Historical Marker

Stacy School

Historical marker location:
County Road #191, Hallettsville, Texas
( CR 191)
Marker installed: 2012
Marker size: 27" x 42"

STACY SCHOOL

NEAR THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, LARGE NUMBERS OF GERMAN AND CZECH IMMIGRANTS SETTLED IN LAVACA COUNTY. TO EDUCATE THE INFLUX OF CHILDREN, THE COUNTY CREATED NUMEROUS RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IN THE 1880s, A SMALL, PRIVATE SCHOOL KNOWN AS THE STACY SCHOOL EDUCATED THE CHILDREN OF LAVACA COUNTY EARLY PIONEERS. WHEN THE LAVACA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CREATED THE NEW STACY SCHOOL DISTRICT #22 IN 1895, THE NAME WAS KEPT BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RURAL SCHOOL HOUSE. BOTH SCHOOLS WERE NAMED AFTER PROMINENT LOCAL LANDOWNER, J.B. STACY, WHO HAD RESERVED LAND FOR THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL SITE. THE STACY DISTRICT ACQUIRED ADDITIONAL LAND IN 1900 FROM H. UMMELMANN AND IN 1912 FROM F. AND ANNA KOENNING. THE 1895 STACY SCHOOL BUILDING WAS A TWO-ROOM WOOD FRAME SCHOOL HOUSE WITH A SMALL STAGE FOR SCHOOL PLAYS AND PROGRAMS. THE SCHOOL GROUNDS INCLUDED A WINDMILL AND CISTERN FOR WATER, OUTHOUSES AND A TEACHER’S HOUSE CONSTRUCTED SOMETIME BETWEEN 1912 AND 1926. BASEBALL, VOLLEYBALL, MARBLES, “MUMBLY PEG” AND DARE BASE WERE POPULAR GAMES FOR THE STUDENTS.

FOR THE FIRST THIRTY YEARS, THE SCHOOL HAD ONE TEACHER FOR SIX GRADES WITH AN AVERAGE OF FORTY STUDENTS. DUE TO LARGE ENROLLMENTS, THE SCHOOL EXPANDED TO EIGHT GRADES AND TWO TEACHERS. DURING WORLD WAR II, ATTENDANCE PEAKED WITH 54 STUDENTS IN 1943. BY THE LATE 1940s, RURAL EDUCATION WAS IN DECLINE. IN 1954, THE STACY SCHOOL DISTRICT #22 CONSOLIDATED WITH THE WITTING DISTRICT #13, ENDING 58 YEARS OF OPERATION AS A FOCAL POINT OF RURAL EDUCATION IN LAVACA COUNTY. THE TEACHER’S HOUSE WAS LATER REMODELED AND IS THE ONLY REMAINING STRUCTURE.

(2012)

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

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Lavaca County, located in southeast Texas, has a rich and diverse history dating back to its settlement in the early 19th century. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Karankawa and Tonkawa people, who thrived off the land's natural resources. European settlement began in the 1820s, following the arrival of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists.

In 1846, Lavaca County was officially established by the Texas state legislature and was named after the Lavaca River, which runs through the area. The county quickly developed as a center for agriculture, with cotton becoming the primary cash crop. Many plantations were established, and slavery played a significant role in the local economy, impacting the social and cultural dynamics of the region.

During the Civil War, Lavaca County supported the Confederacy, with many of its residents volunteering for military service. The county experienced the effects of the war firsthand, including economic hardships and infrastructure damage. In the post-war years, the cotton industry faced several challenges, including the boll weevil infestation and the Great Depression, which led to a decline in agricultural dominance.

In the 20th century, Lavaca County transitioned into a more diversified economy, with the growth of oil and gas exploration. The discovery of oil in the early 1900s brought prosperity to the region, attracting new residents and businesses. Today, Lavaca County continues to be primarily rural with a strong agricultural heritage, while also benefiting from the contributions of the energy industry. The county's deep-rooted history and ongoing development make it a unique and historically significant part of Texas.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Lavaca County, Texas.

  • 1846 - Lavaca County is established by the Texas legislature, carved out of parts of neighboring counties.
  • 1849 - The first county seat is established in Hallettsville.
  • 1852 - The oldest known courthouse in Lavaca County is built in Hallettsville.
  • 1856 - The county's first newspaper, the Lavaca Democrat, is founded.
  • 1861-1865 - Lavaca County residents support the Confederacy during the Civil War.
  • 1867 - St. Peter's Lutheran Church, the oldest continuously active Lutheran congregation in Texas, is established in Hallettsville.
  • 1873 - The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway extends its tracks into Lavaca County.
  • 1881 - A new courthouse is constructed in Hallettsville to replace the original courthouse.
  • 1922 - The area around Lavaca County experiences a significant oil boom, leading to increased economic activity.
  • 1936 - The current Lavaca County Courthouse, a Classical Revival-style building, is completed in Hallettsville.
  • 1942-1945 - Many Lavaca County residents serve in World War II.
  • 1997 - The Lavaca County Courthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2010 - Lavaca County celebrates its 150th anniversary since its establishment.
  • 2018 - Lavaca County continues to be a predominantly rural area with a strong agricultural industry.