Built in the late
1890's, Emerson High School is the oldest standing school
building in the Oklahoma City Public School District.
While removing chalkboards from the classrooms during a recent
renovation project, construction
workers exposed original boards complete with lessons, drawings
and signatures that are almost 100 years old!
The story garnered national attention and NBC News sent Harry
Smith to Oklahoma City to cover it. It was reported on NBC
Nightly News June 15, 2015. A video of this report appears
after the pictures below.
To the best of my knowledge it is yet to be decided how the
boards will be preserved. It is being discussed whether or not they should be covered with
Plexiglas or new
boards installed over them. From my perspective it would be an
injustice not to leave them visible for future generations to
see.
As an aside, Emerson School made the news back in 1995 when a
piece of axle from the Ryder rental truck used to bomb the
Alfred P. Murrah Building landed in the school yard there.
The old front entrance to the Emerson High School
Chalk board signed by Custodian R.J. Scott December 4th, 1917
Chalkboard art and December 1917 Calendar
More chalkboard art
Lessons
R.J. Scott signature December 1st, 1917
More signatures
This speaks for itself!
Harry Smith from NBC News speaking with construction
workers