SCHOOLS

Churches Directory History Schools

        The first school was northwest of Buffalo, where East Buffalo Creek and Bloody Run join. This was possibly in 1859. Cynthia Gould was the teacher. This was a community school before there were public schools. There was also a school house, built by subscription on the Verdigris River near Mayes Ford in 1860, with Lillian Smith as teacher.

        In 1866, the first established school was formed. This is believed to be at the location where Cynthia Gould taught. One or two terms of subscription school was taught. Frank Eagle finished the last term as the teacher, Jessie Mermot, could not control the students. Many times the pupils were older and larger than the teacher. The salary was $30 per month. The spring term was taught by Mary Brown at $25 per month with forty-five pupils.

        In 1869-70, it was voted to sell the log school and build a more suitable one, probably located on Main Street north of Depot.

In 1890, bonds were voted for a new school. This consisted of four rooms. This location would be between Buffalo and Elm Streets at the east edge of town. The first high school in 1889 was to the ninth grade. In 1895, it had become a two-year high school. George Bideau was principal during these years. By 1913, it had become a four-year high school.

        An addition to the school was begun in 1935. This addition contained two classrooms, a gymnasium, and auditorium. Pat Orr, Ed Miller, Sr., Ivan Mears, Bill and Grant Robinson are among the locals believed to have worked on it.

        In 1956, Midway Consolidated District was formed from Buffalo and Vilas and a number of rural schools in the northeast part of Wilson County.

        In 1957, the Buffalo school building and contents were sold at auction. The building was razed. The auditorium was sold to the city and was turned into a community building. The small building was later sold to the American Legion.

        In 1966, Altoona Rural High and Altoona Grade School Districts and Midway School District and the remaining rural schools in the eastern part of the county joined to form Altoona-Midway District (USD 387) at the Midway location. This reorganization was brought about by the Kansas legislature's enaction of school unification laws, officially establishing three unified districts in the county. In 1971, the Vocational Agriculture building was added and the Industrial Arts in 1983.

        In 1985, the old Buffalo Auditorium and the American Legion building were sold to Bryants. It was later sold to Dean and Pam McGee. The buildings were demolished about 1986 or 1987. The McGees deeded the property back to the City of Buffalo in 1991 for the City paying the back taxes owed.

        The ball field became a reality in 1991 and the track in 1993.

        In February, 1994, the gym was dedicated the "Milo E. Peterson Gymnasium" in honor of "Mr. Pete", who was superintendent of Midway High School from 1960 to 1966 and superintendent of Altoona-Midway District 387 from 1966 to 1974.

The Home Economics and Art Departments were added in 1997.

Student Projects

The sports teams for the Altoona-Midway High School are named the Jets in honor of Milburn G. Apt, a 1942 graduate of Buffalo High School. He flew the Bell X-2 rocket plane to 70,000 feet and 2,148mph and was killed in its crash.

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