Cox Springs School Restoration Society

Please help save this historic structure.

A one-room school was first built in the late 1880’s in the small farm & ranch community above the shore of the Colorado River north of Austin Texas… then rebuilt nearby in 1928 as the COX SPRINGS SCHOOL.

Local children were taught in the little schoolhouse at that location until Mansfield Dam was built. Lake Travis flooded farms & ranches and put the structure near the flood plain of the newly created Lake Travis. 

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 1-8 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 are now waiting for artisan replacement of the 11 windows.

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. Simultaneously, we'll be adding electricity, water, and access trails (including ADA accomodation)... plus the building of a donor recognition wall.

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

 

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 get their names on commemorative brick

• Benefactors receive special separate recognition at the school

 

DONATE TODAY! Be part of local & Texas HISTORY!