Willow City School is located west of the heart of Willow City, a small town in northeastern Gillespie County, Texas, 12 miles northeast of the county seat of Fredericksburg. Willow City School is located in Willow City, Texas, US.
The first Willow City School was built as a log cabin in located on the Paulus Flat area near the Willow Creek in the year of 1876. The school was a log cabin with no floor and had split long benches. The building was used for school and church services. Willow City School was established as a community school for the small city/town of Willow City, Texas. Willow City School was a 1-10 from the beginning. Prior to 1905, Willow City School was a “county school” operated by Gillespie County School District (now Fredericksburg ISD).
The building was enlarged in 1881. Willow City had two teachers educating students at Willow City School as early as 1881. One who was Mr. John Warren Hunter. Mr. John Warren Hunter once had to wrestle a six-gun away from an angry student. An argument led to this incident.
In 1890, the original Willow City School building was heavily damaged by a flood. The original school building flooded away. The school building was damaged beyond repair and could no longer be used. A new school building was constructed on higher ground during the 1890-1891 school semester. Willow City School has been a center of social activity for Willow City since 1890.
Willow City School was rebuilt on even higher ground as a two-story sandstone schoolhouse building on a rectangular-plan in the year of 1905 now located on 5 acres of land designated as a school site. 4 buildings were built between 1905 and 1955. A barbecue pit shelter was built in 1905. The present building was the third school building for Willow City School. The present building stands today.
Willow City School had its own school district called Willow City Independent School District organized in 1905. Willow City School was no longer a “county school” operated by Gillespie County School District (now Fredericksburg ISD).
By the 1950s’, Willow City School became a 1-8 school. 9th grade students now started attending Fredericksburg High School in Fredericksburg, Texas. Willow City School was no longer the 1-10 school that taught grades 1 through 10.
Willow City School consolidated with Fredericksburg Independent School District (Fredericksburg ISD) in 1961. Students now travel to Fredericksburg for classes in schools operated by Fredericksburg ISD. Willow City Community Club was organized on May 12, 1961. The property was managed and organized by Willow City Community Club prior to 1999.
On April 19, 1999, the Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools was established and Willow City School became a member of the organization. Today Willow City School is a member of Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools (Friends of Gillespie County Schools). The Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools group works toward preservation of country school buildings, located in Gillespie County, that still are in existence. The Willow City School building and property is now owned by Gillespie County and Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools.
Today Willow City School operates as the Willow City Community Center. Willow City School represents a literal view of rural life from the late 19th century and early 20th century. Little alteration has happened to the building since the school was closed in 1961. This school building remains as a historic landmark.
Willow City School is located at 2501 RR 1323, Fredericksburg, Texas, US 78675. The other address for Willow City School is 2501 RR 1323, Willow City, Texas, US 78675.
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