School's out for our family, so I thought I would share a couple of photos from the old one-room Turtle Creek School. The board and batten school building is located on Upper Turtle Creek Road some eight miles south of Kerrville.
This is the second Turtle Creek school. The original school opened in 1869 in an old windowless log cabin. This larger building was erected in the mid-1880s. In 1900 it was expanded and a stage added. Students attended through 7th grade, then went to Kerrville. Classes were held here until 1958 at which time the trustees voted to close the school and send all the students to Kerrville.
The school sits on a bluff above Turtle Creek. The water source for many years was a spring at the base of the bluff. Boys were assigned the task of climbing down to collect water in buckets for the students' use during the day.
For many decades it was only public building in the community, so was used for social events, church services, and elections. It served as a voting place for about 120 years. Today it continues to serve as a community center.
One group that has met here on occasion is Turtle Creek Sewing Circle, which was organized in 1926 and is thought to be the oldest social club in Kerr County.
One group that has met here on occasion is Turtle Creek Sewing Circle, which was organized in 1926 and is thought to be the oldest social club in Kerr County.
Asking for help to find a photo of the painted stage curtain used on the stage at Turtle Creeks School. Have been told the curtain is stored in the Kerr County Courthouse during time of former Commissioner Buster Baldwin. Working on a book about painted school curtains in Gillespie County and neighboring counties for Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools, Jane Woellhof, Dir at Large with Friends GCCS (Ron Woellhof)
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