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Stay connected to The Friends by visiting us on Facebook and clicking on the ''Like'' button. You'll always receive the latest news and events.

PHOTO ALBUM

We hope you'll enjoy these photos of some of our schools and activities, as well as seeing some of us. For photos showcasing our individual schools, we invite you to visit our School Directory page to visit each school's web page. All schools can be rented for special events, family reunions, etc. To reserve your date, contact the individual school representative rental contact.

(Click on a thumbnail to view a larger image.)
The Friends Annual BBQ Chicken Fundraiser
April 3, 2011
(Our fundraiser is held annually the first Saturday in April.)
This is a picture of the actual entrance off S US Hwy 87/S Washington St. where one enters the dining hall. This is a picture of the entrance to the dining hall. We are the Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools. This is a picture of some of the members of the Polkamatics, a local group of talented musicians, who played fun polka music during mealtime.
This is Larry Ahrens, who prepared the beans for the dinner. This is a picture of Louis Rech, Larry Jacoby, Eldon Ray Feller, and Larry Hauptrief, who prepared the chickens for the barbecue dinner. This is a picture of Marlene Deike, Carolyn Grosenbacher, and Vernell Doebbler, who prepared the tea for the dinner.
This is a picture of Helen Feller, dropping chances in and stirring the tickets up really well, getting ready for the prize drawing. She kindly set out some pretty geraniums to pretty things up. This is a picure of many of the raffle gift items. This is a picture of the memorabilia sales table, full of wonderful items to help preserve the history made by older generations and educate the younger generations.
This is a picture of Shirley Harvey, Frances Heimann Rech, Norman Sadik, Bernice Weinheimer and Alvin Weinheimer, overseeing the entrance memorabila sales table and receiving donations for meal tickets. This is a picture of Patsy & Larry Hauptrief and Wayne & Kay Guenther, looking well pleased after eating their dinners. This is a picture of Sandra Kammlah and Edgar Priess dancing to the fun polka music.

To stay informed of The Friends open houses and annual fundraisers, visit our Facebook page and click on the "Like" button.

All schools are available for booking for parties, family reunions, and other events.

 This is a picture of former Rheingold School students Marvin Ahrens and Raymond Gold who spoke to visitors at their country school on Saturday about their education growing up in the Rheingold Community. ALL funds raised by The Friends are used in the preservation and restoration of the country schools in the pursuit of preserving the traditions of the schools, the community clubs, and the history of Gillespie County for future generations.
Willow City School Open House
April 2, 2011
(Larry & Patsy Hauptrief of Thousand Oaks Alpacas had some of the alpacas available for visitors to interact with and Patsy gave demonstrations of weaving and making items from Alpaca fiber.)
This is a picture of former Willow City School students, Frances (Pressler) Heimann, Vicky (Stahl) Troy, Jeanette (Gold) Lopez, and Patsy (Grote) Hauptrief, standing in front of the original School Curtain, circa 1915 or so. They were at the April 2, 2011, Open House, speaking to visitors about their education growing up in the Willow City Community. At each Open House School site, we ask visitors to sign our registration sheets to help us justify our request for Hotel Occupancy Tax funding grants. Willow City also had refreshments and information pamphlets to give to the guests. This is a picture of the tall stairway at the Willow City School, with Mable (Schneider) Wilke giving information to guests upstairs in the room used for high school grades and as the auditorium for plays.
This is a picture of Larry Hauptrief, owner of Thousand Oaks Alpacas, who brought a few of the herd females, which visitors were invited to pet and learn about. Alpacas are bred specifically for their fiber, which is used for making knitted and woven items, similar to wool, including blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, socks, scarves, etc. Patsy Hauptrief, owner of Thousand Oaks Alpacas, is demonstrating the art of spinning alpaca fiber into yarn to be used for fabric arts. This picture was taken in the East Room, which Patsy Hauptrief, owner of Thousand Oaks Alpacas, set up to show visitors how clothes are sewn with alpaca fiber, which is somewhat like sheep wool, but much finer and softer.
Annual Bake Sale Fundraiser
December 18, 2010
(The Friends hold an annual bake sale fundraiser every December at various locations throughout Fredericksburg.
Watch our Upcoming Events for more information.)
2010 Bake Sale at Stripes Pic - 1st Shift. Friends members: Cliff Maenius, Ada Wilke, Martha Ahrens, Kay Steinbring, Christy Jaster, and Ellen Felps. Our new FoGCCS President Darlene Lochte Working Hard - 1st Shift at JEK's West 2010 Bake Sale at JEK's West Pic - 1st Shift. Friends members: Vice-President Clayton Klinksiek, Atlee Lochte, Flora Wallendorf, President Darlene Lochte, and Florence Terry.
2010 Bake Sale at JEK's East Pic - some 1st & 2nd Shift Volunteers. Friends members: Nathan Crenwelge, Roslee Lochte, Jeanette Beckmann, Clif Steinbring, Jim Lindley, and Kenneth Lochte. As you can see, we hold our bake sale in the winter. It was very cold in December 2010. If you're in the area, don't miss The Friends annual bake sale fundraiser event. 2010 Bake Sale at Stripes Pic - some 2nd & 3rd Shift Volunteers. Friends members: Mable Wilke, Marjorie Otte, and Jeanette Conn.
Traditional Advertising Curtains
(It was a tradition in country schools to hang curtains with local business advertisement.)

Nebo (in nearby Eckert, now a private residence) closed and consolidated with Willow City School. The Willow City School houses the Nebo School curtain; however, it is not on display, but rolled up for protection.

 Due to the age and fragile condition of the curtains, we are working hard to preserve them. They are on display only for special occasions. Nebo (in nearby Eckert, now a private residence) closed and consolidated with Willow City School. The Willow City School houses the Nebo School curtain; however, it is not on display, but rolled up for protection.
Participation at the Gillespie County Fairs
in Fredericksburg Texas
(Floats manned by former school students.)
The Friends float in the 2007 Gillespie County Fair with former school students. Do you see the replicas of the country schools? The Friends float in the 2009 Gillespie County Fair with former school students, some playing ''42'' a German tradition. Do you see the replicas of the country schools?" The Friends float in the 2010 Gillespie County Fair with former school students, some playing ''42'' a German tradition. Do you see the replicas of the country schools?"
The Friends display at the Gillespie County Fair The Gillespie County Fair & Festivals Association, the oldest, continuously running county fair in Texas, also promotes community and family entertainment. The Gillespie County Fair is held annually in August. Click here to visit their website. The Friends display at the Gillespie County Fair showing our wall of photos
Group Tours & Special Events

Visit our Schools Directory for making arrangements for your special group tour or special event.

Visit our Trip Planner page to book your stay in a local Bed & Breakfast while you're in the Fredericksburg area.

Upcoming Events

MARCH OPEN HOUSES
Saturday, March 10
Pecan Creek
Cherry Spring
~AND~
Christ Lutheran Church
at Cherry Spring

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE TOUR
Saturday, March 31
Williams Creek (Albert)
Lower South Grape Creek
Luckenbach
Grapetown
Meusebach Creek
(click here for more details)

ANNUAL BBQ FUNDRAISER
Sunday, April 1
(click here for more details)

MAY OPEN HOUSES
Saturday, May 12
Cherry Mountain
Crabapple
~AND~
St. John Lutheran Church
at Crabapple

JUNE OPEN HOUSES
Saturday, June 9
Meusebach Creek
Wrede

JULY OPEN HOUSE
Any school will be opened
upon request. Visit our
Schools Directory
for representative contacts.

AUGUST OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, August 4
Willow City

SEPTEMBER OPEN HOUSES
Saturday, September 1
Luckenbach
Lower South Grape Creek

OCTOBER OPEN HOUSES
Saturday, October 6
Nebgen
Junction
 Williams Creek (Albert)
~AND~
Trinity Lutheran Church
at Stonewall

NOVEMBER OPEN HOUSE
Any school will be opened
upon request. Visit our
Schools Directory
for representative contacts.

ANNUAL BAKE SALE BENEFIT
December 15
(more details to come)
 


Stay connected to The Friends by visiting us on Facebook and clicking on the ''Like'' button. You'll always receive the latest news and events.

The Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools, Inc.
P.O. Box 55
Fredericksburg TX 78624
(830) 685-3321
info@historicschools.org

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Cave Creek School Cherry Spring School Crabapple School Lower South Grape Creek School Luckenbach School Meusebach Creek School Negben School Pecan Creek School Willow City School Wrede School Rheingold School Williams Creek (Albert) School The Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools "in the heart of the Texas Hill Country" Preserving the past to enrich the future