Richland School is one of the many forgotten schools of Pflugerville, Texas few are aware of and only longtime local citizens know about. The school operated from 1878 to 1945 before being consolidated into Pflugerville ISD. This news article explains the history behind Richland School.
German immigrant Franz Schmidt purchased land in the Pflugerville area in 1867. There was demand for a school and education, but not enough funds to build a schoolhouse. Classes were held at the home of Franz Schmidt prior to the schoolhouse being built. Franz Schmidt donated land for a schoolhouse in 1868.
By 1877, there were enough Germans in the area to establish a school. The schoolhouse would become known as Richland School. The school was named Richland in honor of the rich soil in the region of Pflugerville. All its residents were very receptive of naming the school “Richland School”.
Richland School was built as a one-room schoolhouse structure built in 1878 on the Franz Schmidt farm and was located east of Pflugerville, Texas. Richland School was a 1-12 school that taught students in grades 1 through 12. The first teacher at Richland School was Catherine Margaret Schlitter.
The school became a county public school in 1881 and was operated by Travis County Public Schools until 1908. St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church donated an acre of land, and a new building was built just south of the church on Cameron Road. Richland School was predominantly German at first. Students were not allowed to speak their native languages—only English.
In 1908 is when Richland School consolidated into Highland School as was later consolidated by Plfugerville ISD shortly after. During the 1908-1909 school year is when Pflugerville ISD began having Highland School admitting students from Richland School as the Pflugerville ISD consolidated Richland School in 1908.
Richland School was predominantly German, but it was also mixed with Swedish students and Mexican students. However the school was predominantly German students and Mexican students. There were no African-American students because there was a separate “Negro School” located at Cameron Road and Schmidt Lane called Richland Negro School for African-American students enrolled in grades 1 through 7. The range of students ages were from 7-12.
Pflugerville ISD took full control over Richland School in 1919. In 1920, Pflugerville ISD continued to operate Richland School. Despite Richland School being consolidated into Pflugerville ISD, Richland School continued to operate. By 1921, 100 students attended this school.
In the 1930s, many Pflugerville schools were about to lose certification because there were not enough families to support the tax base. This included Richland School. Clarence Bohls negotiated with Travis County education officials of Travis County Public Schools to keep the rural Pflugerville schools open. Several small schools around Pflugerville were consolidated into the Pflugerville Independent School District as a solution. This allowed Richland School to operate until 1945.
By the 1940s, enrollment was dwindling at Richland School. Its days were numbered. Enrollment was dwindling at rural schools due to statewide consolidation of school districts in Texas. However the district continued to operate the school.
Pflugerville ISD shut down Richland School in 1945. In 1945, Richland School building was purchased by LaRue Ward, and was moved to its current location at the intersection of Fourth Street & Main Street in Pflugerville, Texas. Part of the original building was torn down and the materials were used to build a barn on a local dairy farm.
Several former Pflugerville ISD schoolhouses were moved onto private properties between the 1920s and 1940s. Many Pflugerville ISD schoolhouses were sold in auctions to bidders.
A dedication ceremony was held for Richland School at St. John Parish Hall located outside of Pflugerville, Texas on the date of Saturday, November 12, 2016. Richland School was granted a marker during the dedication ceremony. Travis County Historical Society sponsored the event and called it the Richland School Marker Dedication Ceremony.
Today Richland School is located at 198 4th Street North, Pflugerville, Texas, US 78660. The current owner reported Richland School to be in good condition.
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