Site of Rocksprings' First School Building
Rocksprings, Edwards County, Texas
Marker Inscription
First school session in new town of Rocksprings was held in a frame house surrounded by a strong rock wall, in winter of 1891-92. Teachers were a Mr. Cole and a Mr. Vaughn (whose strong voice served instead of a bell to call "Books"). Pupils came from families of Abner Benton, a Mr. Buswell, John Campbell, Charlie Cooper, Julian Gill, West Hill, O. W. Holmes, George Maul, J. R. Sanford, Reuben Stewart, J. R. Sweeten, and Ira Wheat. This school was succeeded by the Gem City Academy, which had 111 students in its second term. (1972)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The new town of Rocksprings held its first school session in the winter of 1891-92 in a frame house ringed by a stout rock wall, where a teacher's booming voice served as the bell to call "Books." This first school soon gave way to the Gem City Academy, which enrolled 111 students by its second term.
Why it matters
The quick rise from a one-room school to an academy shows how frontier communities prized education as a foundation of permanence.
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Themes & tags
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