Bitting School is one of the many forgotten schools of Travis County and Elgin. Only so much history is known about this school. Existence of Bitting School lasted from 1895 to 1930.
Captain J. W. Bitting donated one acre of land to Travis County Public Schools for the Bitting School in 1895. Bitting School was built as a schoolhouse in 1895 to serve students that lived in the small towns of Littig, Texas and Elgin, Texas as well as rural Travis County. The people who donated money for lumber were T. F. Nairn, Dan Williams, Tom Fowler, and Claire Osborn. (Ref: The Defender, 1936)
At first the school term was 3 months. The school term was later extended to 4 months. Attendance was very high. Enrollment was 45 students a day for average daily attendance. There were 3 students sitting at one desk. Many had to sit by the windows. Professor J. W. Ramie was one of the first teachers who taught 50 students in one room. Miss Dora Zimpleman was principal of Bitting School from 1901 to 1930.
The Bitting School was named after Confederate veteran J. W. Bitting (Captain J. W. Ramie) who served as captain in the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. John W. Bitting served as captain in North Carolina. T. F. Nairn and Dan Williams donated lumber material to built the school. The school was recorded as Littig White School which is where the Littig community later took their name from. (Ref: Austin American, Littig Region Has School Name Littig, Page 35, Friday, February 1, 1957)
A new school building was built for Bitting School in 1908 around the same time Cottonwood School (Cottonwood Elementary School) was built at a location between Cottonwood Creek on Highway 20 (Now Old Kimbro Road) far away from Littig. That was when a small portion of Bitting School relocated next to Cottonwood School. The school term was extended to 6 months in 1908.
In 1909, the Bitting School became the Littig School and a portion of the Bitting School building was relocated to Littig to become part of the 1887 Littig White School building. Although the Bitting School was the former Littig School (Littig White School). County trustees bought the property of the school in 1913. Another teacher was added the same year. Miss Dora Zimpleman still served as the principal. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384253099/)
Professor J. W. Ramie continued to teach students at this school until 1920 until another teacher was hired. Bitting School shut down and consolidated into Littig School in 1943.
Bitting School Road was named after the Bitting School itself. That is why you see the road bear the name “Bitting School Road” today. The road of today carries a historical connection to the former Bitting School that once existed in time on Littig Road.
The former Bitting School was located at Bitting School Road & Littig Road, Elgin, Texas, US 78621. The address for this school was 18301 Littig Road, Elgin, Texas, US 78621.
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