Morris Ranch Schoolhouse

The Morris Ranch Schoolhouse is a ranch school located on Morris Ranch Road 2093, southwest of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981. Designed by Alfred Giles, who also designed the 1882 Fredericksburg Memorial Library, the schoolhouse was built in 1893. Winning thoroughbred trainer Max Hirsch began his career on Morris Ranch and attended classes in the schoolhouse.SchoolhouseThe schoolhouse was originally part of the larger Morris Ranch, which was established in 1856 for horse breeding. After the ranch was converted into a thoroughbred horse breeding community, the schoolhouse was added to the property in 1893. The structure was built with a steeple and bell, doubling as a church. It was used by Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations. A small cemetery was established behind the building. As a youth while a trainer at the ranch, Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer Max Hirsch attended both school and church at the schoolhouse. In 1931, the school on its separate 9acre was deeded to Gillespie County. The school belonged to Morris Ranch Consolidated Common School District no. 40. In 1962, Fredericksburg Independent School District absorbed the Morris Ranch school district. The schoolhouse is currently under private ownership and not in use by the public.