Schoolhouses on the Cave Creek Loop

The next group of schoolhouses were on what I call the Cave Creek Loop.  It’s the second to the last loop that we explored.  Let’s take a look…

Front Door Cave Creek School

This schoolhouse was used from 1881 to 1950.  In the early years, children rode horses, donkeys and mules to school.  Those animals would spend the time the children were in class grazing in the yard around the schoolhouse.  There’s a story that one of the donkeys would bray every day exactly at lunch time!  By the end of this school’s use, cars were much more the transportation of choice!

Deserted Schoolroom

As I peeked in the window, I saw this table and chair directly in front of the window opposite the one I was looking thru.  The combination of window and screen created the somewhat dreamy effect of taking a look at times past.

Nebgen Schoolhouse

The original schoolhouse was first built of logs in 1881 and this current building was built in 1936, and existed until the schools consolidated in 1949.  This school was one of four that had a pavilion and a stage, that were used to celebrate “school closings” which I believe were the end of the school year.  On those days, the morning was taken up by exams (both oral and written), then games in the afternoon, and in the evening, the adults put on a play and then a dance closed out the celebration.

Teacher’s Desk

Looking into the school, I was able to see what appeared to be an older teacher’s desk.  I couldn’t confirm, tho, that it was actually used when the school was open.

Double Reflection

One of the things I really liked at all these schools was the effect created when I looked thru the windows.  I always felt like I was catching a small glimpse of what life was like back when the schools were used.

Rheingold Schoolhouse

The original log schoolhouse was built in 1873, and this structure was built in 1900.  What isn’t apparent at this school (or at any of the others) was where the restrooms were.  At this school, outhouses were placed at opposite sides of the property, with the boys using one and girls the other.

Rheingold School Teacherage

This rather rickety looking building was where the teacher used to live, and it was directly behind the schoolhouse.  Jeff & I did walk up to it, and Jeff even looked inside, but said it just didn’t look stable enough to risk trying to explore inside.  I was actually they didn’t have the door locked somehow.  Still, it’s rather cool to look at!

Thu the Window

Here’s a slightly different take on looking in – and thru – the schoolhouse windows.  There was a lovely tree just outside one of the windows, and I purposefully chose to stand a bit back to capture the beautiful bend of the branch.  It has a very calm, peaceful feel to it.

Wrede School

 Clearly, this school building is not one of the original buildings.  Unfortunately, this was as close as we could get to the school – there was a locked gate keeping us out.  The school was used until 1960, one of the longest schools in use.  Interestingly, altho this area was settled by German immigrants, speaking German was not allowed on the school grounds by the children attending school.

Vereins Kirche

This school had a very interesting shape, and had an interesting multi-purpose. Yes it was a school.  However, it was also used as Lutheran and Catholic churches.  The building in this image is actually a replica, built in 1936, and now serves as a museum.

Enjoy!

Schoolhouses on the Luckenbach Loop

We saw a few more schoolhouses along what I called the Luckenbach Loop drive.   Yes, we did drivee thru Luckenbach, Texas, but more about that in another post!  For now, let’s look back on these pieces of yesterday…

Musebach Creek Country Schoolhouse

This school was first built in the early 1800’s, and the last school (fourth one) was built during the 1930’s.  One interesting historical note about this school – back in 1869, five brothers and sisters, whose parents were freed slaves, attended this school.  It might actually have been one of the first integrated schools in the South.

Grapetown Schoolhouse

In 1859, the first Grapetown School was actually in the former William Doebbler home.  In 1869, a log schoolhouse was built, and in 1884, the present school was built.

Welcoming Front Porch

In 1887, the teacherage was built – basically, a home where the school teacher lived, located next to the school (as you can see from the image below).

Grapetown Schoolhouse and Teacherage

The Grapetown School is one of only four school which still has the original teacherage.

Grapetown School Storage

This kitchen, storeroom and smokehouse was built after the teacherage, altho I’m not certain of the exact date. 

Reflection thru Grapetown Schoolhouse Window

I was able to peek into the old schoolhouse and capture this reflective image.  From what I could see (which wasn’t much!) there were some tables and chairs in the school room.  I loved the feel of this image – I could imagine a child in school looking out the window, just waiting for recess when he/she could go out to play.  This school was used until 1949 when it was consolidated with the Rocky Hill School District as part of the overall rural school consolidation in Texas.

Luckenbach Schoolhouse

Yes, Luckenbach had its own schoolhouse, and this is an image of the outside of it.  It was one of many that were locked, so we couldn’t explore the inside, tho.  Altho the first Luckenbach school was built in 1855 (log cabin construction), this limestone school was built in 1905.  Grades 1 – 8 were taught at the school, with the older students helping out the younger ones with grammar and math.  At 4pm, the boys had to bring in firewood for the stove and the girls swept the floor.  First graders were responsible for cleaning the erasers – did they get into eraser fights?  I wonder!

Peering into Luckenbach School

I was, however, able to get a peek inside the school, and I just love the feel of peeking into (and thru outside the window opposite) this old schoolhouse.  The table and chairs clearly don’t look to be desks, but they did look old enough to add to the charm of looking into this country school.

Lower South Grape Creek School

For those of you who follow my #FotoArtFriday pieces, this image may look somewhat familiar.  I used it as the inspiration of a piece from a couple of weeks ago (check out www.photoimagerybynadine.blogspot.com, and click on the post for “School Days”).  This present schoolhouse was built in 1900, altho the first school was built in 1871 (log cabin construction).  For certain holidays, like Washington ’s Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas, plays and other programs were presented in the schoolhouse, with families and the community invited. 

Inside Lower Grape Creek School Looking Out

There is a story that one Christmas, as Santa was handing out oranges, apples and candy.  He also lit the candles on the Christmas tree, when his beard caught on fire.  According to the story, he made a quick exit thru the window and headed for the water well!  Could this be the window where he made his escape?

Enjoy!

Willow City and Crabapple Schoolhouses

One morning, Jeff and I took a drive down a couple of country roads and managed to find a couple of the one-room county schoolhouses scattered throughout Gillespie County Texas.  We were able to get close to these schools, but unfortunately, couldn’t see inside.

Willow City Schoolhouse

This two-story, 3 school room school house was the third of the Willow City schoolhouses.  The first, built in 1876, washed away during the floods of 1880.  The second schoolhouse was too small to accommodate the increased number of students.  This third schoolhouse was built in 1905, and is made of hickory sandstone.

Two-Story Schoolhouse

Here’s a close up of the school, so you can see the actual school bell.  This school sits upon a hill – can’t you just hear the school bell ringing, calling students into class.

Crabapple School Front

The first Crabapple School was built in 1878, and this present building was built in 1882.  Between 1887 – 1910, the first building (not available to be photographed) also served as the post office for the town of Crabapple.

Crabapple School Window Reflection

Typically, land for the schools was donated or purchased for $1.  According to local myth (or perhaps truth??), Crockett Riley and Mathias Schmidt both wanted to donate land for the school, and ran a footrace to see who would have the privilege.  Mathias won and this school was built on his land.  More school (and stories) to come.

Enjoy!