Wheelock Academy - Millerton, OK - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Rev. Alfred Wright and his missionary wife Harriet came to Indian Territory after the forced movement of the Choctaws from Mississippi. He established a mission school here in 1832. In 1842, the Choctaw Nation recognized the value of their work and the mission came under Choctaw Nation operation.

Then came the Civil War. The school was closed during this period, and re-opened after the war. Then, in 1869 there was a devastating fire, destroying and heavily damaging most of the buildings, including the Wheelock Church nearby.

The school was rebuilt in 1884 with help from the Southern Presbyterian Church association, and the school flourished. In 1932, the school came under the U.S. Government Indian School program, administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The school continued until 1955, housing and schooling up to 150 young women.

Today, the area is vacant and buildings which existed in 1966 when placed on the National Register, are now in ruins. The large frame Seminary (dormitory) still stands, however it is vacant and the porch across the front has been removed. The frame dining hall is there, but this frame building is also vacant and in disrepair. The Old Barn (heating plant) which was reported in 1966 to be heavily damaged, appears in pretty good shape today. A museum is operated out of the old LeFlore or McCurtain Hall on the campus. Several buildings are now just foundations and chimneys: The Laundry, the Domestic Science Building and the Arts and Crafts Building.

The Academy served a wonderful purpose over the years and hundreds of young Choctaw women were schooled in cultural, academic, religious, domestic and physical fitness areas. In fact, the school's girls basketball team was one of the state's best during some of those years. This is a wonderful legacy to Rev. and Mrs. Wright, and to the Choctaw Nation for their insight and endeavors in schooling their young people.

Street address: East of Millerton and 1.5 miles north of Highway 70 Millerton, OK US 74750 County / Borough / Parish: McCurtain County Year listed: 1966 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event Periods of significance: 1825-1849 Historic function: Education Current function: Vacant - museum on premises Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Secondary Website 2: [Web Link] National Historic Landmark Link: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed

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