Henryetta Historical Society Takes Major Steps Forward During Challenging Year

Henryetta August 24: by Brad Sellers, Society President

The past 12 months have shown some major successes for the Historical Society, however, these have mainly meant recovery from difficult challenges and not true progress. Most progress has involved repairs and renovation to the Henryetta Territorial Museum building.

The society’s major project over the past year has been completion of a comprehensive exterior renovation of the museum building. Much of the siding on the “old School House” building was wood originally installed when the building was constructed 120 years ago. That original exterior could no longer be preserved, and the entire building was wrapped in modern, wooden siding. The new materials should last for decades. This renovation was years in the making and cost the Society $10,000. That said, the Society is very proud of the result.

Last year, 2023, the big hail storm damaged the museum roof, and it was also replaced at the cost of several thousand dollars. Thus, with the new siding and the new roof, the entire exterior of the School House is brand new, from the foundation up.

Unfortunately, the storm damage resulted in our building insurance being increased to over $4000 per year.

As you can see, unlike other civic groups in Henryetta, facility costs are impeding our ability to conduct programs and activities. The Society is charged with maintaining a 120-year-old, wooden, historical building – and these expenses will continue to be significant.

As background. the Henryetta Territorial Museum is housed in “the old Schoolhouse,” which was originally built as the very first school building in Henryetta. Opened in 1904, Henryetta’s first school offered classes in a one-room format for all grades. The school was founded by W.B. Hudson, who raised funds to build the school and hire a teacher. W.B. Hudson was one of the founding town fathers of Henryetta, who also founded the first library and the Presbyterian Church. Coincidentally, he was also a direct descendent of the great explorer Henry Hudson, famed for his discovery of Hudson Bay in Canada, and the Hudson River in New York during the 1600s.

About 80 years later, the old School House was threatened with demolition when the American Exchange Bank expanded its drive-thru facilities. W.B. Hudson’s daughter-in-law – Pauline Hudson – raised money to move the School House from its location on W. Trudgeon Street to its current location near the Civic Center. She founded the Historical Society and Territorial Museum to preserve the building, preserve Henryetta’s history, and to tell the story of town.

In addition to the improvement made at the museum building, the Historical Society also opened a new exhibit at the First Family Federal Credit Union. This exhibit is based on Coach Kent Lackey’s decades old collection of Henryetta school memorabilia and history. The Credit Union exhibit is a beautiful collection of material from the Lackey Collection, and the Society will publish more on this in the future.

A concept the society is developing would open the museum for tours by area schools, who are interested in having their students learn more about Henryetta’s fascinating history. This project is currently in the concept stages but we hope to begin contacting area schools in the near future. Any school administrators interested in participating can please contact board president Brad Sellers at 918-758-9265.

The Society notes that the museum is not open on regular hours, but it is open when board members have the time to open the facility to the public. Unfortunately, there is rarely advance notice when this occurs. The museum is also open by appointment – which can be arranged through Mr. Sellers.

Board Members would like to open the museum more often, and are seeking volunteers to man the museum for open hours during the year. Please contact the above number if you are interested.

One last note on some of the key exhibits in the museum. Our museum features one-of-a-kind exhibits on prominent Henryettans like town founder Hugh Henry, Henryetta’s photo-pioneer Joseph Hardin, world-famous cowboy Jim Shoulders, as well as civic groups, local business and school mementos. The museum also features NFL Hall of Fame-member Troy Aikman.