Samuel Houston Nichols and Dick Preece were the first trustees for the Nichols School. Although it was Samuel Houston Nichols that served as the school’s main trustee. Dick Preece served as school trustee in the 1930s. Ms. Florence Harvey was the first teacher to have taught at Nichols School along with Miss Anna Clough. (Ref: The Defender, 1935)
Prior to 1900, students attended Oak Grove School located in the Oak Grove School District (District #5). Nichols School operated as a school district called Nichols School District better known as District #62 from 1900 to 1951.
The school has been located at various locations throughout the years. Nichols School had often relocated at various times throughout the years. The school was moved onto private property often.
Austin Daily Statesman referred to Nichols School as one of the “mountain schools” in 1908. State funding was considerably meagre during that time. “These are both mountain schools, where the pupils are few and far between and where the state fund is meagre and where the people do not wish to levy a local tax to provide a longer school term.” (Ref: Austin Daily Statesman, NICHOLS SCHOOL CLOSES Oak Grove Opens for Three Months' Session, February 18, 1908)
Miss Anna Clough, who has been teaching there, had accepted a teaching position at the neighboring Oak Grove School in 1908. Oak Grove School had been unable to secure a teacher due to meagre state funding and people not wishing to levy a local tax.
In January 1928, the school building had burned from fire. The fire damaged the school building so badly to where the building itself was determined by fire marshals to be structurally unsafe. Fire marshals determined Nichols School was deemed unfit for human life. Luckily the furniture was miraculously saved from the fire. The outside walls structures caved in from the fire of course. (Ref: Austin Statesman, Nichols School Trustee Picked, Page 12, September 10, 1930)
County officials considered consolidating Nichol School into Pleasant Valley School and the Nichol School District into Pleasant Valley School District in 1930. (Ref: Austin Statesman, Page 14, March 20, 1930)
“Consolidation of the Nichols rural school with a state aid rural school, Pleasant Valley, is being considered by the school officials, according to information received here by the county superintendent. The Nichols School burned recently.”
Nichols School was rebuilt in September 1931 in a different location closer to the community. This time Tom Gillman donated land for the Nichols School to be rebuilt on. Tom Gillman donated building materials for Nichols School to be built. (Ref: Travis County Rural Schools, The Defender, 1935)
The Nichols School building was destroyed by fire again near the close of the 1932-1933 school semester in late 1932. The frame building for Nichols School was consumed by fire and burned instantly. The fire damaged the school building so badly to where the building itself was determined by fire marshals to be structurally unsafe and uninhabitable. County fire marshals deemed the school building to be a safety hazard. Teachers could not teach nor could education or classwork resume as the school building was deemed unfit for human life. None of the furniture was saved from the fire. Then teacher Mrs. Margaret Walden and her students moved into another frame building. (Ref: Travis County Rural Schools, The Defender, 1934)
School was held at the “Old Preece Place” in a small log cabin from 1932 until 1934-1935 school semester. Nichols School District was without a school until the 1934-1935 school semester. Old fashioned board benches and wooden boxes were used as seats. There were no funds to buy desks at that time. During the 1936-1937 school semester, A. F. Maechel consented with the school district to use his house as a temporary school building until funds could be received to build a new school building for Nichols School. The school district deemed the house unsuitable to fulfill their needs, but A. F.. Maechel’s house was the only building available at the time.
A quote from the 1936 yearbook of Travis County Rural Schools - The Defender yearbook states the following: “Several unsuccessful efforts have been made to rebuild the Nichols School on the original site, but so far funds are insufficient.” (Ref: The Defender, 1936)
A new stone building was constructed and opened in late 1936. This time using fireproof stone. Asbestos lining was used inside the walls. The durability of stone is imperviousness to fire. (Ref: Austin Statesman, SCHOOL BEING BUILT OF FIREPROOF STONE, Page 6, November 20, 1936)
By 1941, tentative plans were under consideration to establish a voting precinct at Nichols School for the voters of Anderson Mill and Marshall Ford living east of the creek. So the building became a voting box for the voting precinct.
A new bus was purchased to accommodate the Nichols School in Leander, Jonestown, and rural Travis County in the year of 1950. A new bus came under contract with the Leander Independent School District school board later that coming year. Demand for a new school bus was very high during that time.
In the same year, Leander ISD Superintendent O. J. Faught required all 1st graders to have their health immunization shots and also to have their birth certificates before entering school. Immunization shots had become a new requirement for students before entering school. This was due to health concerns from the school board.
1951 is the year when Nichols School was consolidated into Leander Independent School District. The former students attended classes in the Leander schools during that time. 1951 was the same year Nichols School closed following school consolidation into Leander ISD. Nichols School was closed down by Leander ISD. In 1952, the Nichols School building was later demolished. The school had been located at various locations throughout the years before being consolidated into Leander Independent School District.
*Nichols School District was known as District #62/District No. 62.
*Oak Grove School District was known as District #5/District No. 5.
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