Cottonwood School (Cottonwood White School) is one of the many forgotten schools of Manor and Travis County. This news article will explain and investigate some of the history of Cottonwood School (Cottonwood White School).
Cottonwood School (Cottonwood White School) began its history as Bitting School in 1895 near the small town of Littig, Texas. 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 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. (Ref: The Defender, 1936)
At first the school term was 3 months. The school term was later extended to 4 months. Professor J. W. Ramie was one of the first teachers who taught 50 students in one room. There were 3 students sitting at one desk. Many had to sit by the windows. Attendance was very high. Cottonwood White School only taught white students. Although there were a small handful of Hispanic students, Cottonwood School had always been a predominantly white school. 
A new school building was built for Bitting School in 1908. This time a portion of Bitting School became the Cottonwood School (Cottonwood Elementary School) and was relocated miles far away from Littig at Cottonwood Creek on what was then Highway 20 (Hwy 20 aka Old Highway 290) and is now known as Old Kimbro Road in Manor, Texas. Cottonwood School was named after Cottonwood Creek. The school term was extended to 6 months in 1908. Enrollment was 35 students a day for average daily attendance. (Ref: The Defender, 1935)
County trustees bought the property of the school in 1913. Professor J. W. Ramie continued to teach students at this school until 1920. Another teacher was added the same year. There was one teacher who taught 32 students to 33 students a day. The cost per year for a student was an average of $30.00 resulting in an average cost per year to be $500. One teacher taught all 7 grades for 155 days to 160 days. The teacher’s salary was $50.00 a month and the teacher got paid for 8 months.
Martin H. Lundgren, Marvin Lundgren, and Bertha Olson Lundgren were the school trustees for/of Cottonwood School much of the 20th century until its consolidation and closure. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 9652, Page 830)
Cottonwood School was reclassified from a 7th grade to a 9th grade school in 1914. This led Cottonwood School to become a 1-9 school. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385037319/)
Cottonwood School became Cottonwood Elementary School in 1920. Cottonwood Elementary School became a K-7 school rather than the standard K-8 grade school model in 1920 where grades 1 through 8 were taught. Cottonwood Elementary School was a one-room schoolhouse at this time.
After finishing 7th Grade, students were bussed to attend Manor High School in Manor ISD. Many students did not attend junior high school, senior high school, or high school in general in those days. They had to help out their families grow crops in time for harvesting season or work at the Elgin Cotton Gin.
Alice Ballerstedt Brady taught at Cottonwood School for the school term of 1925-1926. Alice Ballerstedt Brady herself was a former students of Cottonwood School who graduated the school during 7th grade. She attended Manor High School while in the 7th grade. At age 15 she graduated Manor High School as Valedictorian in 1920. (Ref: Alice Ballerstedt Brady obituary)
Transportation was often by horse and buggy. Student sometimes rode in carpools by parents who drove them to and from school. Busses were not provided until 1930. By 1932, the school had 3 busses. Bus drivers were paid by the school district and Travis County Public Schools.
Manor ISD began annexing Cottonwood School in 1946. The Austin American advertised Cottonwood School being sold for a sealed bid in late 1946. Manor ISD was looking for any potential buyers. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/359815756/)
“MANOR SCHOOL Board advertises sale of Cottonwood White School building by sealed bids. Bids will be opened at superintendent's office at 2:00 p. m. June 22nd. We reserve the right to reject any and all bids. Mail bids to R. W. Perrine, Manor, Texas.”
Cottonwood School consolidated into Manor ISD in 1947. Most students already attended school in Manor though despite that. The exact reasons as to why Cottonwood School consolidated into Manor ISD are unknown.
Manor ISD has sold the land to Jack C. Anderson and Roy D. Rivers Jr in 1949 on a gift deed. Jack C. Anderson used the Cottonwood School building as a residence and farm house for several years. This entire land was his pasture. Jack C. Anderson and Roy D. Rivers Jr would sell their land on a warranty deed to Juanita Meier and her sister, Josie E Champion, on the date of September 17, 1971. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 4182, Page 835)
Juanita Meier and her sister, Josie E Champion, would own this property together for 18 years from 1973 to 1991. Although it would be Juanita Meier that was the sole owner. They would used the Cottonwood School building as a residence and farm house for several years as Jack C. Anderson did. Cottonwood School was still being used during that time. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 11376, Page 676)
Cottonwood School was used a residence and farm house for several years during that time until about 1980. The building fell into a state of disrepair by 1983 and needed much repair. Cottonwood School was no longer used as a residence by 1985 but was used as a cattle trough instead. This was because the building was structurally unsound and uninhabitable.
Josie E Champion sold some the land back to Juanita Meier through a warranty deed on the date of February, 18, 1991. Juanita Meier had gained full ownership of land rights and mineral rights by then. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 11376, Page 676)
Juanita Meier began leasing the property to Austin Skeet Range in 2001. Austin Gun Club and Austin Rifle Club would use her property for shooting lessons and target practice. Both clubs would use this land before relocating to Littig Road (Highway 20) in 2014. The school building had collapsed into the ground by then and was no longer standing. A portion of the building lays on its side. 
Juanita Meier, William Clark Meier, and Clifford Johnson started using the property exclusively for grazing cattle starting in 2017. Their intentions and planned use of this property is to observe good farming and grazing practices. The school building had completely collapsed into the ground and was no longer standing. All that was left was the debris from a portion of the building that laying on its side. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, instrument #3067877)
Juanita Meier sold the land to RHOF LLC on a special warranty deed in 2019 for the establishment of a new subdivision. Her land will become home to a new subdivision called Sky Village Kimbro Estates. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, instrument #2019198316)
The Sky Village Kimbro Estates will take up a huge parcel of the 200 acres of her land that is already there. However the subdivision will be located further up north away from US 290. The parcel of land facing US 290 will serve as a noise buffer for now until RHOF LLC decides to build there. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, instrument #2019198317)
RHOF LLC is currently doing business as Austin Skeet Range as Juanita Meier currently leases her property to Austin Skeet Range. Part of her property serves as an auxiliary annex for Austin Skeet Range and the other part is used for cattle grazing. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=236952)
Today the Cottonwood White School lies in a wooden pile of dilapidation as a result rural decay on Old Kimbro Road. Not much remains of the Cottonwood School except for a wooden pile and a collapsed roof which you can visibly see when looking at the Manor, Texas area via satellite view on any maps online.
Cottonwood White School was located on 13201 Old Kimbro Road, Manor, Texas, US 78653.
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