openhouse2004

Gillespie County
Rural Schools and Community Centers
Open House 2004

Pecan Creek School and Community Center

In 1899, the Bernhard Friedrich house, which was bought for $250, became the first school. This first school was private. The Pecan Creek School #29 is located on a three-acre plot in the north central part of Gillespie County. In 1916, land was donated by school patrons. Other patrons donated materials and labor. The original house was moved in parts and rebuilt. The original building is one big room with windows on the south side, and the entrance, with an enclosed cloakroom, is on the east side. The building is constructed of wood, with siding having been added later. The floors are pine and the ceiling is of beaded board. In 1936, an open shed was attached to the school building. At that time, a stage and dance floor was included which was later improved. Today there is a permanent 15' x 20' stage with a walkway around the back wall.

The stage curtain, still in place, displays many early-day Gillespie County merchant advertisements. Blackboards cover part of the west and north sides of the room, and a wood burning stove stands near the back east side. On the east wall, there is a bookcase.

Also still standing, about thirty yards west of the school, is an outdoor toilet for girls. The boys' outhouse stands 60 yards to the south. A rainwater cistern for drinking water, which is no longer in use, was added in 1934 on the north side.
Double desks, purchased in 1935, are still in the classroom, as are a world globe purchased in 1936, and a dust-proof map case containing nine maps purchased for $43.62 in 1938.

In 1988, one hundred five years after the beginning of school in the Pecan Creek area, a reunion was held.
Six former teachers and 83 former students attended. Mrs. Albert Menske (Hilda Crenwelge), a former student, was the oldest at 94 years old.

The Pecan Creek Community Club meets in the afternoon on the second Sunday of every month. Games of Texas "42", High 5 and Pinochle are played, with refreshments served after a short meeting. An annual picnic or fish fry is also held each summer on the school grounds.

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Cherry Spring School and Community Center

Classes for the children of German immigrants in the Cherry Spring community were held in homes until 1885. At that time, a 31' x 23' schoolhouse was built using locally quarried limestone on land donated by H. Bratherich. On dedication day, students marched in a parade from the home where classes had been held to the new building. Cherry Spring, District #16, added a large pavilion in 1936, despite the Great Depression. The stage area had moveable walls, which allowed it to be used as a second classroom. Grades one through five met in the "Little Room" on the stage, while grades six through nine met in the original rock building, or "Big Room."

In the early days, students walked, rode bicycles, or came by horseback. Saddles were stored in the "Saddle shed"; the horses were tied to stand and wait for school to be dismissed. One student, in the 1920's, even rode a donkey. Like clockwork, at 11:45 almost every morning, the donkey would bray, dismissing everyone for lunch.

Other notes of interest are the student enrollment and the teachers' salaries. In 1903, with a student enrollment of 41, the teacher's salary was $35. With 53 students in 1910, the teacher made $50. In 1920, the teacher's salary was $82.50 and 48 students attended. Until the 1950's, teachers would often board with residents of the community.

Each May, school closing celebrations were anticipated by the entire community. While visiting with neighbors and other acquaintances, attendees were entertained with oompah music, plays, and baseball games. Hundreds of pounds of barbecue were prepared on the large open pit to feed the crowds.

The Cherry Spring School served the community residents until 1962, when it was consolidated with Fredericksburg ISD. During the 76 years school was held at Cherry Spring, almost 400 students and 42 teachers passed through the doors. Today, the school is a landmark of early education in Gillespie County. On May 11, 1990, a state historical marker was placed on the rock school building.

The Cherry Spring Community Club now regularly uses the schoolhouse and pavilion for their meetings, and playing games of "42", on the second Friday of each month. On the second Saturday in September, club members, families, and friends also hold a barbecue picnic.

Crabapple School and Community Center

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 $80.00 per month in the 1920's to $250.00 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 9 students remained. Soon after consolidation, Crabapple Community Club was organized. It remains active today with monthly socials on the first Friday of each month. The facility is also used for other functions such as wedding receptions, reunions, elections, birthday parties and church functions. In September 1994, a historical marker was placed at the school.