The first Washington elementary school was constructed in 1909 at a total cost of $12,000. A severe wind storm on July 15, 1909 wrecked the second story during construction, with bricks blown forty feet from the building.
The grounds were not improved with trees and grass until 1913, with students having recess on a large lot west of the school that was not part of the actual school property.
By 1917, the district was divided such that pupils living between the M.K.&T. railroad tracks and Virginia Avenue were assigned to Washington, while those living west of Virginia Avenue attended Lincoln for grades 1-6 and Washington for grades 7 and 8.
On April 9, 1920 lightning struck the roof, igniting it. The fire department extinguished the blaze, which caused $75 in damage.
In 1924 water found leaking into the basement caused foundation damage and the building was declared unsafe. Classes dismissed on October 8, 1924 and over two weeks repairs were made. Students had to attend Saturday morning classes for six weeks to make up the lost class time.
Washington was located on lots 6-9 of Block 2 in the Overlees addition. In 1928, the school board acquired lot 10 in two parcels, purchasing the east part from C.M. Brock for $1,400 and the west part from Clinton L. Charles for $1,825.
In 1929, after attempted repairs failed to make the building satisfactory, the school board made a controversial decision to close the school, proposing a bond issue for $30,000 to add on to Lincoln Elementary a few blocks to the north as a cheaper alternative to reconstructing Washington. However, that bond issue proposal was soundly rejected on March 18, 1930, and the board immediately called another election for $60,000 to reconstruct Washington.
The April 1, 1930 election passed with 86% approval, and the board planned to build a new school with $60,000 from the bonds and $15,000 it had on hand.
The new building was designed by Tulsa architect L.I. Shumway and constructed by the William Lambert Construction Company with separate contracts with the Sell-Orr Heating Company and Johns-Manville Roof and Insulation. During construction, Washington students in grades 1-3 were sent to Lincoln Elementary and grades 4-6 to Garfield. Razing of the old building began in early June 1930, and the new building was formally opened on December 10, 1930.
