-Abandoned Oklahoma featured on News 9 and The News on 6 in Tulsa.
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acre campus Arkansas River Bill Cyganovich Building Chouteau city of tulsa closing cramped quarters Danny Wasson district district officials Elementary enrollment Expressway expressway plans extension fire trap force homeless people improvement association June Keystone Mark projection proposal Public Riley school Schools Superintendent Larry Zenke target task terwilliger Terwilliger Park three houses time transportation engineer Tulsa tulsa public schools tulsa world Twain twain elementary school wasson West Ave West Avenue West O west Tulsa world archives zenke
Riley was closed in June 1988, when the building was 70 years old. Most of its students were sent to Mark Twain Elementary School, 541 S. 43rd West Ave., or to Chouteau Elementary School, 575 N. 39th West Ave.
A task force had proposed the closing of Riley and several other schools after Tulsa Public Schools’ enrollment fell from approximately 80,000 students in 1968 to 59,000 in 1978.
At the time of its proposal, the task force was considering a projection that enrollment would fall to 52,000 by 1981. The district now has about 43,000 students.
In 1981, then-Superintendent Larry Zenke said Riley was one of five schools in need of major renovations. Between 1981 and 1988, the district expanded the facility and bought eight acres to expand its 2.5-acre campus.
District officials and patrons had expressed concern about the building’s cramped quarters and condition for years. Tulsa World archives show that in 1976, Frenchie Loving, director of the West O’ Main Improvement Association, said the building, “aside from being too small, is a fire trap, too.”
Danny Wasson, who lives three houses away from Riley, said the boarded-up school has been a common target of vandals and a popular night-time haven for homeless people recently.
“Police have been called there several times to get people out that wasn’t supposed to be there,” he said.
Riley is among properties that are scheduled to be acquired by the state for the extension of the Gilcrease Expressway, said Bill Cyganovich, the city of Tulsa’s lead transportation engineer.
The extension would connect west Tulsa to Interstate 44 and the Keystone Expressway.
Plans call for the route to start at I-44 and West 51st Street, then head north and east of 57th West Avenue, which it would parallel until it crosses the Arkansas River. It then would continue north to the Keystone Expressway, while running east of Terwilliger Park and atop 57th West Avenue.
Officials said the 82-year-old vacant school building was being used for storage.
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Looks like a cool place to roam around in
In the 30’s Tulsa Public Schools had a school call Medio in the same area. I think this could be the same school.
OMG! This is so creepy!! I went to school here in the 70’s from Kindergarten to 6th grade. It’s haunting to flashback to pictures in my mind when it was in tact. Thanks for uploading and for the website. Angie
Wow! This is so heartbreaking! When I look at these pictures of Riley it brings back memories of some of the best times in my life. Even tho its in horrible shape I can see things that I remember, like the cafeteria/library and the gym. I attended Riley from 75-80. Two of my favorte teachers there were Mr. Gregg and Mrs. Miller. Thanks for sharing these pictures.
I found some more info. The full name of the school was James Whitworth Riley Elementary. The Medio Station was directly north of this school, it was a part of the Sand Springs passenger rail system. There is a small tunnel that goes under the road from Riley to the old station. The station is not there anymore, but the tunnel is. The tunnel is on the south side of the road, it has a fence around it, its flooded though.
Those picture bring back alot of memories.
wrong…james whitcomb riley. named after the poet. vern station was located across charles page blvd, on north side of the street, not medio, next station west was bruner station. rode the trolley to downtown tulsa many times…only a nickel. left jwr in spring of 1959, headed to james madison jr. high………as stated hate to see the old girl in such sad shape……such good memories…mr. harrington, mrs armstrong. mrs brinkly. mrs rose…….and my heart throb sandra madden……..oh where are you sissy miller, tom bowers, gary varnell, roy petty, the pry twins, leale edwards, perry holloway……..time time time…..thanks for this sight ….well done