Brinkman Consolidated School Traditional Cache

Before statehood, Old Greer County had over 150 schools that dotting the landscape. Beginning in 1917, many of the more than 80 communities in Greer County began the process of centralizing many small schools into consolidated school districts. By 1922, there were 13 consolidated schools. In a day when a high-school education was a rarity, Greer County's school system made high school available to 95% of the county's children.

Brinkman, Consolidated School #1 once stood on this spot. The school was built just to the northeast of the town of Brinkman. The three-story building that was once home to 450 students stood just north of the cache. All that is left is the steps that led to the entrance.

The school was formed in 1919 when Brinkman and the old Plainview Schools were combined. This was the first consolidate school in the county and one the first in the state.

The buildings were expanded and modernized under the WPA. The new facilities opened in 1936. This included a new gym, classrooms, and indoor plumbing. It was noted that was a first for some of the students.

The population slowly declined to the point that the school closed in 1957. The alumni still meet on a yearly basis. In September of 2012 a memorial to the school and the community was placed one mile north of the town site at the old cemetery.

In later years all the districts were slowly combined into the Mangum and Granite School Public Schools Districts. In spite of the fact that the schools no longer stand, they still remain in the memories of the former students.

Congratulation to 2Moore on the FTF.

Another Quality Clan Hide