Sylvester is another town I pass through every time I go to Wichita Falls. I’ve seen the walls of this building passing by, so I finally decided to stop and see what it was.
This is another abandoned school. Two stories and pretty big for this town. There’s no telling when this school was shut down, as there’s plenty of trees growing inside.
Again, it’s a really large school for a town this size.
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Great post!
i grew up in near by McCaulley, wich is also been closed over 20 years... and i often went to Sylvester..and many times wondered what the school looked like inside.. thanks for posting really kool to see inside of it. after all these years.. i would love to find out more of the school's history.. when it was opened and closed... just kinda sad all these country schools had to close down... man oh man.. thanks again for the photo....... Kelly
That’s cool, my couch( Kyle Jeffrey) tells us stories about growing up in McCaullry, it seems very interesting. Did you attend McCaulley school at anytime before it shut down?
Yes i did. i went to Mccaulley from 1984 to 1990. the high school closed in 87-88 school year.
my bother and sister were in high school and my little sister was in 2nd grade, we were the eagles. played on the football field many games.
These pics have been a trip down memory lane for me. Thank you for sharing them. We lived in Sylvester in the 70’s and went to school at McCaulley.
My mother was born in Sylvester (1920)-I've traveled from Oklahoma City to Midland, ,Tx. many times, have been thru Roby but don't remember even seeing a road sign mentioning Sylvester-Any idea what curent populatiuon is?
The last time I passed by Sylvester, the population was 78, I believe. That was in 2010.
Anybody remember Karriker foods in Sylvester in the 80’s? Also anyone remember the family and school reunions at the civic center in the 90’s? I remember a lot of old two story houses in the 80’s they tore down. To all down there, please keep Sylvester all original.
TJ
That’s cool, my couch( Kyle Jeffrey) tells us stories about growing up in McCaullry, it seems very interesting. Did you attend McCaulley school at anytime before it shut down?
Yes i was there from 84 to 89. the high school closed in 87..
Does anyone down there in Sylvester still have a high school annual or a football school jacket?
My grandfather was born in Sylvester in 1937. We are currently taking a trip through memory lane. He remembers Truman working at the service station.
Actually my dad, Billie Wright was born in 1934, not 37. He grew up with his grandparents Will and Cora Kelly. His mom was Ruby Kelly. We spent many weekends tromping through that old school. Actually had a roof at the time! Upstairs was the auditorium with a stage and curtains.
My aunts and uncles all went to school there and I want to say my Aunt Colleen was in the last class before closing!
Truman, I'll be sure to look at the sign when I pass through this weekend.
Kelly, thanks for the photos. I agree, it is sad to see these once great structures just left to fall to the ground.
Thanks for the comments!
My mother was one of the last kids to attend sylvester. School closed in 1949. I still live in Sylvester
Wow, that's interesting! Thanks for posting. I still go through Sylvester every time I go to Wichita Falls and back.
I also graduated in 1949. Who was you mother?
Sharon Kelly was my mother.
Your grandfather was Richard Kelly? That’s crazy! Lorene,
Ima Beth (died in a tragic car accident in her 30’s I think),
LaJuan, Don (Joe boy), Jimmy! I remember them!
I LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM School for several years my brother lives in Sylvester now. My Mom was the postmistress their for 20 years or more. My parents owned the store there for years.
That's funny My grandparents also owned the grocery store there for years. It was on the corner at the main intersection. Their name was Brewer. They also owned the bank and other buildings before they burned down in the 1940's. As far as I know it was the only grocery store there for years.
My parents ran that grocery store after the Brewers. Thats wild!
Hi. My maternal grandmother was also a postmistress in Sylvester, Mary Stella Scallorn McHaney. She went by "Mollie." I never knew her because I came along late in my parents' life but would hear about Granny Mollie. My mother would be 103 if still alive. She went to the high school and played basketball there.
Lori, what was your mother’s name?
Does anyone know of where a picture of the Sylvester high school mascot can be found to look at? What were they called? I can’t find anything in it. Like Roby school where called the Lions. Maybe someone knows.
TJ
My family lived just outside of Sylvester in a rent house out in the country that was owned by the Douglas family. We rode the bus everyday to McCaulley. We were there in 1958 to 1961. We knew the Kelly’s and the Mayberry’s.
Do the Perales' still live there? My grandparents(Curtis and Jerre Howard) had property there. I spent every summer in Sylvester growing up. Used to ride my bike past the closed Sears store, the school, and the church, to go to the little store to buy candy and a soda. Crazy that they still had a post office. Last I heard the population was 70. Going to drive out there this weekend.
My aunt and uncle bought MR. and Mrs. Howards property. The Perales are all gone from Sylvester.
Oh my! Who are your parents and grandparents?
Oh my goodness! I remember the Perales' family. Lolita, the daughter was killed in a school bus accident I think back in the late 70's, maybe 1978?? And after that I am not sure if the family stayed there or not. The post office was owned by my grandparents, Buford and Ruth Brown......Ruth was the postmaster for many years. We likely crossed paths in those summers, but simply never formally met. My what a small world we live in
Lolita was such an awesome person. Was such a sad day when the bus accident took too many of our beloved friends from us.
Brandy,
My name is John (Johnny) Perales, I graduated from McCaulley in 1974 and my entire family has moved from Sylvester. Please contact me I love to catch up.
Respectfully,
John Perales
(901) 592-9272
Hello John,
We may be related, my mother is the daughter of Luis Lerma. Her brothers were Elijio, Juan, Santos and a Sister Elena.
My Grandma told my mom that she resembled Lolita.
Santos was telling us today of the tragic story of Lolita. So sorry for your families loss.
If you would like to correspond that would be wonderful.
Sincerely,
Mona Brown
Brandy,
I'm John (Johnny) Perales I grew up in Sylvester graduated in 1974 and joined the Navy and now live just north of Memphis in Millington, TN. Email me I love to catch up.
Johnny,
This is Ronnie Williams; hope your doing well. I think of Alex and you all the tile. I bought my parents place in mccaulley.
Take care
I’ve heard about the Perales’ they’re daughter, Lolita was killed in the 1978 bus crash, sad that McCaulley had to shut down.
my grandfather bill wayne reed grew up on a farm outside sylvester. i remember him taking me there when i was little showing me the school he attended, the gas station and other hangouts he would go to. he lives in roby now. i have been trying to look up his parents info james bobby reed and velma smith reed kinda intrested to learn about them and sylvester texas.
My great-grandfather was Velma’s brother. Edgar Smith. We just buried his last daughter today in Amarillo ( Dorothy).
Brandon,
Your mom was a sister to my great grandfather, Edgar Smith. We just buried his last daughter today in Amarillo (Dorothy).
Billy Wayne Reed was my uncle, my dad Harold gene reed, my grand parents were James Robert reed & Velma Smith reed, they are buried at the Sylvester cemetery, are you Larry Reed's son, you can contact me at ( 615-337-4250)
My grandparents were James Robert reed &Velma reed, they were farmers outside Sylvester, toward longworth texas, Harold Reed was my dad Billy Wayne Reed was my unclerickey
I graduated from Sylvester High School in 1949 with 12 in my graduating class. That was the last year of schools there.
Thanks for commenting! That's very interesting and quite a small class.
True that the High School closed in 1949, but the Elementary School with Grades 1 - 8 operated 4 more years. The elementary grades were two to a classroom, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8..
Mrs Miller taught 1-2.
Mrs Ward taught 3-4 until she moved elsewhere at mid year and was replaced by Shirley McHaney.
Mrs Scott was home room for 5-6 and James H McHaney was home room for 7-8 as well as serving as Sylvester Principal under Fisher County Superintendent Mr Dalton with office in Courthouse.
I attended Grades 1 - 4 in Sylvester until the School Closed and students transfered to Roby, McCaulley and Trent.
James McHaney and Shirley (Griffin) McHaney both graduated from Sylvester High School in the mid 1930s. Shirley attended & graduated from Texas Women's College in Denton. James was attending Texas A&M College when the 36th Division was mobilized. After WWII Major McHaney returned to College Station to graduate from Texas A&M.
Major McHaney is one of the names on the monuments on the West side of Courthouse in Roby.
My mom and aunts went to school in sylvester
I too spent a lot of summers visiting my mammaw (Velma Reed). My mother and her parents are buried in the Sylvester cemetary. I would love to know the history of this town with pictures. Its where my mom grew up and I still have an uncle (Billy Wayne Reed) in the Roby area.
I was born it Rotan, Tx. In Jan. '50 and lived with my parents, Wilmer "Pop" and Ila Edwards in Sylvester until '53. My Grandparents, John and Myrtie Edwards are buried in the Sylvester Cemetery. My aunt and uncle, Merrina and Richard Babb are buried near FM 1085 and CR 163. Every two years in early Nov. they have a "Homecoming" to see whos still around. Pop has been there several times including this year--I still love "kickin' rocks" around the old school even though there isnot much left of it. Pop is 95 now and was a proud "Cardinal."
Sylvester’s school mascot was a Cardinal?
Charles Edwards, please contact me if you see this. 469-879-3868 thank you!
i Have seen online cant remember the site. but where McCaulley and Sylvester played each other in football games six man. and Noodle too. thought was interesting