The Zimmersheidt School, the Last One Room Schoolhouse In Texas. (original) (raw)
WildflowersIf you happen to be touring the wildflower trails of Colorado and Fayette Counties this spring, you might make the effort to drive FM 109 in Colorado County. This road runs north from Columbus to the crossroads community of Frelsburg. At Frelsburg a right turn will take you to New Ulm while a left turn will take you to Fayetteville. It's a nice tranquil drive and a good way to avoid the crush of drivers on highway 71.
FM 109, while somewhat deficient in the ever-popular, crowd-pleasing bluebonnets, nevertheless has an impressive display of early wildflowers. Many of the species appear quite early and several continue throughout the summer.
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The sign's message testifies that wildflowers arrive early in Colorado County TE Photo, 4-2003 |
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On the west side of FM 109 (on the left if you're coming from Columbus) you should have no trouble locating the Zimmersheidt School. It's the only building that looks like what it is - a tiny and tidy one-room schoolhouse that looks like it was painted by Grant Wood.
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The Zimmerschiedt School TE Photo, 4-2003 |
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The School and MarkerAlthough those who paid for the marker were convinced that this was "the last one room schoolhouse still standing in Texas, it (as the song goes) ain't necessarily so. We checked with Mr. Bill Stein of Columbus' Nesbitt Memorial Library who says that there are at least three other one room schoolhouses still standing in Colorado County alone.
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The Marker placed by the Woodmen of the World TE Photo, 4-2003 |
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In addition to the slightly erroneous claim, the bronze tablet furnishes this additional information:
"On January 18, 1855, Frederick A. Zimmerscheidt donated an acre of land for the purpose of building a school. The school served the community from February 1, 1857 until it consolidated with the Columbus Independent School District in 1948."
The marker was placed by the Sycamore Camp # 7 of the Wooden of the World in on New Year's Day 1980.
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