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A brief history of Crabapple School (#13 on the driving map located at 14671 Lower Crabapple Road): Built in 1882. Teacherage in 1878. Consolidated in 1957. Typically, the land for the schools was donated or bought for $1. At Crabapple, Crockett Riley and Mathias Schmidt decided to have a foot race to see who would have the privilege of donating the land. Mathias Schmidt won, and the school was built on his donated land.
Current activities: Soon after consolidation, Crabapple Community
Club was organized. It remains active today, with the Club meeting monthly on the first Friday evening to play "42" dominoes. The facility is also used for other functions,
such as wedding receptions, reunions, elections, birthday parties, and
church functions.
Rental Contact: Jeanette Beckmann, (830) 997-5116
2009 Officers:
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President: |
Neal Reeh, (830) 456-6679 |
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Vice President : |
Marlene Deike, (830) 997-2445 |
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Secretary: |
Vernell Oehler, (830) 997-4256 |
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Treasurer: |
Jeanette Beckmann, (830) 997-5116 |
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Social Director: |
Linda Reeh, (830) 997-45435 |
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FGCCS Representative: |
Marlene Deike, (830) 997-2445 |
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Alternate Representative |
Neal Reeh, (830) 456-6679
Jewell Weirich, (830) 990-8685
Jeanette Beckmann, (830) 997-5116 |
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Grant Committee Representative: |
Neal Reeh, (830) 456-6679 |
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 German
immigrants, who came to Fredericksburg in the 1840's and later, settled
in the Crabapple area. Many parents were eager to donate land so a school
could be built near their homes. The two families who were extremely anxious
to give the land for a school were Crockett Riley and Mathias Schmidt.
It was decided to have a foot race to see who would have the privilege
of donating the land. Mathias Schmidt, a farmer, won the race. The school
was then built on the land he gave for this purpose. The families donated
their labor to erect a school building of native limestone, which opened
in 1878 as Crabapple School #10.
 This first building was a two-story rock house consisting of two rooms.
One room was a used as a classroom, with the other used as living quarters
for the teacher. The upstairs, used for storage, had an outside stairway.
About 10 years later, another room was added. Between 1887 and 1910, this
building also served as a post office. In 1882, the second school building
was built of limestone at a cost of $600. It not only served as the school,
but also as the Lutheran church, until the congregation built their own
church nearby in 1897.
There was only one teacher to teach all grades. The highest enrollment
was at the turn of the century with about 40 students. Teachers salaries
ranged from $80 per month in the 1920's to $250 in the early 1950's.
In all, 28 teachers taught at the Crabapple school.
Crabapple School was consolidated with Fredericksburg ISD in May 1957,
when only nine students remained. In September 1994, a historical marker was placed at
the school.
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