1910s
• Wilson School was designed by English architects Solomon A. Layton and
S.
Wemyss Smith. Layton and Smith also designed the State Capitol.
• In December of 1918, contracts for the construction of Wilson School were
awarded. The Lisle-Dunning Construction Company was to build Wilson for
$47,677.
• The Board voted to have the building built out of algonite instead of Bedford
Limestone. The contract for the school did not include painting, or the
installation of blackboards. The funds available were barely sufficient to
cover the contracts. However, it was believed that additional funds would
be obtained to cover these details by the time the contractors had
completed their work.
• In the fall of 1919, Wilson opened as a seven-room school. At this time
there was no indoor plumbing and 21st and 22nd streets were dirt roads. A
pond was located on what is now the playground, where neighbors grazed
their cattle.
• On October 24th, 1919, a patrons club was organized which later became
the PTA.
1920s
• In 1920 the PTA used $139 to buy a Victrola and some records for the
school.
• Also in 1920, a professional landscaper designed the landscaping for
Wilson for free to serve as a model for other schools in the district.
• Four electric light fixtures were installed in 1924.
1930s
• In the 1930s, Wilson was the first public elementary school in OKC to have
a library and a school lunch program on campus.
• In 1930, Wilson teacher, Mrs. Romine, organized a first grade music club,
taught violin, and conducted a rhythm band.
• In 1934, Audre Yates painted a WPA mural in the kindergarten room
(Nursery Rhyme). She was later commissioned by the school to paint a
similar mural (Circus Mural) in the adjoining primary room.
• Also in 1934, Dr. W.B. Bizzell, president of the University of Oklahoma, was
the speaker at the May PTA meeting. The title of his speech was, “Building
World Understanding”.
• In 1937, Wilson 4th, 5th and 6th graders participated in a 900-piece orchestra
at Memorial Park, located at NW 36th and Classen.
• Also in the 1930s, Wilson opened a Children’s Museum within the building.
Items included a crazy comics quilt, sets of 6 McGuffey Readers, mounted
buffalo and calf, and a baby mountain lion. The museum was open from 1-5
pm Tuesday through Friday, and 10-3 pm on Saturday. The museum
hosted talks for children on Saturdays.
1940s
• In December 1940, music teacher, Mrs. Mock, directed a holiday pageant
which included real animals. Students sang carols on bleachers which were
set up on the school grounds.
• In 1943, the school sold over $1 million in war bonds and won a major
award for buying the most war bonds in the nation during one week of the
war. The school held a special assembly with Governor Kerr and Mayor
Hefner heading the ceremonies.
• In October 1946, the school had a hook-and-ladder presentation and rides
on a fire engine for having the highest percentage of respondents to fire
safety surveys.
1950s
• A new auditorium was built with seating for 400, and a new cafeteria was
built with a capacity of 125.
• A mural was painted in the cafeteria by Wilson parent, Mrs. Zyta Laky, a
native of Poland and a professional artist.
• In 1955, Wilson students contributed $128 to help build the planetarium.
• Also in the 1950s, monthly square dances were held for the 5th and 6th
graders in the auditorium. Tickets were $0.10 each and the proceeds paid
for the caller.
1960s
• Wilson t-shirts were sold for $1 each.
• The 50th Anniversary of Wilson School was celebrated February 11th, 1969.
1970s
• An outdoor creative play space was built in 1978. It was funded by the
Heritage Hills Neighborhood.
1980s
• Interest was renewed in the historic neighborhoods surrounding the school.
1990s
• In 1993, kindergarten assistant Kimberly Brown painted a Rainforest mural
in the West entry. Soon after she also painted an Ocean Mural in the south
stairwell.
• The 75th Anniversary of Wilson School was celebrated May 21st, 1995.
• Murals were painted in the school hallways by ArtForce and the Wilson PTA.
Kathleen Kendall designed the Gothic architecture paint scheme.
• In 1998, The Oklahoma City Public School District designated Wilson
Elementary as the state’s first specialty school in Arts Integration.
• In 1999, Wilson was selected to be a partner school with the Partners in
Education Program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
Washington, D.C., and BLAC, Inc. (Black Liberated Arts Center), Oklahoma
City, for professional development of teachers in arts integration.
• A new playground was put in place in August 1998. The playground was
funded by a Community Development Block Grant provided by Mesta Park
Neighborhood, matching funds provided by Heritage Hill’s Historical
Preservation, Inc. and donations by the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the
Wilson PTA.
• The school was fully air conditioned in August 1998.
2000s
2003
• On November 10th, 2003, Wilson 3rd graders planted a bald cypress tree
along Walker Avenue, north of the front door. The tree planting was
provided by OKC Beautiful and Klee Black Landscaping.
• On November 20th, 2003, the Wilson Chess Club held its first meeting.
2004
• A new school logo was designed in January, 2004.
• On April 15th, 2004, Sonic, America’s Drive-In, received the Perfect
Partnership Award at the Stars of Education event. Sonic, along with
Phillips Murrah Law Firm, serve as Wilson’s Partner in Education through
the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation.
• On April 29th, 2004, Wilson students attended the Oklahoma Children’s
Theater’s production of “Hansel & Gretel”. Tickets and transportation were
provided by Sonic.
• On May 17th, 2004, David Titus, storyteller and wordsmith, visited Wilson.
He presented workshops on storytelling and string figures.
• In May 2004, Wilson vocal and instrumental music teacher, Bobbie Pierro,
was selected as one of ten finalists for the Barbie Arts Teacher of the Year
Award. The winning essay was written by Wilson 5th grader, David
Sergent. The school received a $5000 arts grant.
• In October 2004, a Space Mural was painted in the north stairwell by Wilson
parents, Brett and Cathy Bass. Their children Kelsey, 4th grade, and Kenny,
Kindergarten, also helped with the painting.
• The 85th Anniversary of Wilson School was celebrated on October 16th,
2004. Wilson School was featured on the Heritage Hills Historic Homes
Tour October 16th and 17th.
• On November 13th, 2004, Wilson School hosted the Oklahoma State Grade
Chess Tournament.
• Wilson School received the “Good Neighbor Award” from Heritage Hills’
Historic Preservation, Inc. in 2004.
2005
• On April 20th, 2005, the Wilson School Library was rededicated as the Sallie
McFarland Rucks Memorial Library.
• On April 21st, 2005, the Wilson Honors Choir and Strings Ensemble
performed for the Opening Ceremony of the Oklahoma City Festival of the
Arts.
• In the fall of 2005, a Rainforest Mural was painted upstairs in the south
hallway by Wilson parents, Brett and Cathy Bass.
• On September 9th, 2005, Wilson students welcomed children’s songwriter
“Mister Mark” (Mark Burrows) in concert. In addition, the 4th and 5th grade
students, with the help of their music teacher, Neal Kellogg, and Mark
Burrows, composed the “Wilson School Song”. It was later recorded by the
entire school and featured the school’s visual arts teacher, Lanny
Fiegenschuh on the harmonica.
• On September 23rd, 2005, Wilson 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students
attended the Kennedy Center’s national touring production of “Willy Wonka”.
• In December, 2005, Wilson School was featured on the Mesta Park
Neighborhood Holiday Homes Tour. The Wilson Honors Choir and Strings
Ensemble performed a concert during the tour.
2006
• In 2005 and 2006, a Jungle Mural was painted by the Wilson PTA in the
school library.
• In March 2006, renowned blues guitarist, Joe Bonamasso, performed a
concert for Wilson students and families.
• Dean Sergent, Wilson Sports Coordinator, was recognized as the 2006
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for the Oklahoma City Parks and
Recreation Department for his efforts in coordinating the Wilson Sports
program for soccer and baseball.
• The Wilson PTA donated a memorial brick for the James Garner Plaza and
Statue dedication which was held April 21st, 2006, in Norman, Oklahoma.
James Garner is the uncle of Wilson preschool teacher, Susan Bumgarner.
• On April 25th, 2006, the Wilson Honors Choir, Strings and Drama students
performed for the Opening Ceremony of the Oklahoma City Festival of the
Arts.
• On September 15th, 2006, the Wilson Elementary School PTA was
recognized as one of the top parent groups in the nation, having been
named the winner for the Outstanding Focus on Involvement Award in PTO
Today’s Parent Group of the Year Search.
• In September 2006, the Wilson Chess Club hosted an Oklahoma Scholastic
Chess Organization Tournament (OSCO) at Wilson School.
• On November 16th, 2006, Mitch Albom, journalist and best-selling author of
“Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”, held a
reading and book signing event entitled, “Breakfast with MItch” at First
Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City, to benefit Wilson Arts, Inc.
• In November, 2006, Wilson School received a Piano Lab donated by Wilson
Arts, Inc. through a generous grant from the Oklahoma City Public Schools
Foundation.
• In December, 2006, Wilson School was featured on the Mesta Park
Neighborhood Holiday Homes Tour. The Wilson Honors Choir and Strings
Ensemble performed a concert during the tour.
• A mural entitled, “A Day on the Town” was painted upstairs in the northwest
hallway by Wilson parents, Susan Pierce and Stephanie Shroeder.
• Wilson preschool teacher, Susan Bumgarner, received the Girdie Ware
Memorial Award for Outstanding Early Childhood Teaching.
• The WATCH D.O.G.S. program began at Wilson in the fall of 2007.
Through this program, fathers and father-figures spend a day volunteering
at the school.
• Wilson parent, Mary Jane (MJ) Alexander, featured her photography exhibit
enttiled, “Centenarians: Ageless Portrait of Oklahoma’s Elders”, throughout
the metro area during the state’s centennial celebration.
• Wilson principal, Beverly Story, was named the District Administrator of the
Year from the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals
(OAESP).
• On April 5th, 2007, Wilson 1st through 5th graders attended the Kennedy
Center’s national touring production of “Alice”, by Whoopi Goldberg.
• April 24th, 2007, the Wilson Honors Choir, Strings and Drama students
performed for the Opening Ceremony of the Oklahoma City Festival of the
Arts.
2008
• Wilson drama teacher, Greg Eskridge, was named a 2008 recipient of the
Ann Shaw Fellowship Award by Theatre for Young Audiences USA.
• In the spring semester of 2008, Wilson students participated in after school
classes in Contemporary Dance, Tap Dance, and Piano.
• On April 29th, 2008, Wilson students attended the Kennedy Center’s
national touring production of “Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa
Major”.
• On October 23rd, 2008, Wilson Honors Choir, Strings and Drama students
performed for the “Noon Tunes” event at the Downtown Library.
• On November 19th, 2008, guest reader and author, John Brooks, visited
Wilson. Brooks was a sportscaster and former “voice” of OU sports.
• In December 2008, construction began on Wilson’s MAPS for KIds project
with work by W.L. McNatt and Company.
2009
• On January 10th, 2009, the Opening Ceremony was held at the Downtown
Library for Mary Jane (MJ) Alexander’s photo exhibit entitled, “Dear Mr.
President”. In this exhibit, Wilson students offered advice to the President.
The Opening included a performance by the Wilson Honors Choir and a
multimedia presentation by Alexander.
• On February 3rd, 2009, 17-year old piano prodigy, Ji-Yong Kim performed a
concert for Wilson School. The concert was provided by the Oklahoma City
Community College.
• On February 10th, 2009, the Groundbreaking was held for Wilson’s $4.2
million MAPS for Kids renovation and addition.
• On April 21st, 2009, Wilson students attended the Kennedy Center’s
national touring production of “The Phantom Toll Booth”.
• On April 28th, 2009, the Oklahoma House of Representatives with
Representative Anastasia Pittman and Governor Brad Henry, issued a
Citation honoring the Wilson Chess Club and Mr. Daniel Wade, the Club
Sponsor. The Wilson Chess Club is the first team in the Oklahoma City
Public Schools to win the K-6 State Championship conducted by the
Oklahoma Scholastic Chess Organization.
• In September 2009, Wilson parents Hans E. Butzer (OU Professor of
Architecture/Co-Director of bgDESIGN), Jeremy Gardner (Architect/Co-
Director of bgDESIGN), and Laurent Massenat (Structural Engineer/
President of Obelisk Engineering) were featured on an OETA/Oklahoma
Creativity special titled "Building the City of Tomorrow". The three are part of
the collaborative SXL (Spatial Experiments Lab) which won the national
design competition to design a landmark pedestrian bridge for Oklahoma
City, the Skydance Bridge.
• Wilson parent Tim Fall (Hollywood actor, writer, and producer) was featured
on OETA's September 2009 "Gallery" in a documentary about the film camp
he led at City Arts Center during the summer. In the episode "The Making
of Sunspots", Fall teaches a dozen teenagers about the real world of movie
making. Tim has worked with Clint Eastwood and Bob Newhart and has
been on Cheers and many other sit-coms and films.
• On September 18th, 2009, 60 students participated in the first Eat Wise
Kids Club meeting.