History of Dry Creek School in Del Valle, Texas explored.

Dry Creek School is one of the rural schools of Travis County that has been long forgotten. This news article will explain and explore the history. Dry Creek School was also Dry Creek Schoolhouse/Dry Creek School House.


Dry Creek School was established in 1864 as a log cabin on McAngus Road in Del Valle, Texas. This school was operated by the Travis County Common School District as many schools were during that item The school was rebuilt as a two-room brick building in 1874. Two teachers taught all 9 grades daily. Dry Creek School had 30 students in attendance daily. This school was known as Dry Creek White School which only white students could attend.

Students to study hard and often learn on their own as all grades were being taught at the same time. School stopped after 9th grade. So students would attend school at Austin High School which was the only high school in Austin at that time. (Ref: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/roy-miller-8217332)

Dry Creek School was one of the very few schools along with St. Elmo School, Richland School, and Garfield School to educate students up to the 9th grade. This was completely rare for rural schools out in the country because money was often tight. This was the exception and not the norm. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54056581/school-merger-plan-approved-by-board/)

 

Miss Erna Weber was once the principal of Dry Creek School. She served as principal there for many years. The Austin American newspaper reported about her being rehired. “Miss Erna Weber, principal of Dry Creek School, was rehired for the opening of the 1931-1932 school session.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/364740624/)

Miss Hazel Sassman and Miss Margaret Ezell were the teachers who educated students in all 9 grades in the mid-1930s. Miss Hazel Sassman did most of the teaching. Miss Willie Long was principal by then. Walter Reinhardt and H. C. Miller served as the trustees during the 1930s. (Ref: The Defender Yearbook, 1936)


Bonds were used and sold to construct a two-frame structure to replace an antiqued brick structure in 1942. $4,000 dollars in bonds were to finance the construction of this building. This two-frame structure would be a two-room school. Sale of the bonds at 3 2/4% per cent interest was announced Wednesday by Co. Supt. I. W. Popham. A levy of 20¢ cents per $100 against district properties was made by the commissioners court to retire the bonds. The bond issue was approved by a vote of 18 to 0 in a special election. (Ref: Austin American, Bonds Are Sold For Dry Creek School, Thursday, July 9, 1942)

Although only white students could attend Dry Creek School, Hispanic students were admitted during the early 50s. Although a majority of the student population was still white. The school was then known as Dry Creek School.

Dry Creek School was consolidated into Colorado Common School District in 1954 as they grew to incorporate other schools in Travis County and Bastrop County. (Ref: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/historical_commission/Doc/Histroical_Reports/mexican-american-settlement-survey_report.pdf)

The school is listed as being abandoned on a 1956 USGS map of Southeast Austin. Dry Creek School was abandoned in 1956. The school was later demolished that year. All that remained was a concrete slab of what held the structure. The concrete slab was later destroyed by a rancher. (Ref: USGS map of Montopolis Quadrangle, 1956)

 

Today nothing remains of Dry Creek School. Only a large field of luscious grass remains.

Dry Creek School was located at 9000 McAngus Road, Del Valle, US 78617.