Clementine Walker, who graduated from the Lampasas Colored School a few years after the school began teaching through the 12th grade, gazes at photos of her alma mater during a recent unveiling of a historical marker at the building on College Street. PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE Lampasas’ oldest public school building is hiding its age quite nicely, thanks to ongoing renovation work.

Members of Preservation Lampasas Inc. and the Lampasas County Historical Commission gathered recently to unveil a historical marker for the Lampasas Colored School.

Built in the spring of 1923 to replace the old African-American schoolhouse, which dated to 1898, the Colored School for many years offered instruction only through the 10th grade. Students attended schools in larger cities in order to graduate, according to the text of the historical marker.

In 1951, the Lampasas Independent School District allowed the Colored School to teach students through the 12th grade. The schoolhouse closed in 1963, as LISD schools integrated beginning with the 1963-64 academic year.

Members of Preservation Lampasas Inc. last week celebrated the unveiling of the historical marker at the Lampasas Colored School. At the event were, from left, Crystal Hammett, Gary Monroe, T.J. Monroe, Linda Weems, Ruthie Martin, Bobbye Behlau, Ron Hall, Kay Stoldt, Mimi Cole and Judy Hetherly. PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE In 1964, the LISD gave the building to Lampasas County, which used the facility for storage for many years.

Although the building faced possible demolition in 2001, volunteers worked to preserve the structure and eventually reopen it to the public. Preservation Lampasas’ recently completed first phase of renovation, funded both by grants and area residents’ donations, required about $115,000, group president Kay Stoldt said.

“We just didn’t want to see it destroyed in any way,” Mrs. Stoldt said. “We wanted it to be restored and made available to the community.”

Gazing at the historical sign in front of the limestone building, Clementine Walker — a 1954 Colored School graduate — reflected on her alma mater.

“I’m glad to see that it’s been restored,” Mrs. Walker said. “I have a lot of fond memories here.”

To keep the school’s story alive, Preservation Lampasas members hope to create a museum section inside the building once restoration is complete. The historic school building also could host meetings for non-profit groups and community organizations, Mrs. Stoldt said.

After the unveiling at the recent celebration, an open house gave participants an opportunity to survey the restored masonry, new windows and other features of phase one.

Phase two, Mrs. Stoldt said, will include lighting and the installation of wood floors and a tin ceiling to bring the building closer to its 1922 condition. The interior also will be painted and replastered.

Preservation Lampasas is seeking a $30,000 Texas Historical Commission grant — which requires matching local funds — and will learn in February whether the organization will receive state funding. The THC grant will not pay for electrical or air-conditioning installation, Mrs. Stoldt said.

“We’re going to have to step up our fund-raising to finish the electrical,” she said.

A golf tournament to benefit the project is scheduled for Saturday at Hancock Park Golf Course, and Preservation Lampasas will hold its annual fish fry Sept. 1.

At the recent Colored School celebration, Mrs. Stoldt recognized Preservation Lampasas members, and also thanked former Mayor Jack Calvert and Mayor Judy Hetherly for supporting the restoration project. Mrs. Stoldt also thanked Jeff Jackson for researching the Colored School’s history for the text of the historical marker.

Jackson contacted THC officials and helped prepare the marker application submitted by the Lampasas County Historical Commission, Mrs. Stoldt added.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” she said of the county historical group.