
The “Red Brick” Is No More
Pampa ‘s school trustees for 1909-10 were H.J. Lippold, J.C. Rider and C.P. Sloan. The teachers were J.T. Claggett and his sister, Miss Maggie Claggett, Miss Mittie Farrington (Mrs. C.A. Tignor), Miss Ella Mallow and Mrs. Frances Knox.
Eloise Lane
By that time school enrollment had reached 150 pupils and it was deemed necessary to expand the school facilities. A bond was voted on and a two-story red brick building consisting of six classrooms and an auditorium was constructed at 309 North Cuyler at a cost of $15,000. It was ready for occupancy on September 10, 1910. At that time Pampa had a six-month school and was the largest school district in Gray County .
The red brick building was named Lamar School for Mirabeau B. Lamar who followed Sam Houston as president of the Republic of Texas . Lamar was honored as the “Father of Education” in Texas because of his measures to donate part of the public domain to the funding of a public school and university system.
For the first school year at Lamar School , J.M. Daugherty, Jr. came from Dumas to join the Claggetts and other teachers. For 1911-1912 Daugherty was hired as superintendent for a nine-month term at $113.50 a month. High school teachers had a salary of $45 monthly and primary teachers received $50 monthly. At the close of the school year in the spring of 1912, the students assembled in the school auditorium. The superintendent made a “nice short talk” and presented a diploma of graduation to Austa Rhoades, the first graduate of Pampa High School . ( Austa Rhoades Duncan died November 13, 1918 during the flu epidemic and was buried in Fairview Cemetery.)
In the spring of 1914, five girls and one boy were graduated from Pampa High School. Marvin Daugherty was the teacher and the graduates were Lila Talley, Augusta Duncan (Murfee), Stella Herndon (Sloan), Georgia Vicars, Lela Baird ( Walker ) and Fred Cary. Immediately following the ceremonies, the graduates took their diplomas and joined the whole town at a dance in the Simms Restaurant at 115 South Cuyler.
For ten years the “red brick” accommodated the entire school, but once again increased enrollment made a new building necessary. Although the tan brick building, opened in 1920 at 126 West Francis, was intended for all eleven grades and an auditorium, the “red brick” was still used.
For a time private music and expression teachers gave lessons in the building. For 1924-25 the fourth grade taught by Marile Lowe occupied the southeast corner of the first floor and the seventh grade taught by Jenkie Collins (Mrs. Bob Campbell) occupied the northeast corner. These two teachers shared an apartment with a second grade teacher, and the three were billed in a local grocery store as “Collins, Cook, and Lowe.”
In 1927-28 three seventh grade classrooms occupied the south side of the second floor and three sixth grade classrooms were on the north side. Josephine Cariker was the homeroom teacher for 7-C in the southwest corner and Miss Roy Riley was the writing and art teacher for the sixth and seventh grades.
In 1928-29 the new east wing of the tan brick building at 126 West Francis provided space for the junior high grades and the “red brick” was used for various high school activities. The girls’ glee club met in a room on the second floor in 1931-32. The high school band met in a room on the first floor. For some time (at least in the 1940s) the second floor of the “red brick” was used as the school cafeteria.
Robert E. Lee Junior High School (now Pampa Middle School ) and Austin Elementary School were ready for occupancy in the fall of 1957, and the “red brick” was no longer needed. It was razed in the summer of 1959. Boatman’s First Motor Bank now occupies the space that was the location of the “red brick” which is still remembered by many older Pampans.
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