| Address: | Vicinity of Pawhuska, Oklahoma | County: | Osage |
| Started: | Completed: | 1939 | |
| Agencies: | WPA | NRHP: | No |
Current Usage:
Abandoned
Description:
Originally a two room facility, the Bird Creek School is rectangular (77′ x 25′) and is constructed of red brick laid with running bond. It has a stepped gable roof, with a cross stepped gable that extends over an enclosed, two door entryway. Above the front windows and at the base of the exterior walls, friezes are created by decorative brick work. At either end of the building masons have added other tasteful designs. Classroom windows retain their original wood sashes, although the panes have been destroyed. To the rear of the building at either end are entries reached by concrete stoops and covered with small, shed roofs.
For a rural, WPA-built school, Bird Creek is most unique. This is especially true architecturally, particularly in the use of brick, stepped gables, decorative brick work and rear entryways. Even the f loorplan is atypical. Within the community it is unique architecturally in terms of type, style and workmanship. The school is especially significant educationally and socially. It introduced a modern educational facility–and thus advanced instructional techniques-into the area, and it helped–by providing job opportunities to destitute workmen-to give people back some of their self-respect.
VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: Go north on the mainstreet of Pawhuska some two and I/4th miles and turn west on a county road, proceeding some 2 miles to the sight of the school property, it being 657 feet west of the SE corner of Sec. 30, T 26 N, R 9 E, then north 187 feet, west 219 feet, south 201 feet and east 220 feet.
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