The doors to this abandoned high school are opening for the first time in nearly 20 years.
In Chandler, Oklahoma, alum Kim Evans bought her old childhood school Chandler Memorial High School to save it from further neglect and demolition. What started as a Facebook comment became Friends of Memorial School, a community effort to keep a WPA-built landmark standing on Route 66.
Inside: original terra cotta tile, student names on lockers, yearbooks left behind, and a roof battle against Mother Nature. Outside: a town that already lost the St. Cloud Hotel… and is determined not to lose this school, too.
We explore how Kim took ownership, the WPA history carved into every stone, how Chandler’s legendary alumni pride kept hope alive, UCO students Tina & Becky’s MAD project with the City of Chandler, lessons from restoring the Route 66 Interpretive Center (the old Armory), and a free roof inspection that revealed steel beams and renewed momentum.
If you or someone you know wants to partner, restore, or take this project on — reach out. This building still has a future.
Our email: board@abandonedatlas.com
Kim’s email: Chandlermemorialschool@gmail.com
Partner with Kim! friendsofchandlerhs.com
Watch how Page Woodson / Douglass High School in Oklahoma City was saved and restored into apartments proof this kind of transformation is possible:
0:00 – Opening the Abandoned High School
1:00 – Meet Kim Evans
2:07 – Historic WPA Stone Facade
2:56 – Racing Against Time
3:23 – Closure & Exploring Inside
5:19 – After St. Cloud: Fear of Demolition
6:34 – How Kim Bought the School
10:36 – Chandler’s Early History
11:58 – Built by the WPA
15:49 – Ownership, COVID & Setbacks
16:53 – Two Phone Calls That Changed Everything
18:05 – Tina & Becky’s UCO Project
20:36 – Talking With the City
23:46 – Alumni Voices & Future Uses
29:21 – Kim’s First Win: Restoring the Armory
31:17 – The Route 66 Interpretive Center Opens
33:15 – Roof Inspection & New Hope
35:00 – A Call to Help
#AbandonedSchool #Route66 #OklahomaHistory #WPA #HistoricPreservation #AbandonedPlaces #SaveTheSchool #ChandlerOklahoma #UrbanExploration #AdaptiveReuse #HistoricBuilding #DemolitionByNeglect #CommunityHistory #AbandonedAtlas #PrairieNationCreative #MemorialHighSchool #SchoolPride #Restoration #Documentary
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Feature Documentary on a really cool abandoned hotel!
Video Produced by: Prairie Nation Creative –
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That’s a beautiful and historic building you’ve done us a service. Thank you.
kim evans in graduated in 1975 ? she in 18 years old ?
I saw some old IBM model M keyboards. even a few SSK versions. which those in good working order and cleaned up. worth between $250 to up to $400. I know because i had one as a kid. my first computer had one. Its broken now and finding parts or parts i can afford are null. So those are super rare. i hope you guys dont trash those.
With real estate so expensive is nonsensical to keep demolishing usable buildings… it's so the rich can get richer.
Amen and God bless us all and God loves us all very much ✝️❤️
👍
Holy smoke….
Why not turn it back into a high school? What are they doing for high school now? Do they have to bus the kids out of the community like so many other communities have to do?
They should start a go fund me.
1:13 they even got Cartman and Kenny 😭
These stories are so inspiring! You may be interested in researching the JN Adams Buildings in Perrysburg, NY. It was an amazing building on gorgeous grounds. It is just crumbling away now.
I think it would make a wonderful venue and community based events being held there someday. Douglas Gym has been saved maybe find out how they did it. If not keeping the chairs maybe sell them as a fundraiser.
The Presbyterian Church is the only building that survived the tornado and it's still there.
WOW !!! WOW !!
Hellz Yeah That’s Pretty Awesome Your Tryin To Save That Old School Their is Another YouTuber “Schoolhouse Homestead” She & Her Husband That Bought An Old School & Turned it Into Their Home & Now It Looks Soooooo Much Better Maby Yall Should Talk To Her As Well & See What She Thinks
I mean I bet crowd funding to restore it would probably help get a lot of money needed.
That building is rough but I think it has potential. Maybe a place for the community to learn new skills? A school but for different skills like art, woodworking, ceramics etc. Open for the public to take classes. I do like the mix use idea. Regardless the main thing that needs to be done is stabilizing and sealing up the structure. Doing that gives them more time. A new roof may be what keeps the city off their backs because without it the city may order demolition. A very historic mansion in my area had that fate after a minor attic fire compromised the roof. Despite efforts from the owner and community to get a new roof the city ordered demolition and my community lost a very important piece of its history. We nearly lost another mansion Italianate style when the city ordered it to be demolished. The community rallied together and the city gave an ultimatum. Restore the building or it comes down. A family stepped in and began restoration saving it. My area had two examples of what can happen. The roof is the most important thing right now. My story shows you can change the opinion of the city but active efforts need to be made to change their opinion. Talking about it isn't enough unfortunately.
I know this probably isn't the right avenue to say this, but I'm going to anyway so I don't somehow forget. I am VERY interested in being a part of the project!! I grew up in Ingalls, Oklahoma, less than an hour from Chandler, and have spent literally my entire life so far researching and helping spread awareness of the significant history that Ingalls holds, as well as other nearby communities. Since being with my partner, I've grown extremely close to his grandmother, who is from Chandler. Come to find out, she and all of her siblings graduated from Memorial High, and she shows her Lion Pride during every homecoming, tournament, and graduation. Anytime high school days get brought up around her, she always tells stories about that place, and usually ends with something like "its current state is such a shame to me." In a surprising but also not-so-surprising twist, Jason Allen with Yates Roofing is actually her nephew. With him already being a part of the project, I would love it if more of her family members like me could step in and care for it!
First Thing I thought about for a use if the building is restored is a Fine Arts Facility. You have the auditorium, a band room was mentioned not to mention offices and classrooms. It could house artists, musicians, dance, theatre programs.
As a Chandler Alumni, and a student of this building, the City mangement failed the entire city of Chandler. Chandler is growing again becuase of new blood in the positions that matter. I will not call any one family out for this, but WE know. "we know"
So much space on one floor makes me think of senior housing.
I went to school here. So did my parents and Grandmother. What I feel the community needs is our auditorium back. Spent many years having dance recitals here. The new auditorium the school built is so small we can't even fit in there for one set of classes, let alone an event that involves the entire community. Recitals are now sent to Stroud just for a big enough space to house everyone.
I'm telling the truth when I say this. That's my grandma.
That's going to be a huge project! I can see that auditorium being turned into a theater for movies. And the rest of the building being turned into apartments.
0:57 it's gonna need a coat of paint