Second row: Iva Conger, Rudell Truitt, Daisy Slaton, Robbie Scott, Sibyl McDowell, Cora Wilborn, Thelma Wilborn, Erma Manley, Nellie Scott, Lorane Truitt, Maude Wilborn.
Third row: Charley Roe Howerton, Carson Truitt, J. W. Duvall, Tom Scott, Joyce Manley, Ada Smith, Vena Manley, Bill Scott, Dallas Nation. Standing in the back is teacher Henry Gass.
Post Oak School was located about four and one-half miles north of Marion on Hwy. 60 towards Mattoon, just past Winlow Park. Several kinds of giant oak trees provided shade and this is how the school got it's name.
The school was first start in the late 1870's. The first building was built of logs. In the late 1880s a new frame building was constructed with two front doors, one back door and several windows on each side. There was also a cupola for the bell. The old school bell didn't last long for pranksters was always removing it and finally it was not returned.
Sunday school and church services were also held in the school until some time later when the Union Grove Presbyterian Church, building was erected at the junction of the Repton Road with U. S. 60 on the west side of the hill.
School support was strong, school fairs, Christmas programs and last day exhibitions were well attended and enjoyed. Pie or box suppers brought in small amounts of money to be used for additional books, etc.
History, reading, geography and arithmetic were subjects very well taught in the upper grades. Square root was taught in the seventh and eight grades.
The Post Oak school closed in 1929 and was one of several small schools in this area that was consolidated with the Mattoon school.
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October 11, 1917 - Post Oak has Box Supper
Quite a number of people attended the box supper at Post Oak Friday night, and it proved to be one of the most enjoyable and entertaining affairs which have ever been held at that place.
In addition to the folks of the immediate neighborhood, a number of people gathered from other communities, including several prominent young ladies and gentlemen from Marion.
The program was short but interesting and the crowd showed their approval of the recitations by the enthusiastic manner in which they cheered the reciters.
There were fourteen boxes of nice food which were sold to the highest bidders and a tidy little sum of money was realized which will all go for the improvement of the school.
As a fitting climax to the entertainment, a beautiful and delicious cake was brought forth and a beauty contest was held in order to see which girl should be awarded the winner of the cake. The young ladies who participated in the contest were as follows: Miss Nancy Wynn of Union county, Miss Annice Boston of Marion, and Miss Anna Howerton, a well known young lady of the Post Oak neighborhood.
When time was finally called and the contest brought to a close it was announced that Miss Annice Boston was victorious, having won the contest by a narrow margin over her nearest competitor, Miss Anna Howerton. It is certainly a fact that a good liking girl is not always victorious in a beauty contest, but such was not the case on Friday night for Miss Boston is nice looking and attractive lady.
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