Nameless School marks 100-year anniversary

Nameless School marks 100-year anniversary

By Genny Kercheville Friday, 17 April 2009

In 1880, the community called Fairview applied to the federal government in Washington, D.C., for a post office. The name “Fairview,” as well as five other names the community submitted, was rejected because the names were already used for other post offices.

In disgust, the residents of the area wrote back to Washington to “just let it remain nameless and be damned.”

Their implied name suggestion was accepted. Both the post office, which was in existence from 1880 to 1890, and the community, have been called Nameless ever since.

The Fairview School (now known as Nameless School) was built near Big Sandy Creek in the 1870s. Between 1906 and 1910, Bell and Rose Turner donated the 2.5 acres of land that included the school and cemetery to Travis County.

By 1909, the old school needed to be replaced. The community raised money to purchase the building supplies, and the residents provided the labor for the structure.

The school always had just one teacher. The term lasted four to six months, and 25 to 30 students in grades one through eight attended.

Most students walked or rode donkeys or horses to school. The boys entered in the right door and used the right-hand closet for their lunches and belongings. They also used the outhouse on the right. The girls had the same facilities on the left side.

Fairview School closed its doors in 1945 when the area was taken into the Leander Independent School District.

Even though classes were no longer held there, the school desks, teacher’s desk, blackboards, piano and potbellied stove remained.

In 1960, the county granted permission to the Lake Travis Extension Education Association to meet in the school. Meeting there once a month and quilting there once a week, it was not long before the club took on the school’s repairs as their project.

In 1970, the club successfully obtained a Texas Historical Commission survey marker for the community of Nameless, and many former students and residents of the area attended the dedication.

Almost forty years later the LTEEA once again came to the school’s rescue and sought to restore it before it deteriorated beyond repair. The members obtained grants from the Texas Historical Commission and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

They raised money through quilt raffles and other fundraisers. They also have published a history book, “Nameless, Its People and Its History,” and a cookbook, “A+ Recipes from Friends of Nameless School.” Proceeds benefit the school restoration project.

The school with no name

This year, the building marked its 100th birthday as well as the completion of its restoration. Nameless School’s Centennial Celebration will be April 25 from 11a.m.-4 p.m. Smokey Mo’s will supply the lunch, and the admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12.

The school is located 1.3 miles off FM 1431 on Nameless Road. There will be music by the Senior Swing Band and Morris Bonnet. There will also be old-fashioned games such as a cakewalk and sack races. The entire community is invited to attend, see the restoration, join in the fun and celebrate this gem of local history.