Danville School is one of the most widely known schools of Comal County and rural New Braunfels, Texas. Nearly everyone in Comal County can recall Danville School. Danville School operated from 1863 to 1946.
Danville School is an original one-room schoolhouse built in 1863 in New Braunfels, Texas. The building is 865 square feet. The school had porches on all four sides of a 24’ x 36’ classroom. Danville School was originally established at the location of 7030 FM 482, New Braunfels, Texas, US 78132. Danville School was operated by Solms School District. (Ref: History of New Braunfels and Comal County, Texas, 1844–1946, Oscar Haas)
In the 1870s, Danville School was a 1-8 school educating students in grades 1 through 8. Students attended their first eight grades at Danville School before attending high school in New Braunfels. Later in the 19th century, Danville School became a 1-12 school. Although Danville School was a 1-12 school throughout its history, Danville School primarily focused on educating students in grades 1 through 8. The original one-room Danville School building was part of the original Comal Settlement area which was established in the mid-1840s.
Danville School operated until after World War II, when it was consolidated with other school districts in the area to form Comal Independent School District (then Comal Rural High School District aka Comal Rural School District) in 1956. 1956 is when Danville School shut down and was consolidated into Comal Independent School District and New Braunfels Independent School District. Students attending Danville School would now attend Comal Elementary School.
Comal Rural High School District approved and voted on November 12, 1956 to consolidate the schools of Bulverde, Danville, Davenport, Fischer, Goodwin, Mountain Valley, Sherwood and Solms to become a part of the new Comal Rural High School District.
The Danville School building and a storage shed that used to be part of the Solms School District were moved to Comal Elementary School in 1956. Those buildings are still in use today. (Ref: New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung, Page 4, November 14, 1996).
The school was consolidated along with Solms School District. Solms School District would no longer operate Danville School as it had for 93 years. Danville School was a 1-8 school at the time of school district consolidation. A portion of attended the New Braunfels ISD schools.
The Comal Rural High School District was renamed to Comal Independent School District in 1958. 1958 is when Danville School consolidated with Davenport School which was also consolidated into Comal Independent School District to form Comal Elementary School.
After 1958, the former Danville School building had been serving as a music room for several years since it had become obsolete for classes.
In 1989, New Braunfels Conservation Society approached New Braunfels City Council about the possibility of its leasing the old Danville School building as a place to have their monthly meetings and activities. Sandy Schlameus gave a presentation of the proposed Danville School moving and restoration. 1989 is when New Braunfels Conservation Society made an effort to clean the building in an attempt of restoration.
The Danville School building was purchased at an auction in 1990 by Margaret “Margy” Waldrip at a price of $1,600 was moved to a ranch property 12 miles north of New Braunfels. It costed Margy $6,800 to move it to her property.
1990 is when the schoolhouse was restored. A clear glass window was restored along with the sink and copper countertop.2 beautifully restored oval glass front doors can be seen when entering the building. The kitchen was restored. It became the Historic Kuebler Waldrip Haus Bed and Breakfast in the same year.
(Ref: Kuebler Waldrip Haus Bed and Breakfast website)
Today Danville School is now located at 1620 Hueco Springs Loop, New Braunfels, Texas, US 78132. The Danville School retains the beautiful original wood ceiling, walls, and floor. It presently serves as Historic Kuebler Waldrip Haus Bed and Breakfast.
*[Comal Rural High School District also went under the names Comal Rural School District, Comal County Rural High School District No. 705, and Comal County Rural High School District before being renamed to Comal Independent School District in 1958.]
No comments:
Post a Comment