Historical documents relating to the history of Manor, TX often mention that the first school was established in the area in 1854.
Beginning on page 79 of the Texas History Teachers’ Bulletin published in 1923, an article titled “History of Manor 1832-1872,” written by Blanche J. Ballerstedt, states “In 1854 the first school was located about three miles from Manor in the corner of Dr. Field's place. This school was for boys only. The first teacher was Henry Chapman. This school was discontinued in 1859.”
The City of Manor Historical Marker located at the intersection of Lexington and Eggleston Streets by Manor City Hall simply says, ”In 1854 a boys’ school was opened…”.
The Manor Historic Resources Survey prepared For the Travis County Historical Commission in August 2007 states, “The area’s first school was a boy’s school established by 1854. Records vary as to its years of operation, but for at least some time in the 1850s, the Union Church held services in the school building before moving to Parson’s Seminary.”
Other documents and publications make similar statements, but I have often wondered about something never mentioned in any of them;
1. Who was responsible for starting the school?
2. Where was it located?
After some recent research I believe I can answer both of those questions.
TRAVIS COUNTY DEED RECORD BOOK I, PAGE 545
On November 9, 1853 a deed was written and signed between Edward Harrington (a local resident and land owner) and Silas Parsons, Thompson Rector, Isaac Wildbahn, Joseph Barnhart and J. T. Alexander. In part, this document stated;
“...for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, The said E. Harrington have this day given, granted, bargained, alieved and conveyed and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, alieve and convey unto the said Parsons, Rector, Wildbahn, Barnhart and Alexander (Trustees as herein after provided) or to their successors in office in trust for purposes herein after expressed, a certain lot or parcel of ground being and lying in the county aforesaid near Gillilands Creek and bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at the South East corner of survey known as Survey No. 51”.
The metes and bounds (details and dimensions) of the parcel of land are then given, ending with, “containing four and a half acres more or less”.
The deed record goes on to state;
“The said Parsons, Rector, Wildbahn, Barnhart and Alexander shall cause to be erected upon said lot such building or buildings and employ such teacher or teachers as the interests of the community may from time to time require. They shall organize themselves in such manner and adopt such regulations for the government of said Institution of learning as they may deem necessary to carry out fully the objects confided to them in this instrument”.
While there is more information contained in the deed record, that is enough to answer question #1.
Now, on to question #2. The deed record states that the 4 1/2 acres given for the purposes of starting a school was located in “Survey 51”. According to historical records, Survey 51 was a 1280 acre land grant given to Robert G. Sanders by the Republic of Texas on November 8, 1837. Travis County land grant maps show that it was located adjacent to the northwest end of Survey 40 which was James Manor’s land. By following the metes and bounds listed in the deed record it is possible to determine the location of the 4 1/2 acres given to the Trustees who were tasked with building a school there.
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| ENLARGED PORTION OF 1861 TRAVIS COUNTY MAP |
The green circle shows where the town of Manor would be mapped and platted in 1872.
The area outlined in blue shows Survey 51 - the land grant given to Robert G. Sanders in 1837. By 1853 Ed Harrington owned part of this survey as well as surveys 42 and 43 located next to survey 51.
The orange circle shows the 4 1/2 acres of land where the school was built.
Additional research using 1940 aerial photographs which show Travis County land grant boundaries, along with current Google maps, seems to indicate that the area where the school was built in 1854 was on what is now Hill Lane at the southern end of the old Manor Downs horse racing track.
2021 GOOGLE MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF FIRST SCHOOL
Orange circle showing the current location of 4 1/2 acres given by Edward Harrington to the Trustees who would build the first school in the area where the town of Manor would be built 18 years later.
The deed contained a provision that would allow the Trustees to sell and/or remove their buildings and improvements from the land if conditions changed and they felt this action was necessary, In that event, the ownership of the 4 1/2 acres would revert to Edward Harrington.
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