Historical Information

The front entrance is framed by twin towers similar to a castle or fortess, with a stone arch over the main entrance. In the main entrance are two alcoves built into the wall for the water buckets and dippers. In the basement, in the south part, was the stove room. The basement had a dirt floor, and a dirt wall partitioned off the coal bin. On the outside, to the north, a shed was provided for the horses which the students rode to school.

Classrooms were furnished with double desk and seats when the first class of 33 students and four teachers, Hattie M. Edgar, May W. Pearce, Laura Laughlin, and Lucy Booth, Principal, entered McCormick's portals to begin the serious business of educatioin. Jesse Lee Laner was the first custodian.

In 1910, an addition was placed across the back or west side of the building, giving the structure eight rooms, the construction methods and stone matching the original. This addition did not change the front facade. In 1930, a new addition of four classrooms, an auditorium, kitchen and two other rooms suitable for office and library were built. This building was separate from the old building. In 1951, a third addition was erected. This addition joined the two buildings with the hallways as it is today. Originally the school had a Bangor slate roof which was removed in December 1944 and a composition roof installed.

McCormick School had the distinction of being the only school in town with a bell tower with a large school bell. The bell was rung every morning and every afternoon at the start and close of the school day. The original bell was removed in the mid 1930s for safety reasons. On August 9, 1983, through the efforts of Dr. Alvin Morris, Superintendent of the Wichita Public Schools at the time, a reconstruction of the original 1890 bell tower was raised and set in place.

The architecture of McCormick School is unusual in Wichita, although there were several examples similar to this one at one time. The school has been a source of pride for many Wichitans and a familiar landmark in southwest Wichita. In 1976, the school was recommended to the Wichita Historic Landmark Preservation Committee and the Kansas Historical Society for consideration as a local and state historic site, and it was accepted. In addition, the school is now listed on the Natioinal Register of Historic Places because of its historical and architectural significance.

Due to declining enrollment, McCormick was closed as an attendance center in June 1992. In August of 1992, McCormick School was reopened as a Museum and Science Center. Paul Oberg was hired to be the director of the Museum programs. When Mr. Oberg left the school district in June of 1996, all Museum programs closed and the building was "moth-balled" while the contents were assessed by three museum curators. The Wichita Retired Teachers' Association voted in December 1997 to accept the challenge of re-opening McCormick School Museum as a service project.

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