Little Known Facts About Our School...

Did You Know?

*...that the North Lamar School District has its roots in Powderly, TX?

*The Powderly School was initially located about 100 feet south of its present location and that this location was used until about 1940.

*The basic "rock school" was built by the work projects administration (W.P.A.) from 1938-1939 and consisted of twelve classrooms, the main office, and the hallway.  The office was located where the nurse's office is now.  The library was located where the teacher's workroom is today.  The library was also a classroom with a countertop dividing two rooms.

*Powderly school opened for its first school year in 1940.  It was heated by fireplace.  (The chimneys are still in place.)  Electricity did not arrive until 1942, and the children used outdoor toilets.  The "outhouses" were located on the playground approximately where the water fountains are now.  Also, the cafeteria at this time was located approximately where the playground equipment sits today.  The cafeteria was an old army barracks building.  There were also two other buildings located behind the gymnasium, but their exact locations are unknown.  These two buildings consisted of the Ag. classroom and the homemaking/business classroom.

*The Powderly school was renamed Aaron Parker in 1945.  Mr. Aaron Parker was a teacher and  school superintendent who died from burns involving an explosion with a school bus.  Mrs. Parker was also a school teacher.

*In 1946, Mr. Frank Stone became the superintendent of the Aaron Parker School.

*Amherst, Givens, and Frisco consolidated with the Aaron Parker School in 1947.  Two classrooms, two bathrooms, and the superintendent's office were added to the south side of the main building.  Bathrooms would not arrive on the north side until 1951, and 24 feet were added in 1953 to the north end of the gymnasium.  The superintendent's office was located where the book room is today.

*In 1962, Lone Star consolidated with Aaron Parker.  Two classrooms were added for seventh and eighth grade students.  These buildings were located where the Head Start building sits today.  Of those two buildings, the Head Start room still remains.

*In 1964, these schools were integrated into the Aaron Parker school:  Lamar High School, Trickem, and Bradley Hill.

*In 1966, Reno consolidated with Aaron Parker.  Due to this, expansion was needed.  This was why Higgins Elementary was built.

*From 1966-1968, the first high school was built for grades 9-12.  At this time, districts and boundaries were being drawn.  Aaron Parker became strictly an elementary and middle school.

*In 1970, classrooms were added to the east side of the high school.  The high school was renamed Frank Stone High School after Frank Stone tragically died in a single, one car accident.  Cecil Everett then became the new North Lamar superintendent.

*In 1974, the b-wing of Frank Stone High School was added.  Cecil Everett retired, and Roy C. Chadwick became our next superintendent.

*In 1975, the cafeteria was added to the N.E. side of Aaron Parker.  Chicota consolidated grades 1-6 with Aaron Parker.  The Cecil Everett school was also built in 1975. 

*In 1976, the annex on the S.E. corner of Aaron Parker was added.

*In 1977, Chicota closed its school doors and completely consolidated all grades into the North Lamar schools.

*In 1986, the new Bailey Middle School was built to handle the 6th, 7th, & 8th grades.

*On December 31, 1995, the annex building of Aaron Parker was vandalized and burned.  Due to the extensive damage, the annex was torn down and rebuilt.  Portable buildings were brought in as temporary classrooms until the annex could be rebuilt.

*In 1995, the new North Lamar High School was under construction and opened its doors for classes in 1996.

*On February 2, 1997, the new annex building of Aaron Parker was dedicated.

*In 1997, Aaron Parker transferred all 4th & 5th grades to Geneva Bailey Intermediate School.  The 6th grade transferred to Frank Stone's b-wing, and the 7th - 8th grades transferred to Frank Stone's main building. The 9th-12th grades remained at the new North Lamar High School.