Morris Ranch Schoolhouse, Gillespie County, Texas
Encyclopedia
The Morris Ranch Schoolhouse is located on Morris Ranch Road 2093, 8.5 miles (13.7 km) southwest of Fredericksburg
in Gillespie County
, in the U.S. state
of Texas
. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
in 1981. Designed by Alfred Giles
, who also designed the 1882 Fredericksburg Memorial Library
, the schoolhouse was built in 1893. Winning thoroughbred trainer Max Hirsch
began his career on Morris Ranch and attended classes in the schoolhouse.
, which was established in 1856 for horse breeding. After the ranch was converted into a thoroughbred horse breeding community, the schoolhouse was added to the property in 1893. The structure was built with a steeple and bell, doubling as a church. It was used by Episcopal
, Baptist, Methodist
and Presbyterian
congregations. A small cemetery was established behind the building. As a youth while a trainer at the ranch, Hall of Fame
thoroughbred trainer Max Hirsch
attended both school and church at the schoolhouse.
In 1931, the school on its separate 9 acre (0.03642174 km²; 0.0140625124336961 sq mi) was deeded to Gillespie County. The school belonged to Morris Ranch Consolidated Common School District no. 40. In 1962, Fredericksburg Independent School District
absorbed the Morris Ranch school district. The schoolhouse is currently under private ownership and not in use by the public.
in the Richardsonian Romanesque
style of native limestone. By the time of this project, Giles had already designed or remodeled San Antonio's old courthouse, the 1882 Gillespie County courthouse (now the Fredericksburg Memorial Library), the 1884 Wilson County Courthouse
, the 1886 Presidio County Courthouse
, and the 1886 Kerr County courthouse. He had also, by this point in his career, designed a number of historic homes in San Antonio.
The one-story schoolhouse was designed in a Cruciform
shape, an architectural style named for its resemblance to a cross. It rests on a foundation of ashlar limestone blocks, with smooth limestone block walls. Cornerstones at each corner project outward. The center section, which divides two east-west facing sections, has an entrance facing southward, with sharply inclined gables
higher than the other two wing sections of the house. The south section has a covered entrance way on its east side, and an identical covered entrance way on its west side. The middle center section is topped by a bell tower
and served as a church and community gathering hall. The fronts of both the south and the west of the middle section each has two stone chimneys. The identical east and west gabled wings were reserved for the school classrooms.. Window designs on the ends of all the gables were repeated triple windows topped by a singular rectangle opening. Indoor plumbing was installed in 1949.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
in Gillespie County
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
in 1981. Designed by Alfred Giles
Alfred Giles (architect)
Alfred Giles was a British architect who emigrated to Texas in the 19th Century. Many of the private homes and public buildings designed by Giles are on the National Register of Historic Places and have been designated Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks. A number of his designs can be found in San...
, who also designed the 1882 Fredericksburg Memorial Library
Fredericksburg Memorial Library (Texas)
The Fredericksburg Memorial Library, also known as the Pioneer Memorial Library or the Old Courthouse, is located at 115 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas...
, the schoolhouse was built in 1893. Winning thoroughbred trainer Max Hirsch
Max Hirsch
Maximilian J. "Max" Hirsch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in...
began his career on Morris Ranch and attended classes in the schoolhouse.
Schoolhouse
The schoolhouse was originally part of the larger Morris RanchMorris Ranch, Texas
Morris Ranch is a ghost town, located southwest of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The area was begun as a thoroughbred horse ranch by New Yorker Francis Morris in 1856, and the town grew up around it. In 1962, the school district was merged with Fredericksburg...
, which was established in 1856 for horse breeding. After the ranch was converted into a thoroughbred horse breeding community, the schoolhouse was added to the property in 1893. The structure was built with a steeple and bell, doubling as a church. It was used by Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, Baptist, Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
and Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
congregations. A small cemetery was established behind the building. As a youth while a trainer at the ranch, Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
thoroughbred trainer Max Hirsch
Max Hirsch
Maximilian J. "Max" Hirsch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hirsch became one of the most successful trainers in Thoroughbred horse racing history. He spent part of his formative years working as a groom and jockey at Morris Ranch in...
attended both school and church at the schoolhouse.
In 1931, the school on its separate 9 acre (0.03642174 km²; 0.0140625124336961 sq mi) was deeded to Gillespie County. The school belonged to Morris Ranch Consolidated Common School District no. 40. In 1962, Fredericksburg Independent School District
Fredericksburg Independent School District
Fredericksburg Independent School District is a public school district based in Fredericksburg, Texas .In addition to Fredericksburg, the district serves the unincorporated communities of Stonewall, Luckenbach, Willow City, and Albert...
absorbed the Morris Ranch school district. The schoolhouse is currently under private ownership and not in use by the public.
Design
The 1893 schoolhouse was designed by San Antonio architect Alfred GilesAlfred Giles (architect)
Alfred Giles was a British architect who emigrated to Texas in the 19th Century. Many of the private homes and public buildings designed by Giles are on the National Register of Historic Places and have been designated Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks. A number of his designs can be found in San...
in the Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
style of native limestone. By the time of this project, Giles had already designed or remodeled San Antonio's old courthouse, the 1882 Gillespie County courthouse (now the Fredericksburg Memorial Library), the 1884 Wilson County Courthouse
Wilson County Courthouse and Jail (Floresville, Texas)
The Wilson County Courthouse and Jail are located in Floresville, Texas. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas in 1978 and as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984....
, the 1886 Presidio County Courthouse
Presidio County Courthouse
The Presidio County Courthouse is located in Marfa in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964.-Design:...
, and the 1886 Kerr County courthouse. He had also, by this point in his career, designed a number of historic homes in San Antonio.
The one-story schoolhouse was designed in a Cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
shape, an architectural style named for its resemblance to a cross. It rests on a foundation of ashlar limestone blocks, with smooth limestone block walls. Cornerstones at each corner project outward. The center section, which divides two east-west facing sections, has an entrance facing southward, with sharply inclined gables
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
higher than the other two wing sections of the house. The south section has a covered entrance way on its east side, and an identical covered entrance way on its west side. The middle center section is topped by a bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
and served as a church and community gathering hall. The fronts of both the south and the west of the middle section each has two stone chimneys. The identical east and west gabled wings were reserved for the school classrooms.. Window designs on the ends of all the gables were repeated triple windows topped by a singular rectangle opening. Indoor plumbing was installed in 1949.