Langtry School
Langtry, Val Verde County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The first Langtry School was built on this site prior to 1900. A 1911 school building had a bell to summon children to class and the community to Sunday School. The academic year typically lasted six months or less, with reading, writing, civics and math as the the main subjects. In 1934 the present schoolhouse was built for ten grades under one roof. The auditorium hosted many school, church and social activities. In the 1950s, Pumpville school consolidated with Langtry, which in turn closed in 1972 when students started attending Comstock. The historic schoolhouse, renamed Vashti Skiles Community Cenyer for Langtry's longtime teacher, remains a focal point of the historic town. (2008)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The first Langtry school stood on this site before 1900, and a 1911 building carried a bell that called children to class and neighbors to Sunday school. In this remote corner of west Texas the academic year often ran six months or less, covering reading, writing, civics, and arithmetic. The present schoolhouse, built in 1934 for ten grades, later absorbed Pumpville's students, closed in 1972, and now serves as a community center named for longtime teacher Vashti Skiles.
Why it matters
It preserves the story of the one-building frontier school, the civic heart of countless small western towns.
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Related people
- · Vashti Skiles
Themes & tags
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