The first town was called Harrison named for a Choctaw leader, William H Harrison. It was established in 1891. I t was behind Hamp James station on the hill. In 1894, the Kansas City railroad built a track then the town moved to the present sight. It was then known as Shady Point, because of the many shade trees, this town consisted of 5 stores, 4 boarding houses 1 blacksmith shop, moved form Harrison 1 cotton gin and a post office. There was a ferry across Poteau river, a ferry was a boat and a raft which took people and wagons across the river. The bridge over Poteau river is one of the first steel bridges built in this area. There were coal mines in Calhoun and East of town, this prompted the railroad company to build a track to Calhoun to transport coal and passengers. They had two coaches to ride in, because the black people had to ride in a care by themselves. This was Indian Territory because Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907.
The town consisted of Choctaw Indians and white people. The first school was a Presbyterian Mission established in 1898, with Rev. Pazley in charge. The teachers were: Myrtha Laswell (my mother) and Cora V Lindsey(my aunt). They were educated in Berryville, ARK in an academy. No rural schools could be organized legally before statehood. The school stressed the three R�s, "READING, RIGHTING, RITHMITIC". The teachers were the janitors. They kept the building clean and built fires. Some of the older boys helped. The school hours were 8-4 with recesses. This building was a white frame building where the Shady Point grocery is now. After statehood, a two story building was built close to the highway on the East side of the present school. They taught grades 1-10th. In 1920, a four room school was built with a gymnasium through the center. It was used for basketball, assembly�s and a skating rink. It was where the kindergarten building is now. It was used until 1933 when the rock building was built by the Government works project act. Gas was put in 1945 and electricity in 1928.
The first schools were heated by wood and coal. The parents of the pupils furnished the fuel. The benches and desks were of rough timber. Blackboards , erasers, and chalk was used. The chalk was long sticks, bought in a wooden box. Each child had a slate and slate pencils. You used a wet rag to remove your work.
At this time there was no electricity or gas. People who came to church at night brought a lantern. There was nails over each pew where they hung. If a family missed church their part of the church was dark. Many traveled by wagon, there were no cars. The Baptist built a two story building in 1896. This was used by several denominations and used until it was torn down and the present one built. The Presbyterian�s sold their church to the Church of Christ. These churches had singings and singing schools, that was where I learned to read music.
When the Assembly of God came to town there was no building available so my brother in law built a brush arbor. Not knowing much about it he built the benches to high. The next day was spent lowering the benches. Then the Union Hall became available for services. It was used for several years before the church here was built.
During the Brush Arbor days a man and his wife, Brother and Sister Evans came, she always told folks to bring honey, my husband loves honey.
Some of the ministers were: Rev. Claude Minick, Rev. Woods and Rev. Newby. We were fortunate to be friends with these families and some of them still visit me when they come to town, Brother Minick married us in the Parsonage March 18, 1939. The first piano they purchased was mine. It is a pleasure to be good friends to Brother and Sister Estep. The Full Gospel church was a branch of California based church.
Written By Cora Pearl (Wilson)Stogner