Pilot Knob School is one of the many forgotten schools of Austin and Travis County. There has been information archived and documented about Pilot Knob School. This news article will explain and explore the history of this school. Pilot Knob School was known as Pilot Knob School House, Pilot Knob Schoolhouse, and Pilot Knob Elementary School.
Pilot Knob School was named after a volcano that is located on top of a hill. Several volcanoes were active at this location some 3,000 years ago. Pilot Knob is believed to be settled on top of the remains of a cretaceous volcano. This cretaceous volcano serves as a geological feature in the nearby area.
Pilot Knob School began in 1892 as a small schoolhouse subsequently situated 1 ¼ miles south of the Pilot Knob settlement and Colton settlement located southeast of Austin, Texas way out in the country located at the present intersection of FM 1625 & McKenzie Road. This school first started out as the Colton School. Colton School was the precursor to Pilot Knob School. (Ref: The Defender, 1936)
The Pilot Knob School building was built as an L-shaped building similar to the shape and form of a house 1892 on two acres of land. Cedar logs were used to construct the school. Lumber was donated by citizens. The Pilot Knob School was built as an L-shape building similar to the former Lamar School in Del Valle, Texas. This L-shaped building was a single story school building using an L-shape building plan. The building would later turn into a C-shape building. Sanitary needs were met with outhouses. 
The first school term for Pilot Knob School was 1892-1893 with a small student population of 15 students. Mrs. McKuen was the first teacher to teach at Pilot Knob School. 1893 is when 20 students attended this school. Enrollment grew within the first year. These students came from various rural areas, subdivisions, and neighborhoods in Travis County, Del Valle, and of course, Austin. However most students who attended Pilot Knob School were either from Austin, Del Valle, or Creedmoor.
Access for a public road connecting to Pilot Knob School to Olle Road and Creedmoor Highway (now FM 1625) was paved in 1898. This widened Creedmoor Highway and allowed more access for wagons and automobiles. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366617665/)
At first Pilot Knob School was a 1-6 school serving grades 1 through 6. There were no junior high schools/middle schools or high schools in the Pilot Knob School District. Senior high schools were not available in this school district. Pilot Knob School was a “white school” that served only white students. There were no “negro schools” that served African American students until the 1930s. African American students attended the “negro schools” in the following school districts of Elroy Common School District, Colorado Common School District, or Creedmoor Common School District.
For those students who wanted to complete their junior high school education and high school education past the 6th grade had to go into town in Austin or transfer to other school districts. Once students graduated Pilot Knob School, students would either transfer either to the Elroy Common School District, the Colorado Common School District, or transfer to the Creedmoor Common School District.
The settlement of Pilot Knob had its own school district called Pilot Knob School District also known as School District No. 67 aka School District #67 from 1892 to 1956 before being consolidated into Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle ISD). The school district went under names such as School District 67, District #67, District No. 67, and Pilot Knob Common School District.
Notable teachers to have taught at this school were John D. Foster, E. C. Kieke, Nan Gilbert, and Joe Sassman. Former pupil Joe Sassman became a school teacher and principal at Pilot Knob School. Miss Nan Gilbert was a well known notable teacher to have taught as Pilot Knob School.
Notable students who attended this school were Wilroy Kieke of the well known Kieke familiy, Mildred Sassman, Theo Smith, school teacher Marietta Cowan, Lois Kieke, and Joe Sassman just to name a few. Joe Sassman Sr. also received his education at Pilot Knob School along with his wife and relatives that lived in the area.
Population figures of 2 teachers and 99 students were reported in 1907. The school boasted a student population of 100 students in 1908. The 1907-1908 school semester faced growth in enrollment. 1907 and 1908 were the peak years for this school. 1908 is when Colton School became Pilot Knob School. This was also the year when Pilot Knob School was rebuilt. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366341902/)
County school superintendent Hartman predicted that the Pilot Knob School would be one of the best schools in Central Texas in the near future. Effort was being made to secure a second teacher. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366359065/)
“The children are of a bright and energetic class and deserve better advantages than they have been getting. The present school house, which is four years old, is one of the most substantially built and handsome in the county. Fifteen shady trees, which were planted last year, are growing on the school grounds and in a few years will add much to the attractiveness of the place. Superintendent Hartman predicts that the Pilot Knob School will in the near future be one of the best in Central Texas.”
Pilot Knob School was rebuilt into a new school for a cost of $2,000 dollars in 1918. The school was newly painted and repaired. 2 new additional rooms were constructed and added on. Miss Effle Whiteland was made principal replacing Prof. W. E. Davenport that year. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384430760/)
Mattie Mae Smith was principal of Pilot Knob School from 1919 to 1921. She served a term of two short years as principal before teaching at other schools. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/357889767/)
Construction was completed on the Pilot Knob Schoolhouse in 1929. The schoolhouse received a fresh new coat of paint and was rebuilt. Bonds were used to repair the school. “Pupils at Pilot Knob will move into a new school building next week. The school building has been under construction since the beginning of September and will be completed this week.” (Ref: Austin American, PILOT KNOB SCHOOL HOUSE IS COMPLETED, 1929)
Miss Nan Gilbert taught at the school from the mid 1934 to 1956. Miss Nan Gilbert was a well known notable teacher to have taught as Pilot Knob School. She served as one of the two teachers on campus. She had also served on the PTA.
Former pupil Joe Sassman became a school teacher and principal at Pilot Knob School in 1936. John D. Foster served as vice principal while Joe Sassman served as principal. When Joe Sassman served as a school teacher to fill in for a teacher who was absent, John D. Foster would serve as the school’s principal for that time. Joe Sassman served as school principal for Pilot Knob School from the late 1930s to 1956.
Pilot Knob School was a 1-8 school which educated students in grades 1 through 8 by 1936. School did not continue to 9th grade. Students who wanted to complete their junior high school education or high school education past the 8th grade had to go into town or transfer to other school districts. (Ref: The Defender, 1936)
1940 is when Pilot Knob School became Pilot Knob Elementary School educating students in grades 1 through 6 again from 1940 to 1956. Mrs. Joe Sassman and Mrs. J. D. Foster served on the PTA. Miss Nan Gilbert was made head teacher.
The Pilot Knob School underwent repairs in 1940. The repairs were modest in nature. Not too many were made though. Indoor plumbing was never added or equipped with this school. Outhouses still remained in use. An outhouse was added southeast of the school building. The school had no indoor toilet or electricity.
The women of Pleasant Hill School presented a play at Pilot Knob School House on the date of Friday, September 26, 1941. Proceeds from the play were divided between the two schoolhouses and were used to supplement foods for the lunchrooms. (Ref: Austin American, Play Will Be Presented, Thursday, September 26, 1941)
“The women of Pleasant Hill School will present a play at Pilot Knob School House Friday at 8 p. m. Proceeds from the play will be divided between the P.-T. A.'s of the two schools and will be used to supplement foods for the lunchrooms. Members of the cast will be Mesdames Donald Eberhart, Caroline Baugh, Thomas Euers, Walter Grimes, Cash Eberhart and Adolph Dittmar. Misses Lucille Dittmar, Mattie Jo Grimes and Helen Carson.”
The Pilot Knob School District held a special election for the levying of a tax to operate the school in 1949. The vote was 16 to 0 approving the issuance of $5,000 in bonds. Bond money was used for repairing the school. This was a $5,000 bond issue election. (Ref: Austin American, Pilot Knob Area Votes School Issues, 1949)
“Two school issues were approved by voters of the Pilot Knob Independent School District in a special election held Thursday by a vote of 17 to 0 for the levying of a tax to operate the school. The vote was 16 to 0 approving the issuance of $5,000 in bonds. Money from the bonds will be used to repair the schools. Work is scheduled to begin immediately.”
“A $5,000 bond issue election will be held Thursday by the Pilot Knob School District to finance remodeling of the district's two school buildings. Work will begin immediately if the bonds are voted, school officials said Wednesday. Inside painting and repairs would be completed when school starts Sept. 12 and outside work could continue with the buildings in use, officials said.”
The Pilot Knob School underwent repairs again in 1950. An outhouse was added northeast of the school building. The Colton School had merged into Pilot Knob School in 1950 which regulated in another addition to the school.
In 1956, Pilot Knob School District was consolidated into Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle Independent School District) due to dwindling tax revenue from decreasing property taxes, lack of funding, and lack of enrollment. It was mainly due to decreasing property taxes that rural school districts such as Pilot Knob, Creedmoor, Dry Creek, Niederwald, and Maha were consolidated into bigger school districts such as Del Valle ISD and Austin ISD.
Pilot Knob School was shut down in 1957. Pilot Knob School District was already shut down by then., The school building was used to store hay from 1957 to 1960.
Travis County Sheriff's Posse used the Pilot Knob Schoolhouse as their headquarters from 1960 to 1967. An outdoor stadium outdoor stadiums with a seating capacity for 7,000 people was built. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/358443487/)
“Today the posse headquarters reside on 20 acres of land off the Lockhart Road. Here, they have built one of the best outdoor stadiums in the state which seats about 7,000 people. The clubhouse is the transplanted Pilot Knob school house. The posse is a nonprofit organization and when called into service by the sheriff. The service is free to taxpayers of the city and county. The group has fought brush fires, helped with parades and livestock shows, helped keep order at county and state democratic conventions' and helped find lost persons.”
4.98 acres adjacent to the old Pilot Knob Elementary School were also bought as probable future construction sites for Del Valle ISD in 1967. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386603714/)
The Board of Trustees of the Del Valle Independent School District were taking sealed bids on two acres of land known as the Pilot Knob School in 1968. During this time is when the school sat vacant and underused. The Pilot Knob School sat abandoned for a period of time. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384866679/)
A chapter of the Future Farmers of America requested Del Valle Independent School District to allow them use the site of the former Pilot Knob School for FFA activities in 1971. Their approval took a year. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385222356/)
“The board is being requested to allow the Future Farmers of America chapter to use the site of the old Pilot Knob School for stock pens and other FFA activities.”
The Del Valle Independent School District school board approved designating the use of the old Pilot Knob School site for a vocational agriculture farm in 1972. So the Del Valle Independent School District school board began allowing the Future Farmers of America chapter to use old Pilot Knob School for agricultural purposes. The Future Farmers of America chapter began using the site of the old Pilot Knob School for stock pens and other FFA activities. Pilot Knob School had become a site for a vocational agriculture farm which lasted from 1972 to 1978. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/358019012/)
The Pilot Knob School campus and land property was vacant from 1978 until 1981. That is because 1981 is the year when Pilot Knob School was demolished.
A satellite school bus station at the old Pilot Knob School on McKenzie Road was added to ease congestion at the bus station at Del Valle High School and to reduce transport time for students in 1988. This is when the old Pilot Knob School became Del Valle ISD’s McKenzie Yard. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/364046375/)
“Neal said a satellite school bus station at the Old Pilot Knob School on McKenzie Road was added to ease congestion at the bus station at Del Valle High School, and to reduce transport time for students. Neal also said teachers and students will be spending more time in classrooms this fall due to transportation improvements. Instructional hours will be from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for elementary school students, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for junior and senior high school students. Registration for new students who will be in ninth or 10th grade is Wednesday from 8 to noon at Del Valle High School.”
Building contractors and landscaping companies paved over the former Pilot Knob School campus for a bus barn to be surveyed and laid out in 1995. Land was resurfaced and flattened the same year. This Del Valle ISD bus barn would become known as the “McKenzie Yard”. The “McKenzie Yard” serves as a parking lot for the Del Valle ISD buses. Several portables and trailers have been hauled onto the property. Trailers are now on this property.
The Pilot Knob School campus now operates as a bus barn for Del Valle ISD with a chain link fence that surrounds the property and is off limits to the public. This parcel of land is owned by Del Valle ISD.
Today there are no indications visible of proof that the school was built here. There are no remains left of the school. No visible remains are evident for proving that the school existed. Remnants of the school have been paved over. A parking lot for the Del Valle ISD buses currently lays over the remnants of Pilot Knob School.
Pilot Knob School was located at FM 1625 & McKenzie Road, Austin, Texas, US 78747.
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