The Watson school as it exists today, as an apartment complex. (Submitted photo)

By Matthew Barnes

A school had been in operation at the old town of Sonora since the 1850s. In 1870 when the Missouri River threatened the town, the community moved to the east establishing the town of Watson. A large two room framed schoolhouse was built in the new town soon after. In 1892 the enrollment had risen to seventy pupils and continued to rise, however, no high school was ever established.

The Watson Consolidated District No. 2 was formed on June 4, 1915, by a one vote margin. It was made up of the Watson, High Creek, Bethany, Payne, Cottonwood Grove, and Morgan districts. While the Centennial District did not see any major benefits from consolidation, Watson did. A four-year high school was established and the district received $800 from the state to aid in the operation of the high school. Prior to that time the district only educated students through the ninth grade. After the consolidation the new district was able to purchase new materials for the lower grades, and add additional staff. A new schoolhouse had been built in 1913 containing two classrooms. It was added onto and renovated in 1926. However, due to a lack of space classes for the lower grades were held in the old Catholic Church.

As time wore on it became apparent that the rural schools were becoming inefficient. While they still offered a high quality education, the enrollment had fallen sharply. Bethany school did not operate during the 1940-41 school year due to a lack of students. In 1942 a new school consisting of an office, eight classrooms, and a gym was constructed with bonds of $19,000 and WPA grants. The old school became the industrial tech and ag building. The Cottonwood school was apparently closed at that time and Morgan and Bethany schools followed in 1944. It appears as though High Creek and Payne continued until sometime around 1950. Watson competed in Basketball and Track as the Black and White Watson Eagles. Early games were held on an outdoor court until the new gym was completed in 1942.

In 1951 the reorganization movement finally arrived in Atchison County. Five consolidated districts were proposed, including Watson R-V which would have included Watson C-2, Centennial C-1, Cox Chapel, Union, Bellview, Sunny Slope, Star, Highland, and Miller Districts. The proposal failed to having only gained a majority in the Watson district. Reorganization passed in Tarkio, Fairfax, and Westboro, but failed in Rock Port. The following year reorganization passed in Rock Port, and the four enlarged districts quickly began to annex the remaining rural districts. Bellview had begun to tuition students out to Watson, as did Centennial, Sunny Slope, and Highland with their high school students. Rock Port Annexed Centennial Sunny Slope, and Miller in 1956 (Miller had long sent their students to Hamburg prior). This hurt Watson’s enrollment and the district continued to experience pressure to reorganize as the last operating non-reorganized district in the county.

Kay Gibson, 1961 Watson valedictorian, said of her experience at Watson C-2, “The school was a great big family. I loved going to school and would go even when I was sick so as not to miss out. I have fond memories of basketball, prom, and other school activities. I am convinced I learned more in my class of 8 than they did in the larger classes of today. Watson school was a great place to attend.”

In 1966 a petition was started in Rock Port to bring Watson and the “Zombie districts” to the north (districts that still legally existed but did not operate) into Rock Port R-2. The Rock Port voters outnumbered those in the other districts 3 to 1. The measure passed in Rock Port but failed overwhelmingly in the remaining districts. The final tally was 657 for and 343 against. However, the tally in the Watson district was 46 for to 96 against, and a staggering 1 for and 75 against in the Star district. Lawsuits were filed in Cox Chapel and Watson but it was to no avail, Watson C-2 ceased to exist.

The Watson school which was still very modern as it was only 24 years old at the time, was utilized as a junior high. A meer two years later Rock Port closed the Watson school citing the distance which Rock Port students had to travel. This left some hurt feelings in Watson as their kids already had to make the long trek to Rock Port each day. The 26-year-old Watson school was sold and turned into apartments and still stands today. While area students no longer attend Watson, today they receive an excellent education at Rock Port R-II School.