No, it isn’t “lost” and it never was “lost.”  When the early settlers built their homes in the area of this quiet, gentle creek the waters were cool and peaceful.  They were not moving in any direction, as if the little creek was at a “loss” to know which way it should flow.  The first school trustees decided the name would be “Loss Creek,” as it was near this little creek.

Deed records dated 9 August 1907 show that E. J. Wesson, for the sum of $10.00, sold to the trustees of Loss Creek School District No. 47 for school purposes, 1 2/9 acres of land.  The first trustees were: M. B. Nickles, W. L. Sparkman, E. J. Wesson, and D. L. Cullins.  Lumber was hauled in wagons from Coleman, and the one room building was erected by men of the community who volunteered their labor.  The first school opened in 1907 with Miss Daisy Alford as teacher, and Miss Beulah Parker, who later became Mrs. W. B. Sparkman of Santa Anna, taught the second term.

After two terms of school the boundary line of the district was changed, and it was decided to move the school nearer the center of the district, up the hill and on the Shields road.  The deed dated 29 June 1910 states that: “J. W. Gates and wife, for the sum of $50.00 paid by W. P. Nuckols, M. B. Nickles, and D. L. Cullins, trustees of School Dist. No. 47, do grant and sell to the said trustees and their successors in office, a certain 3 acres of land for free school purposes for white children.”  From available sources, this appears to be the only school land deed in this county to specify “for white children.”

The trustees sold the first school site back to Mr. Wesson for the same amount they had paid him, and moved the building to the new location.  It was used for another term while a new building was erected, then it was used as a teacherage.  W. E. Haney, a Coleman contractor, constructed the new building and painted it a pretty slate gray inside and outside.  There were big windows all across the east side, with a porch and double doors on the west.  There were cloak rooms and book rooms along the west wall, then 2 big classrooms with a partition that could be raised, making one large assembly room.  A big coal stove with a black metal jacket was installed in each room.  Men of the community were paid to haul coal from Coleman when it was needed.  Records for 1912 show that Walter Seals was paid $1.50 each for hauling four loads; for expenses of the schools in 1914, Professor John Byrd was paid $22.50 for janitor work, hauling coal and water for the year, and $100.00 per month salary.  Mrs. Byrd drew $50.00 per month for teaching, and the enrollment was 47.  In 1923, Clarence Cullins hauled coal for $2.00, Sid Cullins was paid $5.00 for cleaning the cistern, Ray Cullins hauled 2 loads of coal for $3.50, Clarence Durham was paid $8.00 for taking school census and C. A. Yarborough $7.50 for work on cistern and hauling water.  This nice frame building fully met the needs of the community for school, church and Sunday School, revivals, singing schools, box suppers and literary programs.

In 1926, a new red brick building was constructed, with 3 large classrooms, and the school went to a 3-teacher school.  The old frame building, but not the land, was deeded by the trustees to the Shiloh Baptist Church, which was organized by Rev. McCorkle of Coleman.  Roland Kemp deeded an acre of land across the road to the church, in 1928, the building was moved.

In 1930, two more rooms were added to the school building.  One was a large classroom, and the other was arranged and equipped for a Homemaking Department, under the supervision of Miss Eirys Sparkman, the Homemaking teacher.  This was the first rural school in the county to begin a Homemaking Department.  It was well received and used.  Many girls who had quit school returned for these classes and thus were encouraged to complete their high school studies, which they did.  During the same year the library was enlarged, science lab equipment was added, a PTA was organized, and more playground equipment was provided.  In 1931, the school went to eleven grades, and 8 month term, with 6 teachers and an enrollment of 116 pupils - the peak year for the school.  Consolidation of schools soon began, and Loss Creek held on until 1951 when the high school students were transferred to Mozelle High School and the elementary students were transferred to Coleman.

The teachers from 1907 to 1951 were: Daisy Alford, Beulah Parker, W. M. Connelly, Lillie Halbert, George Green, V. A. Edinburg, John and Ola Byrd, Bill Knight, Rose Pearce, Nora Henry, Mr. Leslie, Mary Couch, Annette Spath, Mable Harvey, Mattie Vanderford, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Moore, Mrs. Marcus Durham, Sarah Newsom, Lee Hemphill, Eirys Sparkman, Corinne Folk, Lois Sparkman, Edna Nixon, Mrs. W. A. Wilhite, D. A. Bounds, Mary Folk, Ellen Folk, Nita Lee Wilder, and C. R. Steele.  Among the school trustees not previously named were W. M. Freeman, R. W. Starnes, W. D. McClain, C. K. Redding, Will Kemp, John Adian, E. G. Crye, W. R. Dobbins, J. C. Abernathy, W. S. Smith, Frank Adian, C. D. Miller, I. V. Sewell, Ed Duke and Harvey Patton.

Mrs. Mary Cullins, widow of John Cullins, bought land here in the early 1900’s and moved here from Bell County along with her 5 sons:  Don, Doris, Albert, Loddie and George.  Her sons reared their families here and took part in all community endeavors.  Other families were Dobbins, Hughes, Sparkman, Wesson, Omondson Nickles, Alexander, Hennesee, Freeman, Nuckols, Scarborough, Gunn, Hodges, Walker, Garrett, Rice, Cope, Tabor, West, Henry, Pridemore, Copeland, McCarol, Bridges, Redding, Rude, Kemp, Starnes, Holmes, Harrell, Crye, Adian, Abernathy, Roach, Cochran, Vanderford, Haygood, Butler, Seals, Sewell, Duke, Moneyhun, Coleman, Durham, Barefoot, Yarborough, Patton, Netherton, Tatum, Webb, Cannon, Leedy, Dunn, Smith, Miller, Cammack, Sorrells, Dodgen, Greer, and many others who moved in and out.  Many of these families were relatives, and all of them were good friends and neighbors.