ITEM NO. 2.15
NO ORDER ISSUED - DISCUSSION ON TRANSFER/OWNERSHIP "RESERVATION SCHOOL"
THE "RESERVATION SCHOOL" is an abandoned frame building which dates back to
the early 1900's. Building in need of repair, vulnerable to vandalism, and
time taking its toll. HARPER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE interested in restoring
and making it their Visitor's Center. Land is county owned (3/4 of an acre)
might want to sell it at action. (COMMISSIONER GRIFFIN)
COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE
REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: Larry Griffin
MEETING DATE: March 8, 1999
SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC)
OFFICE: Commissioner, Precinct 4
TIME PREFERRED:
Consider and discuss approval of the transfer of ownership of the "Reservation School
building to an appropriate entity in Harper, Texas to facilitate restoration and use by the Harpe
Chamber of Commerce.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT:
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Commissioner Griffin
10 minutes
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapt~
551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:
5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.

All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has bee
prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will Y
appreciated and contribute towards you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rulf
Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
GOMMERG~
P.O.BOX 308
• z _~9 ~S' S HARPER~TEXAS 78831
864-5656)
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PEOPLE PULLING TOGETHER! ~-~s• ~~~ ~~~°~'
WITH P081TIVE DIRECTlON6
' FnR SECURED COMMUNITY UVINGI
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A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE RESERVATION SCHOOL
The history of the Reservation SchtelfromrHenderson°AranchCOwhich~is desan
cild building mound to its first s Texas. This possil
cribed as some three or four miles Northwest of Ingram,
ly took place during the early 1890 years, and was first called the Corner
School. Reason for this name was that the building at the time was placed
so near the corners of Gillespie and Kerr CoWilliam Peril,sbetterl}inownnas
corners. At some period of time later a Mr. an referring to it as
Uncle Billy Peril to most all his Hegsurelynmust have been aware of a larc
the school up in the reservation. rson
scope of acreage encompassed with.a two or three wire fence by a Pe
named Suley Jackson. Mr. Jackson had fenced this area for his personal use
and it so happened the school building moved in was placed within this in-
closure, causing Mr. Peril to allude or refer to it as the school up in t}
reservation. There is also another valid reason to corroborate the existar
of this large tract of land being under fence, becauNames ofrthesenweres .
had acquired real estate within this inclosed area.
Mr. John Walker, Mr. W. W. Wells and Mr. Bill Clements, and they declare
surrounding fence was very much in evidence at the time of their arriva
for settlement there in the year 1889.
The name Reservation School must have become quite popular, for it was
given and recorded as such, and to this day is referred to lublictschool
as the Reservation. The original building served both as a p
a Baptist Church for its area until the year 1919. The school portion wG
relocated and moved some three and one-half miles to the Northwest in Ker
County at the confluence or meM~:nFritztRoos~rMrrsAntonrEsquellsa'ndneDrat
the time by Mr. Fend Tatscl'1,
Aierritt .
A new Reservation School building was erected at this site, and served a:
such for the school district through 1938-1939 school term. Next two
terms Reservation students were contracted and bussed to Harper ISD, and
voted to consolidate the district with the Harper district in the year l
Teachers as remembered and given for first location °ElizaoRo ers.(becam
Maude Kane (became Mrs. Charles Eddings), Nat Davis, g Charle
Mrs. Sylvester Parker), Mattie Caldwell (became Mrs. Roy NelsonRa, and
Deering 1907, Dovie Lamb, Eva Lamb, Vita Harmon, Veva Stroud, Ym
Rabke 1917-18, and Lyla Russell 1918-19.
Teachers and terms £or last location of Reservation School aces Clarenc
Edna Bode 1919-20, R. C. Long 1920-21, Clarence StClair 1921-22,
StClair and Etna Duderstadt 1922-23, Mary Orr and Letha Stone 1923-24,
Annie Louise Cox and Alice Chilton 1924-25, Albert Bierschwale and Annie
Maddox 1925-26, Herman Schultz and Mildred Rogers and Mrs. Everett Robei
1926-27, Carrel Herring and Annie Rae Ottmers 1927-28-29, Mr. and MrtheZ
Emmett Banta 1929-30, M. L. Flennigen and Hallie Hornbeck 1930-31,
Stockard and Maryellen Keithley 1931-32-33, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond LandrulT
1933-34, Mr.~and Mrs. Emil Hopf 1934-35-36, and Mr. and Mrs. Roland Tai
1936-37-38-39.
Acknowledge with grateful appreciation these two somas of above mentione~
John tdalker, Olin and Weldon that did remember much from their father as
they themselm skindf ofnlratefulnesslto Alicelphillips~ Fred Duderstadt•
Also this sa 9
and others for their research, and also for information from Levi Ke si:
Ola ?tae Hopf and Ruby Hopf on history of last location for the RESER~T
~-
In 1919, the school was re-located to the Ferd Tatsch ranch.
This was a practice in early years--to move schools to a more
concentration of pupils. The school continued until consolida-
tion with Harper in 1941.
Seated: Jesus Pruneda, Cecil Bode, Carl Oehler, R.E. Peril,
Louis Fritz, Monroe Kensing, Chester Oehler, Victorano Pruneda,
Roy Bierschwale, Elgin Esquell.
2nd Row: Ruby Kott, Laura Oehler, Hazel Fritz, Louise Esquell,
Louise Leyendecker, Hallis Bode, Alice Kensing, Lydia Roeder,
Johanna Itz, Ola Mae Peril, Fred Duderstadt.
3rd & 4th Row: Leo Bode, Hilmar Leyendecker, Thekla Esquell,
Mateo Pruneda, Lois Duderstadt, Ervin Ahrens, Winnie Whaley,
Herbie Oehler, Norma Itz, Victor Marschall, Lena Oehler, Albert
Bierschwale, Teacher, Guenther Ahrens, Levi Kensing, Annie
Maddox, MIlton Blount, Floy Bode.
Photo and history courtesy: Floy Bode
4

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The "Reservation School" is an abandoned frame building which dates back to the early
1900's. The building is in a sad state of repair and vulnerable to vandalism and the
ravages of time. The Harper Chamber of Commerce has offered to move the building
to Harper, restore it, and use it as a Visitor's Center. As the quid pro quo the Chamber
will clean up the site after the building is moved. The county owns the land (about'/. of
an acre) and might want to consider selling it at auction.
Larry Griffin
Reservation School BU.doc
312!99