Devotion School is one of the many forgotten schools of Del Valle and Travis County. Not so much history is known about this particular institute of education and religion. This school was also used a church were religious services were held. Devotion School was one of the negro schools of Travis County. Devotion School was located 3 miles west of Garfield, Texas on Highway 71.
Devotion School was built in on land owned by Thomas Pratt Washington, Mrs. Elizabeth Tate (Harris) Washington, and R. F. Jones just less than 4 blocks away at Southeast Metro Park from Norwood Gin which was located on Norwood Lane in Del Valle, Texas. A water well was drilled on the Norwood Gin which had provided water for Devotion School and Colorado School No. 3 (Colorado Colored School #3) for many years. (Ref: Travis County Road Book 1898-1905)
Devotion School was established and built as a white barrack shaped single story building that was a one-room school building similar to Sprinkle Negro School. Not many people know this but, Devotion School a precursor of Garfield Negro School before it was named “Garfield Negro School”. They were both the same building which is why these schools bare similarities.
Devotion School educated black students in the Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle ISD). Garfield Negro School. The one-room school building educated students in grades 1 through 7. 8th grade students and older students attended Kealing Junior High School (now Kealing Middle School) in Austin.
Devotion School was established as a private school on the Washington plantation in Del Valle, Texas around 1845. As per the 1850 census, the Washingtons had 6 (of 10 total) children in 1850, 5 of which were school age. Mrs. Washington was indeed "teaching neighbor children as well as her own" prior to 1850. One source says the Devotion School was receiving public funds from the State of Texas by 1878. (Ref: https://traviscountyhistorical.blogspot.com/2020/11/devotion-school-southeast-metro-park.html)
Devotion School dates predates 1889 as Devotion School was referenced in one of the cemetery deeds in Southeast Metro Park in 1889 and when the school was deeded to Travis County in 1892. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, Deed Record 87, Page 242).
1892 marked the transition of Devotion School from operating as a private school to operating as a public school. Mrs. Elizabeth Tate (Harris) Washington was deeded Devotion School to Travis County in 1892. This led Travis County Public Schools (Travis County Common School District) to own and operate Devotion School. Mrs. Elizabeth Tate (Harris) Washington was the wife of Thomas Pratt Washington. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, Deed Record 104, Page 201).
Austin Statesman stated that enrollment was steadily increasing during the beginning of the 20th century right around 1900s. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 8, Wednesday, November 20, 1901)
“The enrollment and popularity of the Devotion School is steadily increasing. Its patrons realize the importance of judicious moral training and strict discipline in school and in the family. The Devotion School opened with good attendance.”
“The attendance of the Devotion School has increased 100 per cent. Some people's prejudice and opposition to good discipline cause them to raise their children in idleness and ignorance.”
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63664032/1901-devotion-school-garfield/)
The Austin American-Statesman newspaper and Travis County Public Schools called Devotion School “one of nicest and best public schools in the county” in 1900. So this newspaper article accredited Devotion School as being one of the nicest and best public negro schools in Travis County. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/359057242/)
“The Devotion school opened up Monday with a full attendance. We have one of the nicest and best public schools in the county.”
Repairs and other improvements were made to the Devotion School House in 1901. Comfort was added to the appearance of exteriors. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 6, Thursday, October 24, 1901)
“The material is on the ground with which to repair the Devotion school house. It will add to its comfort and appearance, and also be the means of keeping out those who attend schools outside of school hours. It is a finable offense to deface a public building in any way, and should be rigidly enforced in every instance.”
The enrollment and popularity of the Devotion School was steadily increasing by the closure of 1901 as stated in the American-Statesman newspaper. Enrollment had been growing since the beginning of the 20th century. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366291910/)
“The enrollment and popularity of the Devotion school is steadily increasing. Its patrons realize the importance of judicious moral training and strict discipline in school and in the family.”
However Devotion School shut down at the closing of 1901 for unknown reasons despite the increasing enrollment and increasing popularity with citizens of Del Valle. Now the Austin American-Statesman newspaper claimed Devotion School shut down for the holidays. “The Devotion school has closed for the holidays.” The school was shut down for a course of several months instead of lapsing 2 weeks. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366298992/)
However Devotion School would reopen in April 1902 with a good attendance rate as stated in the Austin American-Statesman. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/359470222/)
“The Devotion public school reopened Monday with a good attendance. There is a great lack of political enthusiasm on the part of our prominent and leading citizens. We feel inclined to turn over the primaries to the negroes, Mexicans and other opponents of democracy, and vote for those who favor the preservation of order and the enforcement of the law as our only alternative to uphold the right and to suppress, as far as possible, political corruption.”
The Devotion School was shut down in 1908 and relocated closer to Garfield, Texas. The school consolidated with Haynie Chapel School and Garfield School. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, OLD DEVOTION SCHOOL Building and Grounds to Be School Consolidated and Sold, Page 8, Thursday, May 14, 1908)
“The county commissioners yesterday authorized the trustees of School District No. 85 to sell the old Devotion School House and land. This school has recently been consolidated with the Haynie Chapel School and a larger and better school established at Haynie Chapel. The money derived from the sale will, it is understood, be used for school improvements in the district.”
OLD DEVOTION SCHOOL. Building and Grounds to Be School Consolidated. Sold.
The county commissioners yesterday authorized the trustees of School District No. 85 to sell the old Devotion school house and land. This school has recently been consolidated with the Haines Chapel School and a larger and better school established at Haines Chapel. The money derived from the sale will. It is understood, be used for school improvements in the district.
1909 is the year when Devotion School changed its name into Garfield Negro School. Its name was changed to Garfield School later in honor of US President James A. Garfield. The citizens were well receptive to the idea of renaming the school. Devotion School would eventually be consolidated into Colorado Common School District #36 in 1909. (Ref: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/historical_commission/Doc/Histroical_Reports/map.pdf)
Ratio of Garfield Negro School was 41 students per teacher during the 1933-1934 term. Garfield School was a two-teacher school with 41 students per teacher and 31 students attending school daily. Garfield Negro School had been operating as a 1-7 school educating students in grades 1 through 7. Classes were for 120 days and the teachers were paid for 6 months. The cost per year was $1,456, an average of $32.35 per student per year. (Ref: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/historical_commission/Doc/Histroical_Reports/aa_rural_schools_30-40.pdf)
Later on the school district employed 2 additional teachers to teach at the Garfield Negro School.
The Garfield schools and original Garfield Negro School itself was consolidated into Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle Independent School District) in 1954 following the school consolidation movement in Texas. Classes continued in 1954. The school received 3 new teachers in 1956. Garfield Negro School integrated into Garfield White School (Garfield School) and Garfield School had operated thereout until the 1967-1968 school year when Del Valle ISD decided to closed the school due to loss of property tax revenue and lack of funding.
The Travis County Historical Commission requested help from citizens who had information regarding/known about Devotion School in a newspaper article printed in the Austin American-Stateman in 1979. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 105, Thursday, March 15, 1979)
“The Travis County Historical Commission requested help from citizens who have any information that is known about the Devotion School in a news article printed in the Austin American-Statesman. The Travis County Historical Commission would like to have any information that is known on the Devotion School believed to have been in an area southeast of IH-35. Try 477-8570, Ina Ray Smith, commission cemetery coordinator or this correspondent.”
On June 7, 2010, the Garfield Negro School building was merged into the original Garfield White School (Garfield School) building and was transformed into the Garfield Library.
Today the Devotion School aka Garfield Negro School serves as Garfield Library and the Garfield White School (Garfield School) serves as the Hit The Spot Cafe. The school has been split in half into 2 businesses with the left half being Hit The Spot Cafe and the right half being Garfield Library. Garfield Library operates under East Travis Gateway Library District. 
Devotion School was originally located somewhere on Highway 71 (SH 71) in Del Valle, Texas, US. Today Devotion School aka Garfield Negro School sits at the location of 5121 Albert Brown Drive, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617. Which is where Garfield Library and Hit The Spot Cafe are located.
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