Historic drawings found in renovated school

  • 2016-01-16
As Emerson High School in Oklahoma City underwent renovations in the first week of this month, workers on its third floor found century-old chalkboards with writing still on them.

“Miss Walker's class December 10th 1917” was written on one of the chalkboards. Another had maps of the state and drawings in several colors of chalk. Sherry Kishore, the principal of the high school, explained that it was like going back in time. Kishore admired the drawings as both art and a major piece of the city's history, like someone had taken a color photo.

The school is one of the most historic ones still in use, so it is perhaps no surprise remnants of the past are still in the building. Indeed, more historic works were found previously; six months ago, crews found the first collection of historic art on the second floor. Kishore was excited to see what would be discovered on the third floor after that.

Deciding what to preserve at the school is a priority ,since everything has to be completed by March for classes. Emerson is putting $25,000 into what was found on the second floor and predicts that the third floor will need less in funds.

If the artwork cannot be displayed in the school, a poster printing service could make a replica of it to put in the halls.