Cox Springs School Restoration Society

Please help save this historic structure.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO RESTORE A PIECE OF TEXAS HISTORY.

A one-room school started in 1885 in the small farm & ranch community above the shore of the Colorado River north of Austin Texas. River flooding caused it to be moved to new quarters toward today’s town of Lago Vista near Cox Hollows Springs in 1908. It burned down in 1927, but the American Legion raised funds to have it rebuilt immediately.

Local children were taught in the little schoolhouse at that location until Mansfield Dam was built. The new Lake Travis flooded orchards, farms & ranches and the school lost the majority of its students to relocation.

In 1941, with rising waters behind the dam reaching toward the school, two local ranchers got together to move the building to higher ground on Old Burnet Road, where it sits today. It continued to operate as the local school to children in grades 1-10 until 1959, when new schools were opened in Lago Vista. Generations of local Texans were schooled over many decades in the Cox Springs Schoolhouse.

The old building sat on the Cedar stumps that it was placed on for 80 years. It was sadly in need of repair to keep it from collapsing in the next big storm, or just through the ravages of time. 

Citizens in Lago Vista & adjacent Jonestown community have banded together to develop a plan to save this great piece of local, Texas & American history. The group has adopted the name "Cox Springs School Restoration Society". So far, they've secured the building, applied for historical status, have received IRS designation as an official 501-(c)(3) nonprofit entity... and undertaken engineering plans to solidify & restore the old school. Leveling and placement of a new substructure was completed in July 2021 with funds collected to date. Thank you!

THEN, with additional fundraising & volunteer efforts, the site was "Firewise" cleared of underbrush & dead trees... AND the exterior of the old building was repaired, the porches replaced, and all painted. We have just completed replacement of the 11 windows with historically accurate replicas.

With donations to date, we’ve re-electrified the schoolhouse, added ADA sidewalk, connected water & built a DONOR WALL…. Ready to accept your personalized commemorative brick!

Your help is needed in funding the next step in saving the structure: interior repair, and site access work. Now that the building is solidified on a new foundation, the restoration effort on the interior can take place. We anticipate floor, ceiling and wall repair... then furnishing with antique student & teacher desks. We need to provide ADA accommodation, & provide outside facilities, security, & ongoing maintenance.

The next steps will involve many volunteer & professional contractor efforts. This work is urgent, so timing for contributions is immediate.

Your help will be greatly appreciated by the community, the descendants of those who attended school in this historic building, and should give you personal pride in saving a gem of Texas history.

DONOR RECOGNITION

 

DONOR Categories

Bronze: Gifts up to $499

Silver: Gifts between $500-$999

Gold: Gifts between $1,000-$1,999

Platinum: Gifts between $2,000-$3,999

Benefactors: Gifts above $4000

Recognition Types:

• All get recognized on web media

• All get recognized on a “donor wall” located at the school

• Silver and above can have a CUSTOM ENGRAVED BRICK in the Donor Wall.

• Benefactors receive special separate recognition at the school

 

DONATE TODAY! Be part of local & Texas HISTORY!