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2011 Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places
Another common theme on the Endangered List has been the challenge faced by school buildings, and that continues today. Page-Woodson School (formerly Douglass High School), the first African American educational institution in Oklahoma City, was founded in March, 1891. Initially, Douglass High School was in a two-story wooden frame building on West California Street. After that building burned down in 1903, a limestone structure was erected on Reno Avenue, but that building ultimately proved inadequate for the needs of the students and staff.
In the 1920s, Douglass High School moved into the Lowell School, a formerly all-white educational institution built in 1910. The school boasted renowned staff and alumni, including well-known author J.H. Brazelton, who served as instructor and principal, and noted Oklahoma City musician Zelia Breaux, who served for many years as music educator and later became the first female president of the Oklahoma Association of Negro Teachers. Breaux’s father was Inman E. Page, long time president of Langston University and integral contributor to the development of African American educational institutions in Oklahoma City, who also worked at Douglass for a time. Graduates included author Ralph Ellison and blues musicians Charlie Christian and Jimmy Rushing.
As the only African American high school in Oklahoma City, Douglass rapidly became overcrowded. In 1954, the high school moved to a new building and Douglass became the Page-Woodson Fifth Grade Center, but closed permanently in 1994, and has been vacant ever since. Recent proposals for the site have included redevelopment for community uses, but these have yet to materialize.
Oklahoma City Public Schools have worked closely with the City of Oklahoma City to rehabilitate numerous historic school buildings as part of MAPS for Kids, and has shown great appreciation for the City’s historic school buildings. However, the longer this impressive building sits empty with no planned use, the greater the danger that it will be lost grows.
In the 1920s, Douglass High School moved into the Lowell School, a formerly all-white educational institution built in 1910. The school boasted renowned staff and alumni, including well-known author J.H. Brazelton, who served as instructor and principal, and noted Oklahoma City musician Zelia Breaux, who served for many years as music educator and later became the first female president of the Oklahoma Association of Negro Teachers. Breaux’s father was Inman E. Page, long time president of Langston University and integral contributor to the development of African American educational institutions in Oklahoma City, who also worked at Douglass for a time. Graduates included author Ralph Ellison and blues musicians Charlie Christian and Jimmy Rushing.
As the only African American high school in Oklahoma City, Douglass rapidly became overcrowded. In 1954, the high school moved to a new building and Douglass became the Page-Woodson Fifth Grade Center, but closed permanently in 1994, and has been vacant ever since. Recent proposals for the site have included redevelopment for community uses, but these have yet to materialize.
Oklahoma City Public Schools have worked closely with the City of Oklahoma City to rehabilitate numerous historic school buildings as part of MAPS for Kids, and has shown great appreciation for the City’s historic school buildings. However, the longer this impressive building sits empty with no planned use, the greater the danger that it will be lost grows.
Page-Woodson School
(formerly Douglass High School)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
(formerly Douglass High School)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
