Smithville
Bastrop County, Texas
30 00.522' N 97 09.385' W
Directions: Start at the intersection of Gresham Street and 4th Street in Smithville. The school is on the northeast corner of the intersection.

Local public education began in a one room frame school building near the river bank at the end of Main Street. By 1888, a small school building had been erected on the corner of Block Sixteen. In 1895, the town of Smithville incorporated, the City fathers took on the responsibility of education, and a bond election intended to provide funds for free public education was unfortunately defeated by voters. Seeing the need for free public education, the City purchased the school building from the Masonic Lodge and Block Sixteen from the Smithville Improvement Company. The deed conveying all of Block Sixteen to the City contained a Restriction and Revocation Clause required that the land and buildings were to be used only for Educational Purposes and for the purposes of inculcating and practicing the principles of Morality and Charity. Soon, bonds amounting to $6,500.00 were issued for erecting the new ten room two story L-shaped wood frame structure. In 1903, seeing the need for separating free public education, the City of Smithville conveyed all of Block Sixteen to the named Trustees of the Smithville Independent School District. In 1907, the next School Bond Election approved $25,000.00 to build a new two story brick edifice named Central School on Block Sixteen. This school and its capable teachers and administrators helped mold the lives of several generations of Smithville children and it was used continuously until the mid 1970rsquo;s when it was finally retired from educational service and later sold. Information supplied by David L. Herrington and The Smithville Heritage Society