Wayside Community

Settlers came to this locality in 1876, and the county was organized in 1889. Pioneer school district no. 5 was created by court order in 1890 to serve the area with schools known as Tallahone, Poole, and Wayside, usually taught in homes. In 1914, Frederic Foster of New York gave this 2-acre school site to the county, and the district bought materials while patrons erected a 28 x 36-foot red schoolhouse. It soon became the focus of the community as the site of elections, church services, other activities, and the Wayside School. The trustees in 1914 were James A. Poole, J. M. Story, and Earl Talley. Despite enrolment fluctuations caused by drouths, oil booms, and other economic factors, Wayside prided itself on scholastic excellence. Beginning in 1929, high school students were transferred by bus into Pampa, with the Wayside District paying their tuition. In 1933-1934, all grades were transferred in an arrangement used until 1950, when Wayside consolidated with Pampa. White Deer Land Co., successor to original donor Frederic Foster, then deeded the red schoolhouse for continuing community use to trustees Paul Caylor, R. E. Montgomery, and J. T. Roberts. Current trustees are C. W. Osborne, J. T. Rogers, and Jack Sloan.

Texas · United States