Published: March 26, 2008 12:32 pm            

Historic trust, society formalize new agreement

EDMOND — Following the great Land Run of 1889, many early day community leaders in Edmond took part in the establishment of the first public school house for children in the territory. One-hundred-and-nineteen years later, an agreement between the Edmond Historical Society and the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust was approved Monday night by the Edmond City Council to provide for the Territorial School House’s management and operations.

Trust members have spent several years preserving the school house, said City Councilman Charles Lamb, who served on a special committee to help create a partnership between the historical society and the trust. “This agreement represents the opportunity for the school house to be placed in public access,” he said.

The agreement notes that the school house will be staffed with Edmond Historical Society personnel and volunteers to allow the school house to be open to the public. The Edmond Historic Preservation Trust is responsible for maintaining the recently renovated school house. Also, the agreement calls for the trust and the society to work with Edmond Public Schools to develop an educational program for the school house.

“I’m absolutely excited about it — the school house is a valuable resource for the community,” said George Winters, president of the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust. “It truly is going to take the trust and the society to make it the most it could be. We’ve got two great organizations and the future is incredibly bright for both.”

Winters said the historical society is deciding how to best make the school house available to the public while preserving its rich history. “I’m excited about what they’ve been able to accomplish in this short time,” Winters said. “We are making the transition and the relationship is young.”

The Edmond Historic Preservation Trust was created by the city in 1982 to preserve Edmond’s history. In 1983, the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust created the Edmond Historical Society to include the residents of Edmond in establishing the museum. The trust owns the school house because the trust represents the City Council. Both organizations receive funding from the city.

“It’s a fantastic partnership that is meant to be,” said Cameron Wilson, first vice president of the historical society. “It’s really a partnership between two great organizations with common goals. Working together makes sense.”

An open house is set for 1:30-4 p.m. April 5 at the Territorial School House, 124 E. Second St.

“We want to open it up and welcome everybody in and look at all the amazing work that the trust has done in renovating it,” said Jena Mottola, executive director of the Edmond Historical Society.



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