. Rogers, and Jack Sloan. (1974)
The inscription on the historical marker summarizes the history of Wayside School, District No. 5, Roberts County, Texas. The name “James A. Poole” should read “Jason A, Poole.”
Over 200 Articles, written by Eloise Lane, were published in the Pampa News. These articles may be accessed by clicking on each section below. A list of articles will be revealed that are linked to a page containing the text of the article.
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Articles 1-20
- Origin Of The "White Deer" Name
- The Log House On White Deer Creek
- Obtaining The Land
- The Lands Organized
- Cattle Brands Tell Story
- Ghosts And All
- Southern Kansas Railroad
- Fire Guard Dam
- When The Railroad Came
- The Sutton RR Station
- Post Office At Pampa
- The Bell Family
- J.C. Short
- Pampa 1892-1902
- Pampa Laid Out In 1902
- Crystal Palace Founded
- Gray County Organization
- Organization - Continued
- Gray County - Lefors
- McLean - The Largest Town
Articles 21-40
- Gouge Eye
- The "Mother Road"
- German Family Reunion
- Desks From Hopkins
- Grandview School Begins
- The Oil Money
- History Wall Painted
- Boydston Or Boydstun?
- Ontario???
- Laketon - Early Farming
- Laketon - Continued
- First Couple To Marry
- Hoover
- Water Well Drilling
- Kingsmills Visit Pampa
- George Tyng Left
- Tragedy In Utah
- T.D. Hobart - Manager
- M.K. Brown Arrives
- Rider Livery Stable
Articles 41-60
- The Pioneer Cottage
- Pampa's First Doctor
- Doctor Makes House Calls
- A Red Cross Nurse
- Pampa's First School
- Hobart Went To London
- Cemetery Began In 1904
- First Business District
- C.P. Buckler Arrives
- Five Barrett Brothers
- Influence Of The Santa Fe
- Trains Still Roll
- John V. Thomass - Teacher
- Cattle-loading Center
- Rolla J. Sailor & Arrowheads
- A.H. Doucette Arrives
- Lands Are Advertised
- The Holland Hotel
- Wheat Left Pampa
- First National Bank Begins
Articles 61-80
- Pampa News Begins
- First Denominational Church
- 2nd Office Of WD Lands
- J.N. Duncan Arrives
- Nels Walberg Sells…
- Dormer Simms
- Fourth Of July Celebrations
- Pampa's First Cars
- Pampa In 1907-08
- J.S. Wynne Family Arrives
- Gray Count State Bank
- Baptist Church Organized (Under Construction)
- Joe & Lizzie Bowers
- Threatened By Prairie Fire
- Library Began In 1907
- J.R. Henry
- Sir Gordan & Lady Cunard
- Three Vicars Brothers
- Dodd Grain And Produce
- December 29, 1991
Articles 81-100
- D.C. Davis Family
- Long Christmas Celebration
- First Christian Church
- Facts About Pampa
- Buster Brown
- The Last Hanging
- Bones Hooks
- The "Red Brick" Is No More
- The Purviances Family
- The Dr. E. von Brunow Park
- Boards Of First Headquarters
- Mary Jane Purvis
- Cook - Adams Addition
- Nativity Scenes
- Clyde Carruth
- The Mine Tragedies
- Additions To Pampa
- Third Family In Pampa
- Frank Dittmeyer
- Bricklayer Indian Jim
Articles 101-120
- A.A. Tiemann
- First Movies And Lights
- Pampa Incorporated
- Mark And Sara Fletcher
- Annie Baker Daniels
- Pampa's Business District
- Birthday Tea Of 1919
- Former Pampa Minister
- John Mack Patton
- The First Brass Band
- Early Graduating Class
- "How We Met"
- F.P. Greever Is Assassinated
- George Tyng's Father
- L.H. & Lula Greene
- John & Lena McKamy
- Robert & Mary Yeager
- "Dear Old PHS"
- Supt. Believed In People
- William A. & Ruth Green
Articles 121-140
- Jason A and Alice Poole
- Wayside School
- Pampa Football Begins
- The Pampa School Building
- Rev. C. E. Lancaster
- Panhandle Lumber Co.
- Will Wilks & Mora Hughey
- An Unusual Valentine
- Charles A. Tignor
- O. A. Barrett
- Poppies In Flanders Fields
- Barnard & Williams Families
- 4th of July Celebrations
- Cuyler Street Underpass
- The King Family
- Kretmeier and Baer Families
- Stephen B. Oates
- Phebe Worley
- Organization of Gray County
- First Courthouse
Articles 141-160
- Pampa Laid Out in 1902
- Pampa in 1902
- W. R. Kaufman
- The Pampa Country Club
- Living In Pampa in 1902
- Pampa Buildings of 1902
- May Foreman Carr
- Scaffers - Early Residents
- Nita Luna
- Former Sub Debs Reminisce
- PHS In 1932
- PHS Appreciated
- The Forth Worth and Denver
- From Pampa to Childress
- The Origination Of "Taps"
- The Warners
- J. C. Studer
- Floyd, John and Otto
- Our American Flag
- Stories and Memories
Articles 161-180
- Museum in Pampa?
- The Franklin Farm
- The Franklin Family
- Beryl Wayne Vicars
- Historian Made Cookies
- The Pioneer Cottage
- The Orginial Swastika
- Library Clerk
- Women's Clothing Store
- Jon and Pat McConal
- Whitey Walker Gang
- How Rudolph Began
- Gwendolen Avenue
- Jerry Kerbow
- Two Paintings
- Second Part - Paintings
- Bones Hooks
- Original Nativity Figures
- Why "V" Instead of "U"
- Pampa Incorporated