Eanes: A History of the School and Community

Foundational text on the Eanes community and the history of the school district — covers the origins of the city of Austin, the development of the school, and includes transcribed supporting documents.

Transcribed text (first 80 of 84 pages)

_The following text was extracted via OCR from the digitized scan held by The Portal to Texas History (UNT Libraries). OCR can introduce errors, especially on handwritten material; the canonical record links to the original scan._

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VF Eanes History: Eanes: A History of the School and Community

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A HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY Researched and compiled by DOROTHY McRAE DEPWE

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All rights reserved The Whitley Company Brazos at Third Austin, Texas and special photographic assistance by Stanley Depwe Editing, layout and cover design by Claudia Cates

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This book is dedicated --

--to my mother, Edna Jones McRae, who was constantly gathering the history of her family, and who often reminded us of events of by-gone days in Austin; --to my family, Stanley, David and Robert, who did the photography for this book and did chores for me while I researched; --to my friends who encouraged me; --to Claudia Cates who gave her assistance and shared her professional knowledge in assembling this book.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I. The Austin Settlement 1 Chapter II. Eanes School and Chapter III. Eanes in the Depression Years . . 24 Chapter IV. Eanes as a Modern Chapter VI. Hill Country Acknowledgements and

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The story of the frontier has not ended. There have been many pioneers in the Eanes School District. Pioneers settled here in 1872, and a community began to form. Pioneers built a church here in 1928 and a pioneers saw to a more modern and conven- ient school for their children, and the pioneers of 1967 initiated a twelve-grade school program in their community. No one can say that the residents of this area have not always been pioneers -- preparing the way for others. This spirit was shown in the deed to the community for a school and church by William and Sophia Teague, interest they feel in the education and moral training of the youths of the community. . . And there has always been a pioneer's appreciation for the beauty of the land in the hearts of the residents of the Eanes community. Living in the midst of wild animals and native plants, the students of the Eanes District today enjoy the same terrain that was explored by the first As surely as every man is born, so each has a time and place in history. The manner in which each spends his time and talents is important to others. During the spring of 1968, when Henry Wetzel was president of the Eanes School Board, he and Judy felt that the expansion of the Eanes school system would be beneficial. At that time, Henry said that he thought that everyone had a mountain to climb, and his mountain was to

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help build a new school in this district. As I thought over these words, I have wondered what mountain I might climb. Since Stanley and I opened our land to a park (West Lake Beach) in 1954, I have become acquainted with many residents of our community. At church, I have learned more new faces, and as our children have gone to school, I have met still more people. I found that this area was rich in history. My mountain has been to record on tape, in interviews and photographs the history of the Eanes District. My mountain-climbing has been a great pleasure. Along the way, I have found many beautiful paths leading to new families. These new friends are the flowers I have picked, and the laughter we have shared over the folklore is like the singing of the birds along my journey. Recently, a poster caught my eye. On it were these words, He who is not busy being born is busy dying. Let us continue to be pioneers in one field or another, for there is much for us to do. Much of this work has grown out of my own research. If I have misused the infor- mation in any way, the error was uninten- tional. Because of the limited space we were given in compiling this book, we have had to cut a lot of interesting history and stories. Perhaps these will be published at a later time. All information and work for this book has been freely given. All profits will be donated to the Westlake High School Booster Club to be given in scholarships.

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THE AUSTIN SETTLEMENT Moses Austin had a keen instinct for good business. He followed rumors of rich lead deposits to Spanish Louisiana and i 1797 was granted a square league of land and permission to settle thirty families from the United States. Austin established the first permanent settlement in what is now southeastern Missouri. He built smelt- ing furnaces and developed the lead deposits and established a general store. When the United States acquired the land through the Louisiana Purchase of 1804, Austin prospered and founded the Bank of St. Louis. Land speculation led to the first great national panic in 1818. The bank of St. Louis collapsed, and Austin was wiped out. He decided to seek a new fortune on the Spanish frontier, and in 1820, he rode alone to San Antonio de Bexar. The Spanish government was quick to realize the need for colonization -- a possible answer to the Indian problem. In the eighteenth century the fierce Comanches had acquired horses. They became a fearsome warring tribe virtually overnight. The Comanches established their domain over the Great Plains, but their power extended as far as they cared to exert it. They warred with the Apaches and against the Tonkawas, a Central Texas band of hunters who were also enemies of the Apaches, along the Balcones Fault. The Tonkawas were not especially threatening to the Spaniards and often served as guides and scouts for Anglo-Americans who ventured into Comanche country, but the other tribes were trouble- some. The Spaniards sought to create a buffer against Indian raids with colonies.

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Austin was granted permission to intro- duce three hundred families into an area of 200,000 acres. In January, 1821, upon his return to Missouri to prepare for his new enterprise, he became ill with pneu- monia. Moses Austin reached home only shortly before his death and urged his son, Stephen, to carry on for him. Stephen Fuller Austin had inherited his father's spirit of the entrepreneur. He had lost his own career with the failure of the St. Louis Bank. Now he took command of the venture to colonize the Spanish ter- ritory. Stephen was given permission to assume his father's grant, and he decided to settle the colonists on the rich bottom lands of the Colorado and Brazos Rivers. In September, 1821, Mexico won indepen- dence from Spain and gained the Texas ter- ritory. Governor Martinez informed Austin that the new Mexican government would not recognize the Austin grant, because it had been made under Spanish rule. However, the Mexican government appreciated the value of colonization. On March 24, 1825, the State Colonization Law was passed, offering a league of land to settlers who would reside on the land and make improve- ments. In 1822, Stephen Austin settled his "Little Colony" in the present Bastrop County. He later made an eight-league grant to a man named Thomas Jefferson Chambers (born 1802 in Virginia, died 1865 in Travis County, Texas) came to Texas in 1834 to reorganize the quota system for the Texas and Mexican govern- ments. He was given 137,000 acres in the area of the present Travis County. In 1836, the revolution between Texas and Mexico broke out. Chambers, a major- general, used his land as collateral for

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war funds. When the Republic of Texas was formed in 1837, all veterans of major battles were awarded land. A single man was given 640 acres, and a married man received 1,280. Chambers took out his "bounty certificates" in the area now known as West Lake Hills, on Barton Creek, northwest of the present Zilker Park. Civil War Times in Austin General Custer camped on Shoal Creek, and Robert E. Lee marched his men down a road east of Barton Springs.2 Travis County voted not to secede during the Civil War. The Texas Rangers summarily dismissed all pro-Union men. Union sym- pathizers -- who were predominant in Travis County -- escaped to the hills above Austin and hid until they could join with Unionists or go to Mexico. Anti-secessionists formed the "Mounted Eagles," who blocked efforts at conscrip- tion. Local caves were turned into cita- dels. In effect, they had their own, private Civil War. Rifles and ammunition were brought from Mexico by underground operations. Imagine Texans in blue, blazing away at Texans in gray! It is interesting to note here that the first, last and most decisive battles of the Civil War were fought in Texas. The first was not exactly a battle as such, but it was an important victory -- the surrender of federal troops and supplies on February 18, 1861. The most decisive battle was the defeat of a federal invasion at Sabine Pass on Sep- tember 8, 1863. The last was the Battle of Palmito Ranch on May 12, 1865. Texans were victorious in each of these encoun- ters during the tragic war between the northern and southern divided-United

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Austin After the War In the years after the Civil War, more civilized times in Austin allowed the new city to settle down to the business of coping with its growing pains. The same publications that provided business information and news- of-the-day to the citizens of early Austin, today tell a story of what life was like in our community a century ago. The Austin-American Statesman began as The Democratic Statesman in 1871. In January of that year, a Democratic Con- vention was held in Austin, and it was decided that a publication which would espouse the views of constitutional government should be established. The Democratic Statesman began as a tri- weekly publication under the editorship of John Cardwell on July 26, 1871. Following are excerpts from that initial issue: TRI-WEEKLY DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN Single copy, one year. . . . . $ 6.00 Single copy, six months. . . . 3.00 Single copy, one month . . . . .50 WEEKLY DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN Single copy, one year. . . . . 2.00 Single copy, six months. . . . 1.00 Five copies, one year. ..... 10.00

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Advertising in The Democratic Statesman was presented in the following manner: BUSINESS CARDS CONGRESS AVENUE Manufacturer of Copper, Tin and Sheet Iron Ware, A LSO AGENT FOR THE CELEBRATED Hearth Side Cooking Stove - the best in the market. Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Tin Ware, Pumps, Stoves, etc. All Job Work attended to with neatness and dispatch. Roofing and Guttering done CAPITOL HOTEL CONGRESS AVENUE, AUSTIN, TEXAS Every exertion will be used to render guests comfortable. Accommodations and fare will be equal that of any hotel in the city. FAVORITE SALOON BILLIARD HALL, CONGRESS AVENUE, AUSTIN, TEXAS. THE best brands of Havana Cigars, Liquors, etc. of all kinds constantly kept on hand. A special advertisement from this first issue read:

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NEW CATTLE ROUTE LEVENWORTH, LAWRENCE AND GALVESTON RAILROAD. NOW FINISHED TO NORTH LINE OF INDIAN TERRITORY. GOOD WATER, GOOD GRASS, 125 MILES NEARER THAN ABILENE. 80 MILES NEARER THAN NEWTON. FREIGHT SAME AS FROM OTHER SHIPPING DON'T BE MISLED BY AGENTS OF RIVAL LINES. TRY THE NEW ROUTE.

CHAS. B. Peck, GEN Ft., Agt.

Line, San Antonio.

The advertising from that first issue of The Democratic Statesman is quite different from the typical sales pitch today! These ads are a good illustra- tion of the business concerns of early- day Austin. Also from that first issue:

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INDIAN NEWS.

Our fellow citizen, Col. Leeper, informs us that he has just received a letter from his son, Mat Leeper, who is acting as interpre- ter at Fort Sill, under date of June 19, which states that there is a great proba- bility of a general Indian war upon our frontier, and it is understood at Sill that Lieut. General Sheridan will take command of the forces to operate against the Indian tribes. We also learn that there is at this time a large concentration of troops going on at the different forts on the fron- tier. General Sheridan is most emphatically the man to operate against the wild Indians, who have been depre- dating on our frontier so long. Captain Fitz Williams, of Fort Richardson, who arrived on Wednesday last from the Fort, informs us that the two chiefs, Santee and Big Tree, are held by the military authorities until further orders from Washington City. When these orders are received, it is thought they will be tried by the civil authorities of Jack county.--Sherman Patriot This article from the Democratic Statesman is an indication that Austin residents of that time were disturbed

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by what they felt was a serious threat by the Indians. It is easy to imagine the local tribes watching the growing Austin settlement from the surrounding hills, as they were pushed farther from the land that had been their home. Surely they, too, felt threatened. However, there were quite a number of local murders attributed to Indians in the early years of Austin's history. The following account is taken from James Mulkey Owens3: Gideon White was one of the settlers who fell a victim to the preying bands of Indians who were continuously scouring the country around Austin. Judge Joseph Lee and others of Gideon's friends at Austin had frequently warned him that he ran great risk of losing his life in going about the country on foot, but he paid no attention to their warnings. One beautiful morning, Gideon started out on foot in search of some stock. As he had his gun with him, and as no Indians had been seen for some time in the vicinity of Austin, he apprehended no danger. But, as the French say, 'it is the unexpected that happens,' and where you least expect to find Indians, there you are sure to meet When the Indians made the attack, they were on horse- back, and had White also been on horseback, as he should

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have been, he could easily have made his escape from them. He ran for some distance, but find- ing the Indians were gaining on him rapidly, he sprang behind a tree, in a thicket, and defended himself as best he could. The Indians, however, finally killed him, in sight of, and within a quarter of a mile of his home.

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EANES SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY TO 1900 Alexander Eanes (born August 21, 1806 in South Carolina, died August 26, 1888 in Austin, Texas) came to Travis County in 1845 from Monroe County, Mississippi via Mobile, Alabama and Galveston, Texas, bringing with him his family, slaves and household goods. In 1856, he built his home on Sabine Street. Alexander bought considerable land in Travis County, and sold it to advantage. He later became city sexton and kept the first cemetery records during the Civil War. Alexander's brother, Robert Eanes (born 1805 in South Carolina, died 1895 in the present Eanes area of Travis County) was a merchant in Aberdeen, Mississippi. His eight children were born in this town,4 which Robert helped to found. In 1849, gold lured him to California for a time, but he later returned to Mississippi. In 1872, Robert moved his family to Texas and bought some land from his brother, Alexander, in Travis County. The Constitutional Convention of 1869 passed school acts in 1870 and 1871, creating a free public school system for the first time. Texas consisted of 172,000,000 acres of land. For county school purposes 4,000,000 acres were allotted, and 42,500,000 acres were allotted for public free schools. All proceeds from the sales of public lands, at fifty cents per acre, were to be added to the permanent school fund to educate all children between the ages of six and eighteen. All proceeds from poll tax and one-fourth revenue from annual state taxes were part of the school fund. The Conven-

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tion was fifty years ahead of America in establishing compulsory attendance in school. S.G. Sneed was appointed super- visor for Travis County. He in turn appointed trustees, including Robert Eanes, to establish schools in their precincts. In 1872, Robert Eanes, together with George Norvell, a local laborer and crafts- man, built the first school on Eanes' property. The schoolhouse was built of logs and was furnished with benches made of split logs and pegs. Slates were used to write and figure on, and limestone from the surrounding hills provided chalk for marking. The "three-R's" were taught three months out of the year. In 1874, William and Sophia Teague deeded two acres of land to Supervisor Sneed for the purpose of building a school/ church house"in consideration of the inter- est they feel in the education and moral training of the youths of the community."5 Sophia Artelia Rhyehag was born April 25, 1840 in Price, Poland of German paren- tage. Her wealthy family was dispossessed during the European revolutions of the early nineteenth century. Sophia, with her father and brother, emmigrated to America. She and her father came to Galveston, Texas via Philadelphia. Her brother died at sea. Sophia was then fifteen years old. She became separated from her father, never to see him again. Sophia joined with emmigrant families traveling on foot from Galveston to Austin. In Austin, she worked as a maid and a waitress until she married John Anderson (of Sweden) in 1859. The family lived on ranch land on Barton Creek, and Sophia was known by her neighbors as industrious, generous and regal in appearance. John died during the Civil War, leaving Sophia with several children.

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In August, 1868, Sophia married William Teague (born about 1846 in Mis- souri, died December 29, 1928 in Bronte, Texas). William came to Texas in 1860, where he was self-employed as a rancher and merchant. He was a member of the Ching-teague and Asa-teague Indian tribe on the coast of Virginia and took Teague as his surname.6 After they were married, William and Sophia bought 500 acres of ranch land in the present Eanes area. In addition to Sophia's children, they raised several of their own.7 In later years, when the Teagues left the Eanes area, they moved to a store at the present corner of 3rd Street and Red River. The land deeded by the Teagues to Super- visor Sneed was on Smith Creek near the school which Robert Eanes had built, from the old Sundberg survey. Eanes also helped with the construction of the second school- house. The new building was a one-room frame house, which was used as both a school and a church, according to the wishes of the Teagues. In 1892, this frame house burned, and for four years classes were held in a log cabin, half-a-mile east. In 1896, the school was rebuilt on the original Teague site by Henry Johnson, Oscar Carlson and John Marshall. Following is an account of everyday Eanes community life and school activities at the turn of the century. The children of the period had to bring their own sack lunches, usually containing such things as fried potatoes, eggs, bacon, biscuits, and fried sugar pies. They also had to bring their own water because there was no well yet and the water in Smith Creek was not safe to drink.

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The one room schoolhouse held homemade desks where writing, reading, arithmetic, geography, and English (called Language) were taught. Music, art, and science were also main topics of study. The other objects in the room were lanterns, the potbellied stove (as it was familiarly known) and the woodbox. During the school day, from nine to four, the children had many games to play in their two recesses and lunch hour. Their parents had little to do with their school activities. Many of the adults were illiterate and had to be helped even in voting. There was not any kind of Parent-Teacher Association. The pioneers had life hard. There were a little over 125 people by 1905. Their homes were small cabins or frame build- ings, barely large enough to move around in. When supplies were needed, the people had to travel along a dirt road. . . This road led them to John Wend's store, which was the nearest in the area. That was a long way to go on horseback or in the new "Model T." Also, if one did not have a well, haul water. Accounts of the early school days give a unique insight to the history of West Lake Hills and the development of the Eanes School District. Knowing about the teachers and students of the time helps to make the history come alive for us today. In 1902,

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Will Burdett became the first man to teach at the Eanes School. Following is an interview with Will Johnson, who was a student under Mr. Burdett9: Mr. Burdett was a very mean man, and he whipped the kids with a limb if they got out of hand. But, of course, they had to get a man teacher because the kids were so mean. Mr. Burdett came to school in a buggy everyday. He would put a bell on his horse when he got to school. Then he would turn the horse out to pasture all day long, and after school was dismissed, we would have to find the horse, which sometimes took Many of the children in the picture of Will Burdett and his class are from the Henry Johnson family. Henry was the son of Charles Johnson. Following is an excerpt from an essay by Charles' great- Charles Johnson, from Sweden, settled in Austin in 1854, when Texas was still young. In 1857, he married Emelia Loechman, from Germany and built the large two- story house overlooking the Colorado River in 1858. The house, an excellent example of architecture [of the period] is now the home of the American Legion. [This building is located near the present Loop 1 and Lake Austin Boulevard.] Johnson was well-known for the bringing-over of many Swedish

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people to Austin, including his parents, brothers and sisters. Once there, he would help them find jobs in the area. Charles Johnson is known as one of Texas' first indus- trialists. He owned and oper- ated a rock quarry and lime kiln. He also built a floating grist mill at the mouth of Shoal Creek on the Colorado Johnson also owned a freight- ing business that prospered during the Civil War, when he received many contracts from the government of the Confeder- acy for hauling much-needed supplies from the coast and from deep in Mexico. Johnson was a very good friend of Sam Houston, who often visited the Johnson home, which in those days was well beyond the city limits of Austin, surrounded by open farmlands. When [1861] Governor Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, and resigned his office, his effects were moved to Huntsville by Johnson's mule- drawn wagons. Charles Johnson was never known to carry a weapon. He relied instead on fair dealing, honesty, and the golden rule. Charles Johnson owned 124 acres of land in the Eanes area (on the present Loop 360, west of Eanes Elementary). This land, as was the custom in those

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days, had been given to Johnson along with a purchase of land in Austin, to be used for timbering and ranching. The family lived in Austin, where eleven children were raised. Henry Johnson (born October 6, 1861, died June 1, 1940) moved to his father's ranch land and added to the ranch house after he married. In 1899, the temporary capitol building burned, and the tin from the roof was bought and used to build Henry's barn. Henry Johnson's home became the hub of the community. Besides his own large family (Henry also had eleven child- ren), there was always room for the Eanes school teachers. One of these teachers was Mary Ellen Mowinckle. Miss Mowinckle taught at Eanes in 1903. Her students attended classes four months out of the year -- two months before Christmas and two after. Her salary was $30.00 per month. While living with the Johnson family, Mary paid room-and-board at $6.00 each month. In 1905, she married one of Henry's brothers, Julius Frederick Johnson. Mrs. Johnson is living in Houston, Texas, and she has con- tributed much information on the early history of Eanes School. She recalled the good times in the Henry Johnson home and the many visits to his father's house in Austin for social gatherings. At one Halloween party in Charles' house, she met Julius Johnson. They courted in a new, rubber-tire buggy. On the following page, Mary is pictured in 1904, wearing a watch pin which Julius had given her. When Miss Mowinckle was teaching at Eanes School, she was only eighteen years old. Since she was close in age to Henry's older children, they shared many good times. The young people would have parties where there would be much music and singing.

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Mary Ellen Mowinckle in 1903, when she taught at the Eanes School. The school- house pictured was built in 1896. Popular pastimes at these gatherings were marching to the songs they sang and playing a game called Snap. Mary recalls sewing with the Johnson girls and attending Sunday School with the family. She remembers Eanes School as being about 24 by 30 feet, made in board-and-bat style. The little schoolhouse had three windows, and blackboards covered the walls. The school was heated with a small wood- burning stove. During recess, the children played baseball, tag, mumble peg and had

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fun jumping over Smith Creek. Mary recalls that she had some trouble with episodes of fighting between the boys. The school trustees told young Mary to take away the boys' pocket knives so that there would be less risk of injury when the boys tussled. Mary promised the boys that she would switch anyone caught fighting. She recalls feeling very silly making such a threat, as most of the boys were as large as she. Only one switching was called for. Mary Ellen Mowinckle Johnson was a pioneer teacher on a new frontier. She taught at several schools, and after raising her family, at the age of 47, she earned the degree of Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas in Austin. In 1956, Mrs. Johnson compiled a book entitled Oak Hill - Cedar Valley Pioneers.

Ranch house home of Henry Johnson family.

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Another of the early Eanes teachers was G.T. Rabb, who lived on Barton Creek, which had been settled originally by William Barton in 1837. The Rabb family was well- known in Austin. They manufactured ice for the entire area and operated a flour mill. Near the Rabb home was an arched bridge made of stone. People living in the Eanes area traveled into Austin on the Bee Caves Road on horseback, in wagons or in two- wheeled carts called gigs. Everyone used the little stone bridge to cross Barton Creek or crossed the Colorado River at McGill's Ford, near the Charles Johnson home. The little bridge on Barton Creek, familiar to everyone in the Eanes community many years ago, was destroyed in the flood

Old Barton Bridge, near Rabb home (above present bath house) on Barton Creek. Previously unpublished photograph.

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Early view of Barton Creek, looking north toward the Capitol. Previously unpublished

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Chapter III

EANES IN THE DEPRESSION YEARS The community around the little Eanes School continued to change and grow. In 1928, a stone church was built close to the schoolhouse, as had been the wish of William and Sophia Teague. The people of the Eanes community carried the stone for the new church in their own wagons, and everyone had a hand in the work. The rock came from the near-by Marshall Ranch (which was owned originally by Robert Eanes). The church was built by Henry Johnson and his sons, Frank and Edward, and others of the community. Dedication day at Eanes Chapel pictured upper left, is now located at the West Lake Pres- byterian Church.

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Frank Johnson and his wife, Gertrude, raised their family in the Henry Johnson home. They continued the tradition of boarding the Eanes Teachers. Gertrude remembers that the house did not have electricity, there was no telephone, and the family went into town to the Charles Johnson home to pick up their mail. Coal oil was used for light and a wood stove for cooking. They had a large vegetable garden, and after selling an abundant crop to the people in Austin, they would preserve enough to last their family all year. The Frank Johnsons raised their own cattle and hogs and smoked and cured their meat. Mrs. Johnson recalls that the meat was hung to dry on Yucca cactus (also called Bear Grass). Big Bronze turkeys, sheep and goats were also raised on the Johnson ranch. The wool and mohair were sold in town. The Johnsons were fortunate to have a well and a tank for water, but many of their neighbors had to drive their cattle to Barton Springs daily. Gertrude Johnson made her own lye soap, hominy and sauerkraut. She baked all of her family's bread, cakes and cookies and shares some of her original recipes with us on page 46. Church was held in the Eanes school- house until the rock church was built in 1928. The ladies of the church made clothes for the children of the community whose families could not afford the mater- ials. Mrs. Johnson recalls seeing one young boy wearing blue jeans which had been shortened to the knee. The legs were worn as sleeves, pinned in back to form a crude shirt. Gertrude Johnson was a charter member of the Eanes P.T.A. and helped with many of the fund-raising activities. She

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described pleasant memories of "box parties." At these events, each girl would bring a decorated box filled with home-cooked food. The boxes would be auctioned-off to the highest bidder, who shared his supper-prize with the girl who had cooked the food. Another who was active in many of the community projects was Gustav Oscar Carlson. Mr. Carlson lived in the area where Rolling Hills West is now being developed. Carlson owned and operated a dairy which furnished milk to Meyer's Creamery (located on Sixth Street in Austin). His Model T truck was a familiar sight on the Old Bee Caves Road. The new church building was used for school classes from time to time, when the little schoolhouse could not hold all of the young pupils. Mrs. C.L. Touchstone began teaching at Eanes in 1931, and she reported crowded conditions. So many children attended her classes that some had to sit on the floor. There were forty students enrolled at this time. In a 1975 interview, Benton Beard reminisced about the earlier days at Eanes . . People started moving out in the Eanes District. This was in 1931. As people bought the land and built, they wanted lights. Once my father and I, with others, put the telephone and light wires in, the price of land doubled. The community was so excited to have electricity in the new [school] building. Hot and cold showers were installed. Many students had never had a hot shower. The teacher pro- vided soap, towels and a change of clothes for those desiring an early- morning shower. This increased the

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attendance at school to have such a luxury! It was the greatest desire of many to see a movie. A 'movie projector project' was established by the P.T.A. A Bell & Howell representative was to demonstrate the projector, and a fee for seeing the movie was to be charged. The projector was to cost $700.00, and a loan had been arranged after the down- payment. The night of the show- ing, the P.T.A. had a party and supper. Many prizes were raffled- off, including goats and chickens. [The price of the show was 10 , and raffle tickets were 3 for 25 .] The community turned out for the great event. When the fun evening was over, [the P.T.A.] counted $1,200.00, which more than paid for the projector! In 1934, the Parent-Teacher Association had been organized at Eanes, and one of the earliest P.T.A. projects was a lunch program of an outdoor soup-kitchen type. A wooden lean-to room was built to house the lunch room, and the parents volunteered to cook and serve the meals. The program was aided by government depression relief When the depression came and land de- valued, people in the Eanes community tried to live off their land and its resources. Some did not own the land they used. These "squatters" lived primarily in an area between Barton Creek and Walsh-Tarleton Road. Many people lived in tents or in little dirt-floored shacks. Some used old metal sign boards nailed together for

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shelter. These people earned a meager living by chopping cedar, raising cows and goats, or by burning charcoal or lime- stone. The charcoal was bought on reputa- tion, some being better than other, in much the same way that we shop for certain product brands today. Limestone was burned to a powder in kilns. The powder would then be mixed with water to be used in making mortar for stone and brick construc- The depression days created an even greater sense of community spirit and pull- together than had existed in better times. Cecil M. Johnson, Jr. describes his family's impressions of an "Old Time Christmas": In the not-so-very-old days when times were hard and money was scarce, Christmas spirit in the hills was stronger than ever. Christmas then meant a lot more to people than just the giving and the receiving of gifts. Many of the people of the hill country were fairly poor. It was the mid- 1930's, and the depression was going strong. It must have been then that the saying, 'It is better to give than to receive,' meant more to people than just The whole week before Christmas was dedicated to the children. Some of the more prominent people went around to the different stores and got donations of clothing and fruit. Then they distributed these items to the poor so that the chil- dren would not find their stockings empty on the morning of the day that Christ was born.

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There was nothing artificial about an old time Christmas. Everything about it was the real thing. About a week before Christmas, the children took time to enjoy the warmth of the old wood heater that had rendered them many years of good service, and made decorations for the Christmas tree. Everything was homemade, from the strings of popcorn that dropped across its limbs, to the small, abandoned birds' nests that found refuge in its branches. A man took his family out in the woods and cut down a well-shaped tree and headed for home. After the tree was set up, the sweet cedar fragrance wafted through the house, letting everyone know that Christmas was just around the Christmas Eve, in all families, was a special event. Friends and neighbors from miles around dropped by and sat around the wood heater and talked of old times, and the men passed around a jug of Christmas cheer. The children hung their stockings on the tree and drifted into deep slumber, knowing that Old Santa would not forget them. On Christmas morning, the chil- dren awoke with excitement and dashed to their stockings and found that Santa had left them more than they expected. In his stocking, each would find an apple, an orange, and a stick of peppermint candy. Under the tree, a brand-new pair of overalls awaited each child.

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After the children had received their gifts and eaten a big break- fast, the family would go to church and give thanks for all that they had. After church, they talked with their relatives and friends. It was on this day that all people realized how hard times had brought them together into an unbreakable bond of friendship and love.

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EANES AS A MODERN COMMUNITY In anticipation of a more adequate school building, a bond election for $3,500.00 was passed on April 25, 1936. A new two-room school house was built from the bond elec- tion funds, with no Federal aid, and a second teacher was hired. The new building was completed in 1937. It was built of native stone over a circular rock basin, which had been located in front of the former school. The basin was three feet in diameter and eighteen inches deep. At one time, it had been used by the Indians for pounding corn and acorns into meal. Mrs. Bill Ward was the principal of Eanes in 1940, and it was during the years of her administration that the community suffered in World War II. Mrs. Ward received $126.00 a month for teaching the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades and for her duties as principal. The economy was bad, and for a time it looked as if Eanes School would have to close. By 1941, the school managed to recover from the economic difficulties. Indeed, the entire community was developing rapidly. Small businesses had been opened, roads were being built, and part of the Eanes community began calling itself West Lake Hills. One of those new businesses was Beard's Store, which opened in 1937. It was built and operated by Benton Beard and his father B.B. ("Pap") Beard. The original store was a log cabin. The Beards sold the first hamburgers along with homemade tamales. Later, a gas station was added. The store was located on the Bee Caves Road, which at that time was muddy and difficult to travel. The stretch in front of Beard's Grocery claimed many a wagon in a hub-deep bog and

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Eanes rock schoolhouse, built in 1937.

Present Eanes Chapel being used for class-

rooms. Eanes

Cemetery in foreground.

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thus came to be known as "Hell's Half Acre." The entire community was pleased when the road was later widened and paved. Beard's Store was the first business establishment in the Eanes area and was a landmark of the community. The Beard family was well-liked by their neighbors. Pap Beard served as an Eanes School trustee for 17 years -- longer than any other trustee has served on the board. He was 75 years old when he retired married Josie Lee Eanes, the daughter of Frank Chamber Eanes and granddaughter of Alexander Eanes. Pap worked for the tele- phone company until 1939, when he retired and devoted much of his time to helping in Beard's Grocery and in the community in general. Pap and Benton installed the electric and telephone wires for the Eanes area. After retiring from the telephone company, Pap divided his time between the store and Eanes School, and the kindly gentleman was loved by the students and In 1943, Mrs. Sam Speir became principal of Eanes. During her administration, the County School Superintendent started a bus route through the Eanes community. The older children rode the bus into Austin to attend Allan Junior High and Stephen F. Austin High School. The nine-month school term was established for the first time in The Eanes School District was enlarged in 1949, with the passage of the Gilmer- Aiken Bill No. 116 of the 50th Legislature. Brewton Springs School, located approxi- mately ten miles west of Eanes on the Bee Caves Road, merged with the Eanes District. In 1950, Eanes School was given a new room, and a third teacher was employed to handle the increasing enrollment. That year, Eanes had eighty students.

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Mrs. Robert (Della) Edwards started driving the Eanes School bus in 1950. Today, Della still drives a bus for the Eanes District, and she is affectionately known by many of the students in West Lake Hills. Della is the longest consec- utive operating bus driver in Texas.

Della Edwards

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In 1951, a fourth teacher was added at Eanes as the enrollment continued to expand. Both school and community were going through some changes. In 1953, the part of the Eanes District which had come to be known as West Lake Hills was incorporated as The Vil- lage of West Lake Hills. At this time, Eanes obtained the land between the school and the Bee Caves Road with funds from the school, the Eanes Booster Club and from a loan secured by the school board. The Booster Club also raised money for repairs and improvements to the school building and grounds, including a new water well. Work on the school and the well was completed in In 1956, there were five teachers at Eanes. That year, the West Lake Hills Presbyterian Church sold to the school the rock building on the original Teague land, which had been deeded for school and church use. A new church was built one-half mile east on Bee Caves Road. In 1957, the Eanes School enrollment had reached 145 students, and there were six On April 12, 1958, an election was held to decide if Eanes should become an inde- pendent school district. The vote passed 207 to 48 to create the district. The school board grew from three to seven members. Until 1960, Eanes had six class rooms, and six grades were taught. Two more buses were added to accommodate the increasing number of students. In 1960, junior high students in the Eanes District began to attend O'Henry Junior High in Austin, while older students continued to attend Austin High School. The Eanes campus was expanded by a bond election to add two new buildings. Each building had four rooms. Through 1962, more changes were made in the

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Present Eanes Elementary campus.

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Eanes District. A fourth bus was added, and the school safety patrol was started. A modern cafeteria was opened at Eanes, and a library was opened part time.11 By 1962, Eanes School had 241 students, thirteen teachers and four cafeteria workers. The population of the Eanes community had changed from largely laborers, craftsmen and farmers to a majority of pro- fessionals and business-owners. In the fall of 1962, Eanes was enrolled with 300 students. Each faculty member at the school was degreed; some had earned their master's. Spanish was introduced into the curriculum. Eanes School was completed. Now, in 1976, Eanes Elementary has 25 classrooms, offices, library and cafeteria. Eanes Gets a High School In 1967, Eanes was advised by the Austin School District that transfer junior and senior high students could no longer be accepted. The Austin system had been rapidly expanding also and could no longer accommodate the additional students. The Eanes community was faced with the necessity of an immediate decision: whether to join the Austin School District or to build a high school in the Eanes District. An advisory committee of 110 members, with Murray Allen as chairman, investigated the school programs. The committee advised the school board that the Eanes District should remain independent rather than con- solidate with Austin. They urged the Eanes trustees to "adapt a program that would provide a junior - senior high school of above average quality. The high standards of excellence prevailing now must be main-

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Westlake High School. Completed in 1970.

Hill Country Middle School. Completed, 1975.

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Voter turn-out was estimated to be the heaviest ever recorded in the Eanes Dis- trict. By September, 1968, a 48-1/2 acre building site for the junior-senior high had been purchased from Randolph Johnson (son of Frank and grandson of Henry Johnson). The land was located on Camp Craft Road, approximately one-half mile from the original Eanes School. On March 31, 1969, a contract for Phase I of the construction was awarded to Law- less & Alford, Inc., for $1,887,648.00. A second election for consolidation was held on April 5, 1969. The election was teachers and adoption of textbooks began. Classes convened on September 2, 1969 for the new twelve-grade program in the Eanes Independent School District. The proposed new facility was named Westlake High School. A Chaparral, depicted in full action and designed by Dwain Kelley, was designated as the school mascot. Red, white and blue were chosen to be the school colors. Temporary buil- dings were used while the new school was under construction. On April 30, 1969, the Westlake High Booster Club organized. Club objectives were stated as "the support of the school and all of its student activ- ities." The club conducted a brick-laying party on September 27, 1969 to raise funds. The first brick auctioned-off went to Rooster Andrews, and it was positioned in the fresh mortar with great ceremony. Then students and their families lined up to have their turns at the brick-laying of the new school. There was much excitement and festivity that day.

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The academic wing of Westlake High School was formally accepted on August 31, 1970, and classes began the same day. Robert Eanes would have marveled at the new school. The facility was complete with academic class- rooms, science laboratories, vocational education facilities, library and media center, gymnasium, athletic stadium and field. On November 10, 1970, the total plant was accepted by the Eanes School Dis- trict. The school system in West Lake Hills had come a long way from the first little log cabin schoolhouse. In 1973, the Eanes School District had two schools serving 1,500 students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. By 1975, the Eanes Elementary School had expanded to accommodate 569 students in middle school was opened for grades 5 - 8 in the Eanes District on Walsh-Tarleton Road. This new facility was built with 17 teaching areas, each accommodating four classes, and employed 35 teachers. Students in grades K - 4 attended Eanes Elementary, and those in grades 9 - 12 attended Westlake High School. In February of 1976, Superintendent Rogers offered these projections for the future of the Eanes School District: Today, our total school district enrollment is 1,869. Projections through 1982 indicate a pupil pop- ulation of over 3,000. Careful planning and a building program to keep pace with our growth are a necessity to insure that we offer a quality educational exper- ience to our boys and girls.

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Our most immediate needs call for another Elementary facility. We are presently in the planning stage and will likely come to you, the tax payers of the district, next fall with plans to meet our needs and to ask for your support. Our goal is to offer an educa- tional experience for our children which is second to none. The pioneer spirit -- paving the way for the future -- is still in strong evidence in the Eanes community. It is this spirit of dedication, as much as the Eanes School itself, which has earned for us the Texas Historical Marker.

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Historical Marker Inscription

EANES SCHOOL AND CHAPEL A LOG CABIN BUILT ON PROPERTY OF ROBERT EANES (1805-95) IN 1872 WAS THE FIRST EANES SCHOOL. IN 1874 THE SCHOOL WAS MOVED TO A ONE-ROOM FRAME STRUCTURE ON THIS ADJACENT 2-ACRE TRACT GIVEN BY WILLIAM AND SOPHIA TEAGUE. ITINERANT MINISTERS CONDUCTED WORSHIP SERVICES IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE, AND A COMMUNITY CEMETERY WAS LOCATED NEARBY. EANES CHAPEL, ORGANIZED IN 1923 BY UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AUSTIN, ERECTED A STONE BUILDING IN 1928. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1956 FOR CLASSROOMS. THE EANES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, CREATED IN 1958, IS NOW (1975) A MODERN EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX WITH OVER 1,800 STUDENTS. (1975) Incise on Back MARKER SPONSORS: EANES IND. SCHOOL BOARD EANES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WEST LAKE HILLS PRESB. CHURCH W.L.H. PRESB. WOMEN W.L.H. GARDEN CLUB WEST LAKE HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL NOW OR NEVER

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This part of our book is about people and about times this page are everyday sights from many years ago: a. split- rail fence. picket-type C. rock fence.

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As a boy, Benton Beard would spend time with his good friend, H.B. Marshall, lis- tening to stories about the Eanes community. He recalls one about the "cedar choppers." When the railroads were built, it was dis- covered that cedar was the most durable wood for the ties. In 1871, the railroad was being put through to Austin from Houston. The International and Great Northern Railroad was built via Manchaca. In 1885, a railroad was built from Austin to Marble Falls to bring in the red granite for the new capitol. People came to the Austin area from all over the country to cut cedar. As the cedar was cut, some logs were hauled into Austin by ox and wagon, and some were floated down the Colorado River to the points where they were to be used. In some places., the river was shallow enough to ford. One popular crossing was at Taylor's Slough (which was located across from the present West Lake Beach). Many of the cedar choppers camped by a spring on the Marshall place. They were not charged a fee, and Mrs. Marshall cared for those who became ill or injured. Beard also recalled that in the early days, the men liked to gather for a fox, 'coon' or 'possum' hunt on moon-lit nights. They gathered one evening and went through the woods, going down Barton Creek and on towards Oak Hill. They noticed, among them, men they did not recognize, but they sup- posed them to be 'revenue people,' trying to locate stills on Barton Creek. During prohibition, stills could be found around creeks and tucked-back into the hills. Even in the area north, in the hills near the Colorado River, many 'federal men' looked for stills. The hunt continued for several hours into the night, and the strange men asked

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to be shown the way to return to their cars -- as they had not found what they were hunting for. The leaders of the 'possum hunts knew better than to stray too near any of the local stills, else "you might get shot." They had not led the federal men to their target. These small game hunts would often result in tasty meals. Here is a typical recipe for a 'possum dinner: 1-1/2 to 2 pounds ready-to-cook 'possum 2 medium sweet potatoes 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup melted butter Wash 'possum; trim off fat. Season cavity with salt and pepper. Scrub potatoes. Do not peel. Add water. Brush meat and potatoes with butter. Sprinkle with salt and cayenne. Cover and bake at 3500 (F) till tender (about 1-1/4 hours, basting frequently with butter). Uncover; bake till brown, basting often. Serves 2. We have collected several old recipes that were used by Eanes families. Following are four recipes used by Mrs. Frank (Gertrude) Johnson: Pfeffer Cookies 1 lb. brown sugar 3 tsp. cinnamon 1 lb. shortening 1 tsp. cardamon molasses 1 cup sour milk 2 tsp. allspice 1 qt. chopped pecans 1 tsp. nutmeg 14-15 cups flour

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Mix brown sugar and shortening, add molasses and mix. Add soda to sour milk, stir, then add spices, pecans and flour to make dough stiff enough to handle. Roll out on a lightly-floured surface and cut with cutter. Bake at 400* (F) for 10 minutes. Makes about 250 cookies. Note: These were winter holiday cookies. The dough was made up at Thanksgiving and stored in a cool place (usually under the kitchen sink) until Christmas week, when the cookies were baked. Communion Loaf 3/4 cup flour 1/4 cup shortening pinch of salt ice water to make consistency to handle Roll in three sheets the size of a saucer. lightly browned. Note: This bread was taken to church on Sunday. Hence the name "communion" loaf. Gertrude Johnson the right, with the original basket from her church.

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Curd Pie 2 cups strained curd 1 T. corn starch 1-1/2 cups sugar Line pan with paste. Pour in custard. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Dot with butter and bake until set. Molasses Cookies 1 cup lard 1 cup sour milk 1 cup sugar 1 tsp. soda 1 cup molasses 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 eggs 1-1/2 tsp. allspice flour 1/2 tsp. cloves Combine and bake at 4000 (F) for about The following recipes were given by Mrs. Donald (Marie) Offerman: Fig Preserves 4 lbs. fresh figs 4 cups sugar 1 cup water Wash and peel figs. Slice lemon and remove seeds. Combine sugar and water and cook for five minutes. Add figs and lemon slices. Cook until clear. Seal in hot jars. Makes three pints. For a variation, add 1 or 2 cloves and a cin- namon stick.

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Chaparral Jelly 2 cups Agarita (Chaparral) juice 1 to 1-1/2 cups sugar 2 tsp. lemon juice. Wash berries, cover with water and cook until tender. Strain through jelly bag or cheesecloth. Measure juice and boil for 5 minutes. Add one teaspoon lemon juice and sugar and cook until it sheets from the spoon. Skim foam. Pour into clean, hot glasses and seal. Makes 2 (6 oz.) glasses. Note: To harvest Agaritas (or "chaparral berries"), place an old sheet under the bush and then tap the berries with a stick so they will land on the sheet. Separate berries from small branches and leaves. The settlers also had recipes for tonics and poultices. Although the home-brewed medicines sound peculiar to us now, these remedies kept the pioneers of Austin from being totally helpless against their ail- ments. Slippery-elm tea was prescribed for ailing kidneys. A yummy concoction of egg yolks, vinegar and turpentine was recommended for swelling, bruises and aches- in-the joints. There was senna tea for purgative, rhubarb liquid and mercury for billiousness, quinine and calomel for malaria, sulphur and molasses for pimples, mustard plasters for internal pains, mus- tang wine for colds, and good old castor oil for everything.

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More Early Eanes Personalities

Mrs. Edward W. (Winnie) Johnson has shared some interesting information on the early Eanes school days and teachers: I was a personal friend of many of these teachers. They came to visit and talk with me many times. Miss Eula Crow roomed with me for about a year. Beatrice Beyer, later known as Beatrice Johnson because she married my great uncle Travis, was my great aunt. Miss Annie Johnson, another teacher at Eanes, was my first cousin and a dear friend. My husband and his dad helped build the church, about 1928, which was also used as a school for a few years. My husband, as a young boy, would take an extra change of clothing to school each day, in order to work in the corn fields after school. [These fields were located at the present site of Westlake High School.] Benton Beard told us more about his friend, H.B. Marshall. Marshall had a goat ranch, and he kept bees. He sold goat meat, honey and butter. Marshall had the honor of being the president of the American Goat Association, and he would travel to Chicago for conventions. There he met and talked with Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. (Ford used mohair in making the seats for his early cars). Marshall also worked as a sub- stitute teacher at Eanes. An interesting note about the Marshall house: it was built from the rock originally used in Robert Eanes' house.

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Marshall house. Built of rock from Eanes' The old Rob Roy Ranch at 844 West Bee Caves Road was begun around 1895 by W.C. (Cal) Roy. The house was used as a summer place by his daughters, Jessie and Addie, who loved to ride horseback there. The sisters taught for 40 years, retiring in 1950. Most of their teaching career was at the old Sam Houston High School in Houston, Texas. They taught math and science. At one time, Miss Jessie and Lyndon B. Johnson were on the same teaching Several years ago, Westlake High School became the beneficiary of the Roy Scholar- ship Fund. The purposes of this trust are stated to be the encouragement of scholas- tic achievement and the provision of funds for use at junior colleges, colleges and universities within the State of Texas to deserving young people. Recipients of the Roy Scholarship are selected by a committee composed of the superintendent of Austin

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Public Schools, the Principal of Eanes School and the Principal of Stephen F. Austin High School. Each year, one student from the Eanes District and one from Austin High School are selected to be awarded with the Roy Scholarship. In 1975, Westlake High and Austin High each received $10,737 from the scholarship fund. Thus, the Roy sisters are perpetuating their interest in education through the scholarship. The two women loved children. In their last years on the Rob Roy Ranch, they were adored by many foster great- great-grandnieces and nephews. The sisters left behind them many fond memories, and they are greatly appreciated still.

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Jessie Roy

Rob Roy Ranch house. The trees were planted by Cal Roy in 1895.

Addie Roy

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HILL COUNTRY WILDLIFE Prominent Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Agarita: a low shrub with spiney leaves. Abundant through the Central Texas hill country into west Texas. Flowers with a yellow blossom from January to March. Red berries ripen in May and are used in Bluebonnet: grows in profusion along roadsides and on prairies, resembling a sea of blue. State flower of Texas. Buttercup: a common field and roadside flower in central and west Texas. Blooms in the spring (March, April and May). Firewheel or Indian Blanket: as widely- evident as the bluebonnet throughout Texas except in the driest and most heavily forested areas. These bright blossoms cover miles of roadside from April to June. Lotus: grows upon the water. Bears a seed pod somewhat resembling a wasps' nest, filled with nuts shaped like a small acorn, which are edible.

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Mesquite: yields a gum that was used in medicines. Blossoms have a delightful odor. Pod contains a honey. Mexican Buckeye: shrub grows about 10 feet tall. Usually found in wet soil near streams. Blooms with a crimson flower in March. Bears a small buckeye the size of a hazel nut, three in a pod. Mexican Hat: brown petals trimmed in yellow. Brown center rises high above petals. The Indians made use of the leaves of this flower in a cure for snake bite. Mountain Laurel: the most brillient evergreen of Texas. A small tree, from 10 to 15 feet tall. Blossoms in March with a rich purple cluster of blooms. Overpowering fragrance. Bears a pod encasing a glossy red bean. Another name is "Frijolia," or bean tree. Mustang Grape: vine grows high in tree tops. Used for wine and jelly. Low- hanging vines make natural swings. Prickly Pear: a cactus. The blossom is a soft yellow. The pear-shaped fruit is red and has a sweet flavor. Generally found in southwestern U.S. and northern

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Yucca: also called "Bear Grass." Has a bell-shaped blossom on a single stalk which grows to 6 or 8 feet. Deer like to eat the blooms. Used in the Eanes area for drying meat. Feathered Visitors Common in the Hill

House Wren

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Eanes School Teachers 1892 Sadie Moore 1902 Will Burdett 1903 Mary Ellen Mowinckle (Mrs. Julius Mrs. Myrtle Forrester Miss Jennie Faulkner Mrs. Coups Miss Stella Nable Miss Jessie Lanscott Miss Folson Miss Maud Stanby Miss Geneve Dugav Miss Pearl Lee House Miss Lucille Piper 1918 Miss Eula Crow 1919-21 Miss Beatrice Beyers 1921-22 Miss Ada Hamilton 1922-23 Mrs. Ousley 1923-24 Miss Annie Johnson 1924-25 Miss Inez Petmecky 1925-26 Mrs. Anderson 1926-29 Mrs. Allie Lee Brown 1929-30 Miss Eva Mae Hoffman 1930-31 Mrs. James Knight 1931-32 Mrs. J. D. Loftis 1932-36 Mrs. Leslie Touchstone 1936 Mrs. Vester Lander 1936 Miss Nellibel Klunkert 1939 Mrs. C. Blankenship (Mrs. Wilbur 1940 Mrs. Bill Ward 1943 Mrs. Sam Speir 1944 Mrs. Paul Volette 1945 Mrs. Vester Lander 1945-48 Mrs. C. A. Rhodes 1949-60 Mrs. Clinton Hampe Mr. John Carroll

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Eanes School Board of Trustees Mrs. H. B. Marshall Joe H. Smith Emmett Shelton Leslie Huff Jack Stableford Thomas E. James T. Hardie Bowman Mrs. Tom Butler, Jr. Randolph Johnson John Washington Thomas J. Birdwell Jack Wilkes Gerald F. Smith Mrs. Evelyn E. (Oliver) Bown Roy German Mrs. Louise (Harry III) Vine Dr. Howard Burt Don Gray Clarence Menn Maurice DeGroot Keith Harrell Henry Wetzel, Jr. James C. Stewart Mrs. Cuane Christian Arleigh Duff Mrs. Betty Etier Gene Richardson Mrs. Eleanor Eisenberg Jake Rymer Martin Tenney Leonard Franklin William Turman Mrs. Ardyce Walser

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Eanes Trustees (continued) Dr. Tom Bradfield Bob Jobes Dr. Joe Kocks Susan Williams (Mrs. Roger) Art Gabler James B. Polkinghorn May Ross (Mrs. Robert) John R. Cannon Charles Evans Eanes School Parent Teacher Association -- Charter Members Mrs. Ernest Leonard Mrs. Joe Smith Mrs. Harry Smith Mrs. Morgan Touchstone Mrs. Leola Touchstone Mrs. Bailey Beard Mrs. H. B. Marshall Mrs. Ed Johnson Mrs. Frank Johnson Mrs. Brown Mrs. Lytton Pearce Mrs. Rhymes Mrs. Hiram Moody 1934-35 Mrs. Ernest Leonard 1936-37 Mrs. Bailey Beard 1938-39 Mrs. T. J. Shaw

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Presidents (continued)

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Romberg Mrs. John Schuler

Ernest Leonard Henry Schmantz Virgil Clearman Bobby Edwards Ruth Beard & Mrs. Jack Edwards William Appling Fred Bulian Jack Wilkes George Nalle, Jr. Peter Baker Gerald Smith Jack Webb Charles W. Gray William Bales (resigned) John Ferguson Patty Robinson Betty Cox T. Hardie Bowman Rodger Walser Martha Hudson

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Booster Club - Organized April 30, 1969, with Emmett Shelton, Jr. Temporary Chairman and Mrs. Joe Moore Temporary 1969-70 Faborn & Betty Etier 1970-71 Tom & Rosemary Blackwell 1971-72 Maurice & Tinka Quigley 1972-73 Earl & Carroll Lockhart 1973-74 Jiles & Evelyn Jackson 1975-76 John & Edie Musgrove Hill Country Middle School P.T.S.A. 1975-76 President Dick & Lisbeth Goeth

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1. Approximately 3 square miles. 2. The road was later named for Lee. 3. Owens, J.M. Travis County in Stone, Bronze and Aluminum, p. 60. 4. Robert's children later lived in near- by communities and became active citi- zens. William was a tax collector in Williamson County, Robert, Jr., graduated from Tulane University to become a phys- ician, Daniel attended college and 5. Quoted from Travis County Deed Book 28, 6. Not to be confused with the Irish Teague. 7. At this writing, the oldest child, Alfred W. Teague, is living in Stephen- ville, Texas, and he has contributed much information to this history. A grand- child, Robert Evans Boatright of Houston, Texas, has also provided many useful 8. From the Eanes School File. 9. From a class paper, written by Mike 10. From an essay by Cecil M. Johnson, Jr. 11. Concerning this time in the development of the Eanes community, board member, T.W. Bulian has stated, "In the span of twenty years or less, the community was transformed from a very poor community to an invaluable and highly restricted sub-division."

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Research Assistance: Eanes Historical Committee: Mrs. John (Flo) Macklin Mrs. Donald (Marie) Offerman Mrs. Oren (Janet) Poage Members of the Austin Travis County Members of the Westlake High School Booster Club Special Contributions: Gigi Barnhart Benton Beard Robert Evans Boatright Mrs. Truman (Ruth) Brooks Mrs. R.D. (Della) Edwards Mrs. Charles M. (Peggy) Furgusson Mrs. Weldon (Winnie) Hart Mrs. Camilla Horning Paul Huntsberger Cecil M. Johnson, Jr. Mrs. Ed (Winnie) Johnson & family Mrs. Frank (Gertrude) Johnson & family Mrs. Julius (Mary Mowinckle) Johnson Mrs. Ken (Jane) Koock Bruce Marshall Mrs. Edna McRae Mike Molberg Hilton Pankratz Mrs. P.B. (Lucy) Price Emmett Shelton Ina Ray Smith Mr. & Mrs. Frank (Violet) Spiller Fred W. Teague Christy Walker

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Technical Assistance: Mrs. Jim C. (Ann) Cates Claudia Cates Pam Horton Robert Depwe Stanley Depwe Barkley, Mary Star. History of Travis County and Austin 1839 - 1899. Carruth. The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates. Connor, Seymour V. Texas: A History. Fehrenbach, T. R. Lone Star: A History Johnson, Mary Mowinckle. Oak Hill and Cedar Valley Pioneers. Johnston, Eliza Griffin. Texas Wild Owens, J. M. Travis County in Stone, Bronze and Aluminum. Travis County Schools. The Defender. Weems, J. E. Dream of Empire. Wills, Mary M. Roadside Flowers of (Newspaper) The Town Crier, published by Mrs. Wick Fowler. (Newspaper) Westlake Hills Forum, published by Standish Meacham.

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(Brochure) Birds of Hill Country, published by the Audubon Society. Records of Travis County Courthouse Titles of Record, General Land Office Eanes School District Files West Lake Presbyterian Church Files Chalberg Photo Collection

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Robert Eanes Buried in Eanes area Eliza Howell Eanes Buried in Eanes area

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1800 The second U.S. census recorded a total popu- Washington, D.C. became the new capital. At this time, there were only a small number of families living in the Eanes area of Travis 1812 The republican army of Americans, Louisiana French, Mexican rebels and Indians crossed the river from Louisiana to Nacadoches, and the Span- ish soldiers fled. 1819 Treaty defined the boundary between Spanish and American territory. 1830 Andrew Jackson enacted the Indian Removal Bill. 1836 Cynthia Parker was captured by the Indians. Texas won independence from Mexico. 1837 William Barton settled at a spring which he named for his daughters, Parthenia and Eliza-- later renamed as Barton 1839 City of Austin chartered and surveyed.

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1840 Last major Indian battle in Texas at Plum Creek (near Lockhart). 1845 Texas was admitted as the 28th state of the 1852 The first railroad track in Texas was laid from Buffalo Bayou to Rich- 1856 Shot Tower built on 7th 1861 Texas seceded from the Union. The Civil War 1862 Homestead Act: entitled any citizen or intending citizen, 21 years or older and the head of a family was given 160 acres at $1.25 per acre in exchange for settling. 1865 Civil War ended. 1870 Texas readmitted to the Union. The population of Austin at this time was 4,500. The Lundgren Bakery was built at 10th Street and Congress. 1873 A street railway system was established. More than 2 miles of track with horse-drawn cars.

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1876 Little Big Horn Indian 1881 Old Capitol building 1882-1888 Present Capitol buil- ding built. 1885 Driskill Hotel built for the lot. 1890 150 Indians killed at the Battle of Wounded 1895 National survey of buffalo. 800 were alive at this time. Most of these were on private lands. Any wild buffalo were hunted and killed. (Prior to 1500, there were 65 to 75 million

_(4 additional pages omitted from this transcript — view the full text on the Portal to Texas History.)_

Original record: metapth769666 on the Portal to Texas History.