Lela School

Soon after this community was established along the proposed rail line for the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf railway in 1902, residents sought a school for their children. Both the community and the school were first known as Story until the post office opened under the name Lela. Fannie Womble was the first teacher in the Story, later Lela, school, and John Purcell, J. V. Ford, and J. T. Close were the first trustees. Although the community was founded because of its abundant good underground water, it did not keep pace with Shamrock, and by 1920 many residents and businesses had moved there. Around the same time, flooding along the long dry creek caused the community of Lela, including the school, to move one-half mile north, up the hill from its original site. The discovery and production of natural gas brought renewed prosperity to this farming and cattle region in the 1920s. After the school building burned in 1927, civic leaders arranged for a new brick school building large enough to serve the increased population brought by economic growth. The 1928 brick school building originally housed all grades, but after several years the top two grades were discontinued, and Lela students traveled to Shamrock to finish their education. After nearly 90 years, the Lela School district closed in 1992 and was annexed to the Shamrock school district, and its history remained a strong part of Wheeler County's rural heritage.

Texas · United States