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In 1871, Luckenbach trustees voted to buy 1-1/3 acres
on the west bank of South Grape Creek from Juliane
Wehmeyer for $50. Until 1871, the Lower South Grape
Creek School District had been part of the Luckenbach
School District. Luckenbach Precinct #3 covered
Luckenbach, Grapetown, South Grape Creek, and Grape Hill
until 1889. Some of the early settlers listed in the
precinct's history included Peter Burg, Eramus Frantzen,
L.F. Toepperwein, Friedrich Scharnhorst, J.M. Hunter,
John Blank, G.J. Weber, Ferdinand Gellermann and William
Feller. These families lived along South Grape Creek
between Luckenbach and the Pedernales River to the
north. The first schoolhouse, built by the community,
was a log cabin. Theodor Huelsemann was the teacher
between 1875 and 1880. On May 12, 1889, the school on
South Grape Creek was named Lower South Grape Creek
School, District #21. It was so named because the
Grapetown School had, at one time, been named Upper
South Grape Creek School.
The need for a better, more accessible school arose, so
in 1900, the trustees sold the original land and bought
an acre of land from Charles and Martha Ahrens for $5.
This site was located less than a mile and a half north,
along Grape Creek and next to the Austin Highway. The
new, cut limestone block, single room schoolhouse was
completed in 1901. It had a tin roof, with a bell tower
on the east end, and a chimney on the west end. In later
years, a large porch with concrete slab was added.
Through the years, the finer things in life were added,
including electricity, a new well and pump, drinking
fountains on the porch and new modern restrooms that
replaced the old outhouses. The last year classes were
held in this little country schoolhouse was 1960. Due to
low enrollment, the trustees voted to consolidate with
the Fredericksburg School District.
School closing plays were performed on the large porch.
In earlier years, they had been held across the river on
the Kusenberger place on a wooden platform built for the
stage. Later, they had been held at Weinheimer's Hall
and at Luckenbach Hall.
The first community club was organized in 1960. It
includes third and fourth generations of former students
and neighbors. The members meet every fourth Thursday to
play "42" and have refreshments. The restored building
is used for weddings, reunions, meetings, and other
community activities. |