4-J History

By Georgia Rice

The original 4-J Ranch is located 15 miles south of Gillette on Hwy 50. It was a well known Stage

Coach stop where people would get out to stretch their legs, eat a hot meal and take care of the

horses before traveling on to Gillette.

HWY. 50 was developed, following much of the same route as the Stage Coach, from Gillette to

Pine Tree Junction. HWY 50 is also know as the 4-J Road, which is how 4-J School got its name.

The 4-J School opened for students in kindergarten through eighth grade on Tuesday, August 26,

1986. 40 students were enrolled that first year all from area ranches. The school colors are blue

and black. The mascot is the falcon. A brick and steel structure, 4-J School replaces three rural

schools - Bundy, Cactus and Savageton, which were housed in mobile units. The 17,000 square-foot

facility is designed for traditional classroom instruction. Features include: 7 classrooms,

Library Media Center, Full-sized Gym, Preparation Kitchen and Fully-equipped Playground. The

School is located 28 1/2 miles south of Gillette. It lies within a 10 acre fenced area.

On Sunday, Sept. 28, 1986 4-J School had it’s first Open House. There were school tours, a

dedication ceremony, and a carry in dinner. That evening, ranchers from around the area brought

their branding irons and burned their brands into the “Branding Board” that is located just inside

the front doors.

4J has a very active and supportive PTO which provided, and helped plant the perimeter trees,

installed the drip system and created our Memorial Forest.

Nine years after opening, the attendance area students were beginning to dwindle as students got

older and became Junior High/High School students. In 1995, LaVonne Lee, principal at the

time, invited families from town to send their children to 4J School in order to keep the school

from closing. The fall of 1996 was the beginning of students being transported from Gillette to

attend 4-J School and it continues today.