Polly’s Schoolhouse celebrated the completion of its restoration Oct. 17 with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community members, local leaders and supporters of the historic site.
The event marked a milestone for the Polly Texas Pioneer Association, which worked to restore the one-room schoolhouse and return it to community use.
The morning began with coffee and doughnuts before a series of guest speakers addressed the importance of preserving local history and the schoolhouse’s potential role in the community.
Speakers included Bishop Joel Martinez; Bandera County Commissioner Precinct 1 Troy Konvicka; Rebecca Norton, former director of the Frontier Times Museum; Patrick Sizemore, Bandera Independent School District’s director of curriculum and instructional technology; and Carita Jundt, executive director of the Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Following the presentations, Polly Texas Pioneer Association Founder and Chairman Rudi R. Rodriguez shared the history of the schoolhouse and discussed the restoration process. Rodriguez also recognized Carl Mayes of Bandera for his work and dedication to restoring the historic building.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of the restoration and the beginning of a new chapter for the schoolhouse, which the association plans to make available for community gatherings, educational opportunities and other events. Lunch and additional networking followed the ceremony.
The schoolhouse dates to 1889, when pioneer J.P. “Polly” Rodriguez donated an acre of land for a permanent school building. Constructed of local limestone, the building was completed in 1892. The school served area children for about 50 years before its closure following the consolidation of schools into Bandera ISD.
Fourteen teachers taught at the school over the years. Norma Davenport, who taught there from 1925 to 1942, was its last teacher.
The Polly Texas Pioneer Association began pursuing the restoration and community use of the schoolhouse after requesting the property from Bandera ISD in 2016. The project involved repairing the building’s walls, restoring its stucco and repainting the structure.
The restored schoolhouse is located at 2320 Bear Creek Road in Pipe Creek. The association also maintains Polly’s Chapel, which is used for weddings and other events, and has planned improvements for Polly’s Cemetery.
For more information about the association and its preservation projects, visit pollytexaspioneerassociation. org or call 210-892-0135.
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