Pottsville School is another one of the many forgotten schools of Texas. Not too many people know about this school or are aware of its history. This news article will explain the history of Pottsville School, the history of its school district called Pottsville ISD, and the schools that were once operated by Pottsville ISD. The Pottsville School operated for 113 years from 1876 to 1989.
The first school in the Hill Country town of Pottsville, Texas was built in 1876. In the year of 1913, a fire destroyed most of downtown Pottsville. The first school was located in that area and had burned down. The only thing remaining of the first school was its wooden and cement foundation. The fire was a total loss for the school. The school was later rebuilt but burned down again in 1922.
In the same year, Pottsville School was rebuilt in 1922 east of town on FM 218 on a tract of 6.8 acres. The schools built on this land were Pottsville Elementary School and Pottsville High School. Both Pottsville Elementary School and Pottsville High School were built less than a block away from each other direction wise. These Pottsville Schools were built on a tract of 6.8 acres of land east of town located on FM 218.
Pottsville School had a gymnasium located near FM 218. The gymnasium is a 7,000 square foot modern brick and concrete building. This gymnasium had locker rooms and a storage room installed. Included was a small wing on the back used for storage for athletic equipment to be stored. Both schools used this gymnasium as this was the only gymnasium for the school district.
The original old school building is the Pottsville School (Pottsville Elementary School), which is a 7,000 square foot, two story brick built using a wood frame in a stabilized condition.
The large 14,000 square foot, two story building in front served as Pottsville High School. It was built out of brick on concrete slab and it housed the school offices, classrooms, the lunchroom, and auditorium.
The small residential wood frame type dwelling near the front is the teacher-age building. The teacher-age building on the property is where the teachers lived. There is another teacher-age building that is a corrugated steel building using wood for its exterior.
In the 1920s, Pottsville Elementary School educated students in grades Kindergarden through 6 while Pottsville High School educated students in grades 7 through 12. Pottsville High School would later educate students in grades 8 through 12 in the mid-20th century.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Pottsville Elementary School educated students in grades Kindergarden through 7 while Pottsville High School educated students in grades 9 through 12.
Pottsville ISD consolidated with Hamilton ISD on the date of 7/1/1989. It’s students were transferred to Hamilton, Texas to finish school and complete high school. Students attending Pottsville ISD schools were now transferred over to Hamilton ISD schools. Both Pottsville Elementary School and Pottsville High School were shut down effectively.
In 1995, Christian outreach ministry Remar USA acquired this property and converted parts of it into a drug rehabilitation clinic/community center. Remar USA converted one building into a church. Remar USA had been specializing in addiction recovery for Latino youth for many years during that time.
Overtime the buildings became abandoned. It is unclear exactly when these buildings were abandoned. But one that can’t be hidden is that this property has fallen victim to neglect and rural decay from a lack of maintenance upkeep. The interior has been vandalized severely. Flooring has become unsafe in certain areas of buildings located on this property. Its buildings are currently abandoned.
Today Remar USA owns the former Pottsville School property. Both Pottsville Elementary School and Pottsville High School are being used for storage. The teacher-age building serves as storage. Its buildings are currently abandoned and have fallen victim to neglect overtime.
Pottsville School is located on FM 218, Pottsville, Texas, US.
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