Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/24/1990 - Regular Minutes - Historic Preservation Committee HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1990, 7:00 PM CENTRAL PARK CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Halter, Chairman; Joan Lampkin, Lois Beach, Les Hawkins. STAFF PRESENT: Charles = 'Szabuniewicz, Special Facilities Superintendent; Emily Baker, Secretary. L CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gary Halter at 7:10 pm. IL APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Lois motioned that the minutes be approved; Joan seconded; minutes approved. IIL REVIEW OF COLLEGE STATION HISTORIC HOMES APPLICATION PROCESS: Charlie called up Southwell and they will ship the plaques next week. They will ship 39 of the house and 11 of the building. Gary suggested we get some publicity for this. Lois said we need to send the draft copy of the markers to Joan Rabins for approval. The board suggested that we get Joan Rabins to serve on our committee. There was discussion on the Sears houses and whether to put markers on them. Les said that the owners of the Dogtrot Log Cabin might be willing to either sell or donate it. The board suggested that if they did donate it to the city, we could take it apart and put it back up at Central Park. After Emily makes a few corrections on the application, Les motioned to approve it to send to Joan Rabin for her comments. Joan seconded the motion. Charlie suggested that the first building plaque be presented to Cafe Excel where the first City Hall was. Cafe Excel is leasing the building from the city. Charlie said he would talk to the owner and let him know what we would like to do. The marker would be paid for by the city. Gary said he would like some old pictures of the old City Hall be put up at the new City Hall. When the plaques arrive, Gary and Charlie will meet and discuss some publicity for the first plaque unveiled. Lois thought Cathy Locke should see the application before we send it out. Gary said he would meet with her. W. DISCUSSION OF HISTORIC HOMES GUIDE BROCHURE: Gary said we should have the brochure ready when the markers are ready. Lois suggested we display them both at the Conference Center Christmas Open House. Gary presented the draft brochure to the County Historical Committee and said that it was well received and that other towns were considering a brochure. V. DISCUSSION OF PRIORITY FOR FUTURE STATE MARKER RESEARCH: Lincoln High School and the Shiloh Community /Cemetery already have markers approved. The Railroad Station would have a site marker. Gary said it would take approximately 6 months for it to be approved by the county and state. The 1st City Manager Government marker would be a good topic for a political science or historical student. Easterwood Airport would be another project for a student. Gary will write a letter to Chancellor Adkins regarding it. Gary has permission from the church to proceed with Rock Prairie School. He also wants to the Nances and the Arnolds to look at it. First A &M Consolidated is the new Conference Center and would get a site marker for the first school site. The committee decided against a marker for the Bonfire. Gary said he would talk to Larry Hill, head of History Department and propose the idea to him to his history majors to research these. Lois said that when we have the Shiloh marker maybe we should mention the Kapchinski's for publicity. She said that 5 generations of Kapchinski men lived on the property that HEB bought. Gary suggested getting old photographs of the school architect. Joan suggested we decide on some sites that we could take photographs of so when they change, we will have something to look back on. VL ABM CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT MARKER NARRATIVE The committee had some corrections and recommendations of the narrative for Gary to take to the county. VII. OTHER BUSINESS/BOARD CONCERNS: Charlie said the 1991 calendar should be out before Thanksgiving. The committee decided to have a presentation of the markers and brochures for the Christmas Open House and the Conference Center. Les passed out a list of private homes of the Past and Acting Past Presidents of A &M. Les also said he was making a booklet with a list of interesting personalities and said he needed some newsworthy things to include. Gary suggested getting Insite Magazine to cover that plus our marker and brochure information. He also suggested talking to Sharon Colson and Lois suggested the Brazos Report. The Eagle could also be helpful. Our next meeting will be on November 14th but we will skip the December meeting and meet again in January 1991. VIII. ADJOURN: Gary adjourned the meeting at 8:30 pm. eb Texas Historical Commission Staff (CJB), 9/13/90 27" x 42" Official Texas Historical Marker with post Brazos County (Job #07390) Location: 2118 Welsh, College Station A &M COLLEGE CONSOLIDATED RURAL SCHOOL* THE STATE OF TEXAS GRANTED A CHARTER FOR AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'TO ENCOMPASS THE TEXAS A &M COLLEGE CAMPUS IN 1909. THERE WAS NOT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT A SCHOOL. COLLEGE PRESIDENT WILLIAM BIZZELL AND PROFESSOR MARTIN HAYES, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL TEACHING, PERSUADED THE LEADERS OF THREE SURROUNDING COMMON SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO A NEW SCHOOL TO BE LOCATED ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS. THE NEW SCHOOL OPENED IN 1920 WITH 304 STUDENTS. IT WAS SUPPORTED BY A &M COLLEGE WITH FUNDING FOR BUILDINGS, TEACHER SALARIES, FURNITURE, AND EQUIPMENT. IT BECAME A MODEL FOR RURAL SCHOOLS IN THE AREA, AND BY 1928 THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFICIALLY DISSOLVED AND MERGED WITH A &M COLLEGE CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. BY 1938 THE SCHOOL FACILITIES HAD BECOME OVERCROWDED. THE COLLEGE WAS NOT ABLE TO INCREASE ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSTITUTION SO THE SCHOOL MOVED AWAY FROM THE A &M CAMPUS IN 1940. WITH THE MOVE CAME THE GENESIS OF THE COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.** (1990) * ** * 1/2 inch lettering to contrast with text ** 1/2 inch lettering * ** 1/4 inch lettering (Corrections & Recommendations by Historical Preservation Committee) APPLICATION FOR A TEXAS STATE HISTORIC SITE MARKER FOR THE ROCK PRAIRIE SCHOOL AND CHURCH COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS The education of school aged children in much of rural America in the 19th and early 20th Century was conducted in small, often one - roomer school houses with all grades attending. While many of these school houses have disappeared from the landscape,a few remain in public use today. One such building in the Rock Prairie Baptist Church located on Rock Prairie Road In College Station, Texas. Donation of the Land by Adam Royder A Deed recorded, Brazos County 1 indica't that on August 28, 1891, Adam Royder conveyed to E. Gandy, J.H. McGregor and William Symms, trustees of the Wellborn School District, Brazos County, Texas one acre of land for the purposes of building a school VW" house or church to be used by the "American People." Adam Royder d �' was a prominent citizen of the community who had emigrated from Bavaria, Germany with his widowed mother Barbara Royder (a o spelled Reuther, Reuter) as a member of the Prince de ms Colony. They originally settled in the present town of M n. He was married to Mary Ambrella Price by Harvey Mitchell in 1852 and they moved to the Rock Prairie Community. Mr. Royder lived there until his death on March 4, 1894. 2 It should also be noted that Adam and Mary Ambrella Price Royder had seven children, and a second marriage by Adam Royder to Barbara Ellen Harrell produced eleven children. Of the 18 children, 15 lived to be adults. Adam Royder was an active Mason and the Adam Royder Masonic Lodge No. 778 in Wellborn was named for him. 3 Use As A School House In the 1890's a one room school house was onstructed the Rock Prairie site donated by Mr. Royder and j11 one of a few such buildings still in general use today in Brazos C nty. The building was also in use as a church during this time period and was an integral part of the Rock Prairie co unity which consisted of a general merchandise store and a ONOWID mill. 4 Elizabeth Atkins Barron has the following reflection about the community. "I moved to the Rock Prairie Community when I was in the second grade (about 1914). The enrollment at the Rock Prairie School was aboqt 12 to 15 pupils. Mrs. Ida Todd Carroll was my teacher. We had some desks in the one room and we also sat on benches. When I was in the fourth grade, Mrs. Gladys Barron (later Mrs. Hugh Dowling) became the teacher *. Some of the pupils who attended the Rock Prairie School were children from the Barron, Todd, Shaw, Carroll, Grandy, Atkins, Williams, Sebesta, Zak, Higgins and Royder families. I also attended chu ch in this building. A In -1919 the Brazos County School District combined he Shiloh School District and the Rock Prairie School and form -. the Rock Prairie - Shiloh Consolidated Common School District 13 (Shirock School) in order that a high school might be fo .red. This was done so that the 8th through llth grades could •e taught. The appointed trustees were J.A. Grandy, Tom Sebesta, Victor Boriski. Rev. Eclar Smith was one of the teachers that is remembered by many of his studen He also preached at the Rock Prairie Baptist Church. The Roc Prairie School building is still standing in itfes original 1. ation. Nearby was the store owned by Mr. Burt Carroll and the mill where the families of the surrounding area brought their corn to have it ground into meal. The store and mill are no longer there." 5 The Building Much of the original building is still n place as are some of the hand -sawed pine church pews w V -cu feet and slats that form a contoured seat. The origin pulpit, of similar primitive design is still in use. The 29 f by 40 feet six inch building rests on wooden piers and the original building had a pine clap board siding. the ceiling and interior walls are covered with "beaded" pine tongue and groove planks. The building was designed with double entry doors and large windows on each side and in the rear wall to allow ventilation. During the 1970's a new ceiling, aluminum windows and vinyl siding were installed to improve the energy efficiency of the building. Until the 1950's, when a gas heater was installed, the building was heated by a wood heater. Also, at about this time period, window air conditioners were installed to replace the ceiling fans, open windows and funeral parlor advertisement fans. A steeple was added to the original building in 1982. It was erected by the Arnold family in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs Henry Freeman Arnold, long time members of the church. In 1984 the Rock Prairie Baptist church expanded on the original site, building a new building and Sunday School facility to accommodate its growing congregation. The original church- school house was left in place and is still used. Formation of the Rock Prairie Baptist Church The Rock Prairie Missionary Baptist Church was organized with a membership of 44 persons on June 10, 1900,by a community group assembled at the school house for that ,pureose. Elder G.A. Foster and Elder S.C. Martin spoke on the need to form and the views of the Missionary Baptist Church. ' Thirteen of the first members came to membership by letter from the Missionary Baptist Churches in Brazos and Grimes County, Texas. Adam Royder's widow, - 2 - • Barbara Ellen Harrell Royder, was elected charter member. Mr. P.L. Barron was elected church pro -tem at the June meeting and it was decided that the group was to "reassemble on Saturday, prior to the second Sunday of July, at eleven o'clock a.m., being Jul 7, 1900 A.D.i8 g y On July 7,1900 Mr. A. J. Tabor, Jr. was elected church clerk, and a committee was appointed to select two deacons. At the October, 1900 Assembly, Mr. A.J. Tabor Jr. and Mr. S.I. Lee were elected deacons, with P.L. Barron serving as church clerk and Elder G.C. Foster serving as the first itinerant pastor, with a salary of $50.00 per year. 10 Rev. J.M. Bullock was elected pastor in 1902 and the church met once a month for many years. It appears that,in the beginning, both a Saturday evening and Sunday morning were devoted to services and business. A Sunday School was organized in January of 1907. 11 From the records, it seems that the church went through periods of time when it was not active on a regular basis; during the 1920's and again between 1938 and 1947. Since 1947 the church has held weekly services. From 1947 until the late 1960's the congregation was pastored by student pastors from Texas A &M College (University), Baylor University and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Among those serving were Reverends Newton V. Cole, Tom Young, William R. Cardin and Floyd Haddox. Only in the last few years has a full time pastor served the congregation. Many descendants of the Adam and Mary Ambrella Price Royder and Aday and Barbara Ellen Harrell Royder still reside in Brazos County and some are still members of the Church, extending its history back some 90 years. -- Notes -- 1. Record of Deeds, Vol. W., page 427 2. Genealogy Records of the Royder Family, in the possession of Mrs Virginia Jones Parson, Great - Granddaughter of Adam and Mary Ambrella Price Royder. 3. Ibid. 4. Oral interview with L.N. Marquart, Bryan, Texas, 10/3/82. Conducted by Mary Arnold McCulloch 5. Interview with Elizabeth Atkins Barron, Bryan, Texas, 5/15/84 by Mary Arnold McCulloch 6. Mary Arnold McCulloch, History of Rock Prairie Schoolhouse /Church, Brazos County, Texas, Unbublished document, July, 1984. 7. Minutes of Rock Prairie Baptist Church, June 10, 1900, Book I. 8. Ibid. - 3 - 9. Minutes Rock Prairie Baptist Church, July 7, 1900, Book I. 10. Minutes Rock Prairie Baptist Church, October, 1900, Book I 11. Minutes Rock Prairie Baptist Church, January, 1907, Book I. - 4 - �A E0 1-._ ,,,-' '7• -1 )2, cf p 4 :.,.- 14 ,_ ., 4 A 7. ,' - '- CURTIS TUNNEL!. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION P.O. BOX 12276 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 (512)463 -6100 November 6, 1990 Dr. Charles Schultz 1200 Goode College Station, TX 77840 RE: A &M COLLEGE CONSOLIDATED RURAL SCHOOL 27 "X42" subject marker w/ post Dear Dr. Schultz: This is to advise you that we have ordered the above referenced marker for casting. The completed marker should be ready for shipment within eight to ten weeks A copy of the final inscription as it was sent to the foundry is enclosed for your files. If you have not already done so, this would be a good time to begin planning the mark- er dedication ceremony. We would advise you, however, to avoid setting the dedication date to coincide with the shipment date as estimated above. That estimate dces not take into account potential shipping errors or other unforeseeable delays, which might upset the best laid dedication plans. A guide to assist you with your dedication plans is available upon request from our office. Since this is a state program, we suggest your state representative and /or senator be included in the program as well as your county judge and commissioners who have appointed your commission. Enclosed please find a form for announcing the date of your marker dedication ceremony in the THC's monthly newsletter, The Medallion. Please read the form carefully, as notice must be made well in advance of the scheduled dedication in order to appear in the preservation calendar. We would appreciate having copies of any publicity, programs, photos, or other memora- bilia from the ceremony to complete our file on this marker. Thank you for your con- tinued support and good work toward the preservation of the history of our state. Sincerely, . 4 9- 1A/K . 42,,f/DCJbUt,k , Frances Rickard, Director State Marker Program FR /bb cc: Dr.Ray Chancellor Steve Beachy C /' n (A ,-1 /1- .,,,, ff.., C77;; ♦ fn 71/' 1 07, ,, ,,, , ,T, elfin n ` Texas Historical Commission Staff (CJB), 9/13/90, revised 10/18/90 27" x 42" Official Texas Historical Marker with post Brazos County (Job #07390) Location: 2118 Welsh, College Station A &M COT T EGE CONSOT RURAL SCHOOL* THE STATE OF 'TEXAS GRANTED A CHARTER FOR AN INDEPEN- DENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENCOMPASS THE TEXAS A&M COLLEGE CAMPUS IN 1909,BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT A SCHOOL,A&M PRESIDENT WILLIAM BIZZELL AND PROFESSOR MARTIN HAYES,HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL TEACHING, PERSUADED THE LEADERS OF THREE SURROUNDING COMMON SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS TO A NEW SCHOOL TO BE LOCATED ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS, THE NEW SCHOOL OPENED IN 1920 WITH 304 STUDENTS, IT WAS SUPPORTED BY A&M COLLEGE WITH FUNDING FOR BUILDINGS,TEA HER SATAR ES, FURNITURE, AND EQUIPMENT, IT BECAME A MODEL FOR RURAL SCHOOLS IN THE AREA, AND BY 1928 THE SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFI- CIALLY DISSOLVED AND MERGED WITH A&M COLLEGE CON- SOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, BY 1938 THE SCHOOL FACILITIES HAD BECOME OVER - CROWDED,BECAUSE THE COTTFGE WAS NOT ABLE TO IN- CREASE ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSTITUTION ,THE SCHOOL MOVED OFF OF THE A&M CAMPUS IN 1940,WITH THE MOVE CAME THE GENESIS OF THE COLLEGE STATION INDE- PENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, ** (1990) * ** *1/2 inch lettering to contrast with text * *1/2 inch lettering * * *1/4 inch lettering