National Register Record for LEVERING MISSION

Historic Name: LEVERING MISSION
Current Name: WETUMKA BOARDING SCHOOL - CREEK NATIONAL BOARDING SCHOOL
Address: NE OF CITY
City: WETUMKA VICINITY            County: HUGHES
Section: 18, SW4           Township: 9N           Range: 11E          
Description of significance: THE HOSPITAL BUILDING IS THE ONLY EXTANT STRUCTURE THAT REMAINS OF THE LEVERING MISSION NEAR WETUMKA. THE LEVERING MISSION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1880 WITH THE HELP OF THE CREEK NATION AND THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. THE MISSION WAS A COEDUCATIONAL BOARDING SCHOOL FOR NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN THROUGHOUT MOST OF ITS HISTORY. AT ONE POINT THE CAMPUS COVERED 20 ACRES AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE BUILDINGS. IN 1909, THERE WAS A FIRE ON CAMPUS AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CLOSE THE FACILITY. THE SCHOOL PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LIVES, NOT ONLY OF THE CREEK YOUTH WHO ATTENDED, BUT IN THE PEOPLE OF THE WETUMKA AREA AS WELL. THE HOSPITAL BUILDING IS A TWO-STORY I-HOUSE TYPE BUILDING. IT HAS FOUR BAYS AND IS ONE ROOM DEEP. THE BUILDING HAS A STONE VENEER AND A H9IPPED ROOF WITH A SLOPE BRICK CHIMNEY. THE ORIGINAL DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE MISSING. THE WINDOW OPENINGS HAVE CUT STONE LINTELS AND SILLS. LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER, 5/16/1984.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: EDUCATION: SCHOOL
Current Function: VACANT / NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: ARCHITECTURE
Area of Significance 2: EDUCATION
Architectural Style: NO DISTINCTIVE STYLE
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1885            Original Site: YES
Condition: POOR
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: CAROLYN THOMAS FOREMAN, ISRAEL G. VORE AND LEVERING MANUAL LABOR SCHOOL, THE CHRONICLES OF OKLAHOMA, VOL. 25 (1947), P. 198-217; IRWIN ANDERSON, OLD WETUMKA CREEK INDIAN MISSION 1880-1910, TULSA, 1972
Date Prepared: 11/1973