Longview School is one of the many forgotten schools of Austin and Travis County. This news article will explain the history behind Longview School. Longview School is located inside of modern day Longview Park.
Longview School was established and opened in 1897 near Longview Cemetery at the address of 7609 Longview Road. The school started appearing on maps in 1898. Travis County Common School District (Travis County Public Schools) along with the Oak Hill School District operated the school from 1898 until 1922. Longview School was also known as Longview Schoolhouse and Longview School House. (Ref: https://mixerrreviews.blogspot.com/2018/07/history-of-longview-school-in-austin.html)
Although Longview School was a 1-10 school, Longview School primarily taught grades 1-8. Students left school upon graduating 10th grade. Most of its students were enrolled in grades 1 through 8.
Patti Hansen of Travis County Historical Commission reported there were no Mexican-American schools (Mexican Schools) west of I-35. Many of the schools were north, south, and east of town. No Hispanic children are known to have attended Longview School.
The building for Longview School was constructed out of rock and was situated in a grove of live oak trees and cedar trees. This school got its name due to the view from over the cedar-covered hills. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366356036/)
Austin Weekly Statesman announced that Oak Hill School District and Longview School had plans to consolidate in 1908. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, WISH TO CONSOLIDATE. Oak Hill and Longview School Patrons Discuss Plan, Page 5, June 17, 1908)
CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS IN COUNTY THREE ISLAND BOTTOM DISTRICT MAY COMBINE WITH COLORADO SCHOOL OAK HILL AND LONGVIEW MAY UNITE
“At a meeting of the patrons of the Oak Hill and Longview schools, called to consider the question of consolidation, the matter was discussed by representatives of each school district. County Superintendent Hartman and the latter was instructed to draw up the necessary petitions for consolidation, which will be circulated in each district to ascertain the will of the majority. The meeting was largely attended end the sentiment seems to have crystalized in favor of consolidation, as no opposition appeared, although the difficulties in the way were pointed out by the speakers. It is proposed to build a new two-room school in the center of the combined are. This will make the living farthest away about three miles from the school house.”
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31464482/austin-american-statesman/)
Miss Lillian Krohn was teaching all classes at Longview School in 1909. That included all three classes. Longview School was a three-room school house at that time. Austin Weekly Statesman explained the overcrowding conditions at Longview School as a “three-room school house being crowded to its utmost capacity”. Longview School had crowded to its utmost capacity near the beginning of the 1910s decade. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366287799/)
A meeting was held at Longview School on March 1, 1909. Superintendent Hartman of the Travis County Common School District spoke on the improvement of rural schools and the means to be employed. The teachers were devoted toward making some of the many necessary improvements for their students and school district. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, Page 8, Monday, March 1, 1909)
“The meeting at the school house at night was largely attended by the citizenship of Manchaca and Longview School District, old and young, the three-room school house being crowded to its utmost capacity. The opening vocal solo by Miss Lucy Matthews, with violin and viola obligato, was very pretty and elicited much deserved applause, as did the selection on violin and piano, veneered by Misses Alexander and Matthews. Superintendent Hartman of the county schools spoke on rural school improvement and the means to be employed to realize the same. Manchaca is fairly on the way to have one of the best schools in the county and with some encouragement will march steadily to the front. At the close of the program, Miss Lillian Krohn, of the Longview School, In a few well chosen words, thanked the citizens of Manchaca for their kind hospitality and open-hearted reception of the visiting teachers.”
A tragic natural disaster would strike the Longview community in 1922. Sadly Longview School was destroyed by a tornado on May 4, 1922. Two members of the Bargsley family were killed in the tornado. Nothing was left of the Longview School after the tornado destroyed everything in town. Longview School was never rebuilt. It was a total loss for the Longview community. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, May 6, 1922)
Instead of rebuilding the school, Travis County Public Schools sent its students to Manchaca School in Manchaca, Texas, St. Elmo School, Oak Hill School, or simply to Austin ISD schools. Travis County Public Schools discontinued services for the school during the same year. At the same time, the school and cemetery became abandoned. Its foundation was the only structure remaining in 1923.
Longview School was consolidated into the St. Elmo School District in 1923. The school district be known as St. Elmo and Longview School District, St. Elmo and Longview Consolidated School District, and also, St. Elmo - Longview School District from 1923 to 1934. The school district name would revert back to using St. Elmo School District in 1935.
Granberry and E. Juul wanted to use the cemetery property to graze sheep, goats, and cattle on in 1941. This was their intended use for this land.
However members of the Plumley family sued to stop Howard Granberry and E. Juul from using the cemetery property to graze sheep, goats, and cattle on in 1942. They claimed to have been damaged $52,500, relatives of persons buried in Longview Cemetery. The plaintiffs also petitioned the court for exemplary damages in the same amount as the actual damages they claimed to have suffered. (Ref: Austin American, Kin Sue To Stop Cemetery's Use as Pasture for Cattle, Page 2, September 9, 1942)
“Kin Sue To Stop Cemetery's Use as Pasture for Cattle Claiming they have been damaged $52,500, relatives of persons buried in Longview cemetery, a five-acre tract located southwest of Austin near the Manchaca Road, Tuesday asked the 126th district other natural resources; and reaffirmed Texas' traditional policy of states' rights.”
Yet it was Judge S. J. Isaacks that sided with Howard Granberry and E. Juul. 1944 was the year Longview Cemetery was deeded to Travis County after a short but lengthy court trial over land rights issues. (Ref: Austin American, Longview Cemetery Title Goes to County, Page 18, Sunday, May 14, 1944)
“Title to the five-acre Longview Cemetery lying near Brodie Lane was formally conveyed by deed to Travis County and accepted Saturday by the county commissioners court. The cemetery tract was deeded to the county by Howard Cranberry. Simultaneously, the court granted Granberry's petition close an unused road through his place leading to the cemetery from the Austin-Manchaca Road. The request was acquiesced in by relatives of Travis County pioneers who are buried in the cemetery plat. Agreeing to the closing of the road were: Mrs. Jodie Bargsley Huebetter, Mrs. Mary Ross, W. E. Bargsley, Oscar J. Huebetter and G. A. Grimes.”
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved of giving a contract to E. Juul for the right to graze sheep and goats on the Longview Cemetery tract and on the site of the old Longview School for a period of 2 years. The properties of Longview Cemetery and Longview School were owned by Travis County at that time before being annexed to the City of Austin. (Ref: Austin American, Page 7, Sunday, April 23, 1944)
“Travis County Commissioners court Saturday approved a contract giving E. Juul of Austin the right to graze sheep and goats on the Longview Cemetery tract, owned by the county, on the site of the old Longview School for a period of two years. Under the contract Juul is to erect a sheep and goat fence to enclose the graves in the one-half acre part of the tract in the northeast corner and to keep the animals from entering that section. The fence and several gates are to become the property of the county after the two-year contract has expired.”
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved of giving a contract to E. Juul for the right to graze sheep and goats on the Longview Cemetery tract and on the site of the old Longview School for a period of 2 years. The properties of Longview Cemetery and Longview School were owned by Travis County at that time before being annexed to the City of Austin. (Ref: Austin American, Page 7, Sunday, April 23, 1944)
“Travis County Commissioners court Saturday approved a contract giving E. Juul of Austin the right to graze sheep and goats on the Longview Cemetery tract, owned by the county, on the site of the old Longview School for a period of two years. Under the contract Juul is to erect a sheep and goat fence to enclose the graves in the one-half acre part of the tract in the northeast corner and to keep the animals from entering that section. The fence and several gates are to become the property of the county after the two-year contract has expired.”
Both Longview Cemetery, Longview School, and Longview Park were donated to the city in 1985 and have been part of the city park system for many years now.
One the date of March 12, 2014, Bob Ward and May Schmidt of Save Austin Cemeteries uncovered foundations of the long lost old Longview School building where Longview School was one located. Longview School was located inside the perimeter of Longview Cemetery. Cleanup was performed at the 5 acre cemetery and park on Saturday, March 29, 2014. There are remains of old sections of fencing that were uncovered along with the remains of the Longview School.
Longview School was located at 7609 Longview Road, Austin, Texas, US 78745.
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