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 Hempstead High School Posted by:  Raven
N 30° 05.490 W 096° 04.929
14R E 781222 N 3332516
A marker by Hempstead's old High School on Hwy 159 near Groce St., denoting that institution's history. Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County.
Waymark Code: WMN7CR
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/11/2015
Views: 8
The old Hempstead High School -- originally built in 1887 and significantly remodeled/enlarged over the years -- is still in use by the Hempstead ISD, albeit now part of its Elementary School campus. The town's current High School is located less than a mile further South of here, on 801 Donoho Street. Two old pictures of this building can be found on the Waller County Texas Historical Commission website, one taken in 1895 (along with the "fence" described on the marker text, apparently to keep out stock allowed to run at large in the town) and the other one taken circa 1930.
Marker Number: 9389
Marker Text:
When the town of Hempstead was founded in 1856, a centrally located school site was platted; however, no school building was erected until after the Civil War (1861-65) and ensuing era of economic stress. There were several private schools conducted, and early public school sessions were held in rented quarters, the old Waller County Jail being used at $250 a year rental from 1881 to 1887. In 1885 the town passed a bond issue for a school building to be erected here.
To the cheers of townsmen lining the streets, the principal, his faculty, and the students paraded in 1887 from the jail to the new school building, which had cost $10,000 and was fenced to keep out stock allowed to run at large in the town. The Hempstead "graded" school became "Hempstead High School" that year. First graduation exercises (for six students) were held in 1888. Accreditation has been maintained since affiliation with the University of Texas in 1893, except for a 1907-14 lapse. From ten grades in 1887-88, the course of study increased to eleven in 1913-14, and twelve in 1941-42. The school plant was enlarged in 1914, 1923, 1936, 1955, and 1963. Original 11.5-square-mile district has expanded through consolidations to about 200 square miles.
(1972)
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