Mr. Young gave land to the City for a school which was constructed
and in use by 1921. Many buildings were being built all over Ranger
during those oil boom years. There was a provision in the deed that
if it were ever abandoned as a school building, the property would
revert to the original heirs.
The brick building was build with on the same design as Cooper
School with three stories. The stairs were very steep and the
top floor featured a large auditorium with a stage. The bottom
floor had restrooms & a cafeteria. Grades 1-6 attended Young
but in early 1960s lower grade (1-3) were sent to Hodges and
upper (4-6) to Young. About this time free kindergarten classes
were started with Mrs. Bobo as the teacher. This is the only
school building constructed during the 20s that is still standing.
The building is located on the north side of Young St.
During the last month of school in 1978, the new facility Ranger
Independent School District built on Loop 254 was opened and all
the students assisted with their moving. Young School stood empty
for several years. When the RISD officials first put it on the
market, one of the heirs recalled for them the restriction on the
deed--that it reverted to the heirs. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Brockman
bought it and had their home and businesses in it for several years
until their health caused them to make a change.
Living quarters were quite spacious on the second floor. Mrs.
Brockman was a weaver and an artist. She painted and did sculptures.
Mr. Brockman had a machine shop on the first floor.
When the Brockmans were ready to sell, they put the building up for
auction at which time Wayne Mathews, Pharmacist and member of the
Ranger Economic Development Corporation, bought it. (This was in
October, 1997.) Thereafter REDC bought the building. One interesting
thing about the structure was that it was built exactly like another
grade school, Cooper School, that stood out on the west side of town.
Young School had no library so students were bused to the Ranger
Public Library.
Across the street from Young School was Powell Grocery store where
students made frequent visits. Faculty at Young School over the
years were: Lorene Oliver (Principal), Rankin Britt, Harvey Compton,
Denise Marusak, Jetty Ballinger, Cozette Penny, Johnnie Young, Clara
Singleton, Eva Bobo, Addie Harris, Betty Coodie, Ruth Ritichie, Dick
Halmcamp, Dutch Ervin, Dewis Cox, Bill Auvenshine, Marie Mahaffey,
Linda Allen, Frances Worden, Coach Bob Blair, Boon Yarbrough
(Principal), Clysta Walraven, Dorothy Ann Oliver,, Glen Allen Wilson,
John & Frances Casey, Tom (Tubby) Fox, Salata Brown, Rose Deffebach,
and Mrs. Joe Weekes. (Article by Sandi Herod - Ranger Times)
Old Young School prepped for prom
by Bill Whitaker Reporter-News Staff Writer (05/03/2002)
An abandoned, 83-year-old schoolhouse built during Ranger's heyday
boomed again last weekend.
The pounding, explosive rhythms that shook the old Young School came
courtesy of a disc jockey spinning tunes for Ranger High School's prom.
City officials eyeing economic development hope the high school party
kicked up more than dust.
Ignoring gloomy perceptions about the three-story building, students,
parents and civic leaders spent a month cleaning up and renovating the
auditorium and entryway of the Young School, built during the town's
famous oil boom and last used for instruction in 1978.
Ranger High students and parents wanted to hold the annual prom somewhere
besides the usual campus setting.
"We thought it might be a start toward something else," said civic leader
Kay Dobbs, who with retired electrician Vern Pearson led volunteer labor
many nights during the past month. "We've already got it rented out for a
wedding reception, and the exes want to use it for a reunion this year.
"Everybody that's come by has been impressed," she said.
Until the cleaning, stripping, painting and rewiring began, nobody was
giving the building much serious thought. City leaders had hoped it might
someday house a new business, but little had been done to make the
structure more appealing.
"Actually, when the Ranger Economic Development Corporation bought this
building, I thought they'd bought a pig in a poke," said Sandi Herod, who
joined the corporation board after it purchased the building for $19,500
a few years ago.
Now Herod and other board members hope the building's improved appearance
attracts either a business or reunions, showers and parties.
"It was horrible when we started," Dobbs said. "One fellow told us, 'You
took on a job most construction crews wouldn't touch.' "
Pictured above is Vern Pearson who cleans the windows over the main
entrance to Ranger's Young School building in preparation for Ranger
High School prom. Pearson is a member of the Ranger Economic Development
Board, which bought and renovated the building.
NEXT - Tour of Old Young School in 2002