Chappell Hill Public School and Chappell Hill Female College Bell - Chappell Hill, TX - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

"Designed by Page Bros. Architects and constructed by Austin contractor Frank Barron, the Chappell Hill Public School is a single-story brick structure which once functioned as the local school. The L-shape structure houses large classrooms, a spacious auditorium, and various storage and ancillary services. The backdrop of the stage in the auditorium is still intact. The building is typical of early 20th-century scholastic architecture with a Jacobean flair, including the crenelations around the parapet wall. The projecting front entrance resembles a castle or fortress entry with some Gothic detailing in the masonry work. Stone trim accentuates the north (front) facade at the main entrance in the form of a decorative elliptical archway with molded acanthus leaves and pinnacles atop corner pilasters. Above the archway are three panels containing quatrefoil motifs and an emblem, while the main entrance is bordered by urns resting on plinths. A stone belt course also extends around the perimeter of the building beneath the crenelated parapet wall.

The front entry consists of a multilight double door with transom above. A transomed double door at the rear contains a flat wooden canopy. Brick flat-arch windows are set in groups of five, and only recently have aluminum units replaced the original 6/6 wooden sash windows. The ceilings of the interior and entrance way are of pressed metal with geometric and floral motifs bordered by egg-and-dart moldings.

A single wood-frame, board-and-batten outbuilding, once used as a storage room and pump house, exists on the property. Located next to the concrete sidewalk is a wooden sign with posts identifying the museum. Also located in front of the building is a concrete marker erected by the State of Texas in 1936, commemorating the site of the Chappell Hill Female College.

The Old Chappell Hill Female College Bell is situated on the site of the Chappell Hill Community Center and Museum, and is located on the original site of this historic college. The College Bell, which was cast in 1873 by the firm of McNeely and Kimberly Troy, New York, was housed in the cupola atop the large-scale, two-story, Greek Revival building which replaced an earlier structure destroyed by fire in the early 1870s. Mounted on its original works, the bell is in good repair. The lighted display case is constructed of wood and glass and contains a wooden-shingled pyramidal roof. The base upon which it rests was constructed of stones salvaged from the ruins of Soule University. A few feet west of the bell stands an official Texas Historic Marker.

This building was constructed by a prominent architect in 1927 as the main educational building for the Chappell Hill Independent School District. Harvey L. Page, a partner in the firm of Page Brothers, moved his office from Washington, D.C., to San Antonio at the turn-of-the-century. Many domestic structures and important public buildings in Washington, D.C., and the Southwest are attributed to him.

In terms of education, this building is significant as the first new school built in the 20th century to accommodate students in the Chappell Hill Independent School District. Through its architecture, it reflects an up-to-date awareness of new approaches to public education in the fields of administration, instruction, and facilities. When built, it was a manifestation of "modern" or early 20th century, educational architecture in Chappell Hill, which was dominated by 19th-century residences. The school was built on the original site of the Chappell Hill Female College, which operated from 1824 to 1912. The cornerstone for the brick building was laid on September 6, 1927, with ceremonies conducted by the Masons of Chappell Hill and Brenham.

The contract for the erection of the new school building was awarded to a well-known Austin contractor and brickmason, Frank R. Barron, whose bid was slightly in excess of $30,000. Barron was also commissioned by the Brenham Independent School District at this time to build a "splendid" new high school. Although larger in scale than the school building at Chappell Hill, the Brenham High School was similar in style and detailing. These two public school buildings, which were equipped with all the modern conveniences and furnishings, were architecturally outstanding in Washington County at the time of their construction. It is significant, too, that a town the size of Chappell Hill, once a pioneer in education in the state, would construct such a commodious educational institution during this period. The erection of the building signified the educational progress of the Chappell Hill community in the early 20th century.

The 1927 educational facility continued in use as a school until 1966. The following year the building was leased to the Chappell Hill Historical Society. On December 8, 1976, the Society succeeded in procuring ownership of the school building. The old school currently functions as the town's community center and museum and exhibits documents, photographs, and other memorabilia depicting the historical development of Chappell Hill.

The potential for historic archeological investigation exists on the site of the school building, which was previously the location of the Chappell Hill Female College's main building. Two other main buildings, one of which was destroyed by fire, were also in existence here. Archeological exploration would undoubtedly yield information about these buildings and verify the location of ancillary structures.

The College Bell, which is being nominated as an historic object, is the only remaining relic from the 1872 main building of the Chappell Hill Female College. Around 1943 the bell was rescued from a World War II Scrap Drive by Chappell Hill residents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schaer. Mr. Louie Winfield promptly built a frame for the bell and displayed it in the lobby of the Farmer's State Bank. In the 1960s the lighted case was moved to a vacant lot between Lesser's Store and the bank. When the bank built an annex on this lot in 1974, the bell was removed to its present location.

The old College Bell, the symbol of a leading 19th century educational institution which pioneered in higher learning in Texas, is significant to the Chappell Hill community and the state.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Austin American-Statesman, February 29, 1952 (Obituary-Frank Barron). Brenham Banner-Press, July 7, 1927. Brenham Banner-Press, September 7, 1927. Washington County Deed Records, Brenham, Texas."

Source: Official NRHP records.

Street address: Poplar Street Chappell Hill, TX USA 77426 County / Borough / Parish: Washington county Year listed: 1985 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1925-1949 Historic function: Education / School Current function: Recreation And Culture, Social / Meeting Hall, Monument/Marker, Museum Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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