Rheingold School, Historic school building in Gillespie County, Texas.
Rheingold School is a timber-frame school building located in rural Gillespie County near Fredericksburg. The property included separate outhouses positioned on opposite sides for use by male and female students.
William Gold donated two acres in 1873 to establish this school for the local German-American community. The original structure was a modest log cabin that later developed into the timber-frame building seen today.
The building reflects how German-American families shaped education in rural Texas. The way it was used reveals how two languages coexisted in daily school life.
The site now serves as a community center and can be visited when local events are held. Plan ahead by checking for public gathering dates since the building is not always open to visitors.
Students frequently traveled to school barefoot across rough terrain, even during freezing winters. This daily endurance was simply part of attending class in this remote rural area.
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