Wednesday, December 23, 2020

More history of Elm Grove School in Creedmoor, Texas explored again.

Not much history is known about Elm Grove School. Only so much history is known or can be found out. Elm Grove School is one of the many forgotten white schools of Creedmoor and Travis County.


Elm Grove School was built in 1908 during the 1908-1909 school year. The building for Elm Grove School was a brown wooden box frame shaped building constructed using wood from elm trees and pinewood. Travis County Appraisal District records show Elm Grove School was located east of Elm Grove Road on the Schultz farm owned by Preston W Schultz. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=301915)

Elm Grove School was a grammar school, which operated as Elm Grove White School for white students only, under the supervision of the Creedmoor Common School District from 1908 to 1938. School normally stopped after the 4th grade as this school was a 1-4 school. Elm Grove School operated on a tight schedule due to budget constraints, low attendance, and harvesting season. (Ref: Austin American, Page 27, Friday, April 6, 1956)


The 7th grade was added to Elm Grove School in 1912 during the 1911-1912 school term. Elm Grove School had been a 1-4 school prior to 1912. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366288447/)

“EDUCATION BOARD MEETS. Elm Grove School Is Raised to Elementary Class With Seven Grades. Patrons of the Elm Grove school, Creedmoor district, left the courthouse yesterday with smiles on their faces. Their school was raised from a primary school of four grades to an elementary school with seven grades and the length of the term was Increased from six months to six months and one-half. This was In accordance with the action of the County Board of Education, which gathered in regular session yesterday morning. Trustees of Creedmoor and Superintendent Smith had ruled the Elm Grove School in the primary class. Patrons of this school appealed to the board. Yesterday morning they presented their side to the hoard and their demands were granted. Other routine matters of business were attended to.

Representlng the Elm Grove school were ten men. M. A. Evetts and Kd Caldwell represented the Creedmoor trustees. The board present was M. C. Abrams, president; W. J. Wheeless, O. A. Bergstrom. Tom Stanley, W. 3, Wilson and Superintendent Smith.”

School board members are: H. H. Alexander, president; Ewald Reinhardt, vice president; Preston Laws, secretary; Bennie Eilers, Howell Wilhite, John Camp and Joe Schmidt. Teachers are: Mrs. F. M. Crane, Mrs. O. W. Proffitt, Mrs. J. W. Miller and Mrs. T. M. Ray.

Records show from the Travis County Superintendent show that Elm Grove School was already in existence by 1912. Elm Grove School (Elm Grove White School) was already receiving county funds by then. (Ref: 1912 School Fund Accounts)

Elm Grove School had always had a 100% white student population. Records show from the Travis County Superintendent handbook show Elm Grove School recorded as “Elm Grove School White”. Only white students attended this school. (Ref: Clayton Vocational Institute: A Superior School)


The school also boasted a Christmas program every year. Their Christmas program started on either a Thursday night or a Friday night. (Ref: Lockhart Post-Register, Page 5, Thursday, December 21, 1933)

Elm Grove School was known as “Elm Grove White School” and was located east of Elm Grove Road as shown on a 1932 topographical map. (Ref: 1932 Travis County Topographic and Road Map)



 

The Defender yearbook indicates Elm Grove School as being a one-teacher school. In 1936, Ms. Thelma Wagner taught 10 students on an average daily basis. Clearly the attendance rate for this school was never very high. The class size was very small. (Ref: The Defender, 1936)



 

Elm Grove School was shut down by Creedmoor Common School District in 1938 due to its low attendance rate as daily attendance was never high. Creedmoor Common School District has discontinued the school in 1938 and sent its to students to attend Creedmoor White School on FM 1327. Elm Grove School stopped appearing on county maps by 1952. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366258900/)

There is uncertainty of where the wooden box frame shaped building is today. The wooden box frame shaped building could have been demolished as was the case with most rural school overseen by Travis County Public Schools. The building could have been auctioned off to a private homeowner as well.

Elm Grove School was located on Elm Grove Road, Creedmoor, Texas, US 78610.

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