Pease School Building
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
THE AUSTIN GRADED SCHOOL HOUSE WAS DEDICATED ON OCT. 28, 1876. THE BUILDING, ON THIS SITE ORIGINALLY SET ASIDE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES BY THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS IN 1839, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN TEXAS BUILT ENTIRELY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS. THE THREE-STORY LIMESTONE SCHOOL CONTAINED 12 ROOMS AND SERVED 200 STUDENTS. LATER CALLED WEST AUSTIN SCHOOL, THE BUILDING WAS BADLY DAMAGED BY A MAY 1896 FIRE. IT WAS REBUILT WITH TWO ADDITIONAL ROOMS, WITH THE ORIGINAL WALLS FORMING THE CENTRAL PART OF THE RENOVATION. IN 1902, THE SCHOOL WAS RENAMED FOR FORMER GOVERNOR ELISHA M. PEASE. ADDITIONS WERE MADE IN 1916 AND 1926, BY AUSTIN ARCHITECTS DENNIS R. WALSH AND HUGO KUEHNE, RESPECTIVELY. THE BRICK AND CAST STONE EXTERIOR EXHIBITS A SIMPLIFIED CLASSICAL STYLE ARCHITECTURE.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Dedicated in 1876 on ground the Republic of Texas had set aside for education back in 1839, the Austin Graded School House was one of the first Texas schools built entirely with public funds. The three-story limestone building held twelve rooms and served 200 students until an 1896 fire; rebuilt around its original walls, it was renamed in 1902 for former Governor Elisha M. Pease. Later additions by architects Dennis R. Walsh and Hugo Kuehne expanded the simplified classical building still in use.
Why it matters
Pease School represents the rise of tax-supported public education in Texas, a cornerstone of civic life carried forward on land dedicated for schooling since the republic.
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Related people
- · Elisha M. Pease
- · Dennis R. Walsh
- · Hugo Kuehne
Themes & tags
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