Forgotten history of Garfield Mexican School in Del Valle, Texas explored.

Garfield Mexican School was one of the 12 “Mexican schools” operated by Travis County Public Schools aka Travis County Common School District in the 1900s. Not too much is known about this school or can be discovered. Sadly not too much history has been found. Garfield Mexican School is one of the many forgotten schools of Del Valle and Travis County.

Garfield Mexican School was organized by Travis County Public Schools for Garfield School District #35 and Colorado Common School District #36 in 1914. Garfield Mexican School was established and opened in 1915 in Garfield Cemetery off of what is now known as Richards Drive near SH 71 in Del Valle, Texas.

In 1919, the Travis County School Board (Travis County Public Schools) granted permission to build a church on this property. The building was erected in 1919 under Rev. Walter O'Donnell, C.S.C, and had been in continuous use since then. A Mexican Catholic church called Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church (Guadalupe Church) was located on property belonging Travis County Public Schools and the Garfield Cemetery. (Ref: http://sanjose.philmullins.com/missions-of-san-jose/)

There was another cemetery next to the Garfield Mexican School called the Mexican Cemetery. The Mexican Cemetery was eventually merged into the Garfield Cemetery with all original burial plots intact and untouched.

The original building in 1939 was an oblong building with a tin roof and was valued at $1,200.  In July 20, 1939, Holy Cross priests Fred A. Schmidt, Alfredo Mendez and Thomas Culhane were working at the "beautiful little Holy Cross mission at Garfield”. By 1939, Garfield Mexican School was used as a church. (Ref: Phil Mullins, Mission Church at Garfield)

Garfield Mexican School closed in 1948 due to the court case of Delgado v. Bastrop ISD regarding racial segregation in public schools. That court case declared segregation illegal in Texas public schools. The school was closed for good in 1950 during the 1950-1951 school year.

In 1957, the school building was sold to a homeowner and relocated elsewhere. Exactly where is unknown. All traces of the school building and Guadalupe Church have disappeared since then. Only the cemetery remains. 

Garfield Mexican School was located on Richards Drive, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617.