The school went from first through twelfth grade. I don't remember how many pupils there were but I remember a hallway ran through the center of the school building on the ground floor with rooms on either side. First through eighth grades were housed downstairs while upstairs housed ninth through the twelfth grades. Concrete sidewalks ran completely around the school house. One of my first memories are playing jacks with others behind the school on the sidewalk.

Basketball was the sport everyone played. I remember my brothers Junior and Bill looking so handsome in their uniforms. I also remember how proud I was of my uniform. Now as I think of it I'm pretty sure anyone who wanted to play basketball got an uniform. Must have been so, because I certainly wasn't the star of the team. However, I do remember playing in some games. The community supported their team the entire season. It seemed that every parent was determined to never miss a game.

When we lived in the first house on the school grounds I remember Daddy giving Junior and Bill a whipping. In later years Dad said it was because Mother had told them to do something while he was gone and they didn't. When Daddy came home she told him and he spanked them. I remember crying because they got a spanking and Daddy told me to "hush" or he would spank me too. I think I probably stopped the tears quickly.

Being a small community school we knew all the families. I remember names as Flecks, Tabor, Yocham, Dixon and more. Many of these families still live in the community. Some moved away only to return in later years, such as my parents. It has always surprised me the last few years in the number of new homes that have been built in the community. Some spending their retirement years there but others, younger, just liking country living and driving into Tulsa, Okmulgee or other towns for employment.

I remember the school carnival held yearly at the school. There was always a king and queen crowned and all the pupils attended. In fact, normally it was a big community event. I remember the Christmas programs but I guess most of all I remember the basketball games. I doubt that my parents ever missed a game.

I remember my Mother once got very sick and broke out all over with hives. The doctor said it was caused from nerves. Now as I look back on it, I can see why it happened. With three kids and working I'm surprised she didn't have a nervous breakdown.

When we lived in the second house on the school grounds Mother had to go to work before the three of us went to school. Being a cook, she had to start the noon meal early. Therefore, we all were assigned chores to do. One day two of us did the kitchen cleanup and the other swept and dusted. I remember my brother Bill would sweep the dirt under the throw rugs. Then when my day came to sweep I would have to get it out.

Doing dishes with Bill was even worse. In my memory he was, without any doubt, the KING OF THE DISH TOWEL FLIPPERS! He would wind the dish towel up and flip it so hard it would pop. Naturally my rear usually got in the way and man did it hurt. I think that is why to this day my temper flares if anyone slaps me on the back side.

I always thought Bill was mean to me. Especially when I think of him holding a pillow over my head when we were wrestling or running away, leaving me in the woods alone. But now I realize he probably wasn't really mean. Being two years older, I'm sure I was just the little sister who was a pest. I guess I deserved all he dished out. I remember when I was in high school I would get in his car after he came home from work and steal any cigarettes or change he had in the glove box.

Bill ran around with about four boys back in high school days that really drove me crazy. It seemed that they all took me for their little sister. I didn't have a chance to get into much trouble because sure as I was having a really good time, one of them would show up and send me home or give me orders not to finish what I had started. Now, years later, Bill and I are very close and share a very special relationship.

Summer was a lazy time at Liberty school for me. I remember going to sleep on the front porch in the warm sun while waiting for Daddy to come home for lunch. There was a small creek behind the house and we would go down and play or swing from the vines that hung in the trees.

I guess my favorite place those years was my Uncle Carl's house. (My Mother's brother) My least favorite thing was washing fruit jars. My mother and aunt canned every year it seemed. And every year those darned fruit jars had to be washed. It seemed like there must have been a thousand jars, but I'm sure now if the truth was known, mother probably did good to get me to wash a dozen.

Uncle Carl's house sat on a small hill or really an up- grade. But even on the hottest day a breeze always blew there. In the evenings we would play "Annie Over" or lay in a circle with our heads on each others stomach, looking at the stars and laughing. Of course, there was always the barn to play in.The family home still stands the same today with his son Richard living there. When Uncle Carl passed on it was a deep lose to me. I always felt that no matter where I traveled or lived, Uncle Carl would always be in that house on the hill to greet me whenever I could get back to the "country". My special love for him will never die.

The years have passed and with it many of the people I remember living around Liberty School have also passed away. The old school house was torn down and replaced by a new one story metal building. There is no longer a high school there - only an elementary. The old rock gym still stands as do the old rock and concrete steps on the front next to the road. But, as I sat in front of the school about two years ago, I didn't see those new buildings. I still see the old school building and the old houses where I lived as a young girl.