Save the Myrtle Springs, Texas School Building

Team fundraiser

Bill Rusk and Tresea Stringer are organizing this fundraiser to benefit Myrtle Springs Alumni Association.

Tax deductible

The Myrtle Springs School Community Center, which has long-served a small unincorporated community in East Texas, was at risk of closing due to it's 32-year-old roof that was leaking badly. Thanks to generous donations through this GoFundMe site and other fund-raising events, we were successful in installing a new roof in October of 2021.

While the building's future looks much brighter, there's still much work to be done. The Association board is now turning its focus on the next most critical repairs of repairing floor areas that are dangerous trip-hazards and leveling and repairing the foundation.

With these repairs, the building will be fully restored to normal Community Center's functions of serving the largely impovished citizens in the community.

Our organization, the “Myrtle Springs Alumni Association, a 501(c)(3) charity, continues to raise money to repair and restore the building through this GoFundMe site as well as garage sales, bazaars, and reunion dinners.

The primary mission of our Association is to preserve the 91-year-old historic Myrtle Springs School Building and make it and the entire 6-acre property available at no cost to the largely impoverished community and all other Van Zandt County citizens for use as a community center, public park, playground, and baseball field.

The old building is a treasured historic landmark for Texas and Van Zandt County. It contains a library and museum in one of the building’s former classrooms that showcases educational artifacts of the past including historical books, albums, photos, trophies, and equipment. It’s important that these items, as well as the building, are preserved so that future generations can appreciate their heritage through learning the history of the previous school and surrounding area.

A very important amenity provided by the Community Center is its six acres of grounds consisting of a baseball field, playground, and park. Neighborhood children are often found competing in impromptu baseball games and playing on the park’s slide, swings, merry-go-round, climbing bars, and see-saws, or enjoying the basketball goal and volleyball net.

The old wood-frame structure, with its large auditorium, classic stage, and large well-equipped kitchen, has long-served the community as a venue for public gatherings, annual reunions, genealogical meetings, family reunions, weddings, baby and wedding showers, potlucks, plays, musicals, and occasional old-time games of dominos or cards. Unfortunately, however, due to the roof’s poor condition, these activities have recently been suspended until the roof is replaced.

If preferred, you can donate by check. Make it payable to Myrtle Springs Alumni Association and mail it to Myrtle Springs Alumni Association, 20680 Interstate 20, Wills Point, TX 75169. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our EIN is 83-2558049.