The Attucks Community Center is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Ponca City and located at 1001 South 12th Street. The strip of land was deeded to Attucks to build the facility and construction for what was then called “Attucks Separate School,” and was completed in 1926. Prior to the school’s opening, Ponca City’s Black students would take an hour long bus ride to Langston for school. The building would have add-ons in 1928, 1936 and 1937, with the first graduation in 1932. It was a fully incorporated, encapsulated school.

The schools had several facilities and programs including a cafeteria, gymnasium, science room, art room, music rooms for band and orchestra, cosmetology, home economics, a clinic, and was one of the first schools in Kay County to serve hot lunches.

It was in 1956 that Ponca City schools desegregated grades 7 to 12, and Attucks Separate School was primarily an elementary school from this time.

“It was a high school at one time, then went to the eighth grade and even had kids from Newkirk bused to Attucks,” said Norris Frederick, a former student and member of the Attucks Community Alliance that is self-described as the group’s unofficial historian. “At the time, it was known as the Attucks Negro Separated School.”

The Attucks School was remembered by former students and members of the Attucks Community Alliance as a pillar for a community made up of about 300 homes.

“We had mentors that set a standard. This was a unique community…what did we need to go north of town for,” said Dwain West.

As a smaller school, the teachers were able to put more time in getting to know students and focusing on their education. Additionally, this also meant that the teachers had more than one job, including not only teaching multiple subjects, but also providing rides to games and coaching.

“We thought we had it pretty good, and all the teachers knowing who you were and knowing what you needed, what they needed to give you to get you where you could do something for yourself later on,” said James Roland. “I really think they cared a lot about getting the student to where they needed to go to for the next level.”

“I went here from the first through the sixth grade, but I had a brother and sister that went all the way through

Norris Frederick Attucks Historian Attucks before. They graduated in the Class of 53 and 55. One thing I can say about our teachers….they prepared us….they wanted us to be smart, and that was the one thing. Mr. Carter, he was real good about telling me: ‘don’t be stupid when you go up there,’” said Dolly Rolland. “Raise your hand, and know something. Our teachers looked like teachers.”

These teachers were fondly remembered for the values they instilled in their students. An adage remembered by former students was to “get up, get dressed, and show up.”

“There was an expectation they had of us: you know right from wrong, you do what’s right, and you show respect for your elders, and you show respect for each other, but first you’ve got to respect yourself. They taught us that. That was in our daily curriculum for how we were brought up,” said Norris Frederick. “They taught us about doing what’s right, and understanding that…when to speak up, how to speak up, and you know how to present yourself. That was what I valued most coming from this school, even for the short time I was here. What I valued most was Mrs. Hunter, Mr. Hunter, Mr. H.O. Carter, Mr. West…they taught us how to carry ourselves. How do you present yourself? What do you want them to see?”

The school was closed in 1966 when all grades became desegregated in Ponca City. Ponca City Public Schools didn’t have geographical boundaries and thus, half of the Attucks students would go to Garfield Elementary, and the other half would go to Mckinley.

“When we got the announcement that Attucks was closing, obviously it was pretty stressful, but they had prepared us for that. When I say they, I mean not only the teachers, but parents,” said Norris Frederick. “Our parents and the teachers prepared us for that. Now did they talk about racism and discrimination? In their own subtle way. But you can prepare a child for that without being so assertive and so aggressive with it.”

Assimilation into nonsegregated schools was described as easy for some of the former students. This was likely due to knowing many of the students from these schools due to competing with them in sports.

“We played sports and sports was very important to this facility and to the neighborhood kids. And just like any other all Black school, there’s several schools that didn’t want to play you,” Norris Frederick.

The Attucks Community Alliance was formed in July of 1998 and is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization composed of a core group of 10 volunteers offering programs, events and oversight for the Attucks Community Center. This group provides direction and guidance in the ongoing restoration, operation, and maintenance of the Attucks Community Center.

The school was named to the National Register of Historic Places on Dec. 4, 2017, and was nominated by Ponca City’s Historic Preservation Advisory Panel.

The Community Center has hosted clothing outreaches, back-to-school supplies support, young Black male workshops, and mentoring. The Alliance mentors and sponsors the Ponca City High School African American Club in conjunction with Philips 66 Black Employee Network (BEN). The Club assists the Attucks Community Alliance with an annual Thanksgiving basket giveaway, Martin Luther King Jr. programs, preparing gift bags for seniors assisted living facilities, and Black History Month. The facility has also been made available for rentals for events such as wedding receptions, funeral dinners, quinceañeras, and a meeting space for civic organizations and more.

Attucks Alliance was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and needed to backtrack. They have since reached out to share their story with anyone who will listen. Attucks will accept donations and contributions to help in the operation and restoration of the building including roof repairs and updates to the building’s heating system.

“Attucks means a lot to this community…and as someone who went here, it means a lot to me because of where we came from. We still have to remember that this is our history,” said Dolley Rolland.

“In retrospect, we had [community] because of necessity. But we also had it because of the drive that our forefathers, our parents and grandparents that lived in the community knew we could make it on our own. That was ingrained in us as kids coming up, and it ingrained in us to take care of this property. When you look back at what they meant at the time, and what people were doing for you,” said Norris Frederick. “I feel blessed that I came to this community, and no one will ever take that away from me. And that is why this building and the continued use of this facility is very important to me. This is where we grew up.”

Ultimately, the Attucks Community Alliance hopes to share the story and history that meant so much for a generation of people, and served as strong hold and safe haven for an entire community.

“I’m really surprised, and I’ve gotten over the shock and awe of it, when I go to town presenting the Attucks community history. People who lived in Ponca City and say they’ve been here all their life, never knew Attucks was here. That’s hard to swallow. But I think they’re being truthful with me, and its kind of depressing in one respect. We have a goal as Attucks Alliance to maintain this facility. But until the lights go out, until the heat turns out, we’ll be that little minimalistic group to provide what we can. This building itself means so much to so many people,” said Norris Frederick. “There’s a lot of Black history that helped develop Ponca City also, and not to minimize anything about the Cherokee Strip, the runs, the boomers, the sooners, the Native Americans….but there is a lot of Black history that Ponca City needs to share, needs to know. And we’ll do anything to share that.”