The Schoolhouse Today
The old Baxter, Texas, schoolhouse is now the Baxter Community Center, located on FM 804 one mile north of US Highway 175E, and about six miles southeast of Athens, Texas. The center is used for family reunions, fund-raising events, garage sales and other purposes. Because of lack of heat and air conditioning, usage is limited to times of moderate weather. A small fee is charged to offset utilities.
The main purpose of the center is to accommodate the Baxter Homecoming, held on the first Sunday of every October. This is the time when present residents, past residents, descendants of former residents and students, and those interested in the old school building and community come together for a time of renewing friendships, catching up on family news from the past year, recalling days as students at Baxter, and just plain old country visiting. Generally, about 80 to 25 men, women and children attend, bringing a covered dish and some of the best pies and cobblers you will ever eat. Many of those who take part are third- and fourth-generation descendants.
The 2003 Homecoming marked the 23rd time to have met in the old schoolhouse.
Considering its age, the old building is in fairly good shape. Several people in the community take care of minor repairs and painting. During the past year the entire inside has been repainted, including floors. The stage, where plays were put on during the school days, has been redone and stands ready for use. There are about 10 of the original pews from the old Baptist church, that used to stand nearby, are used for seating. Some of these pews still bear the carved initials of kids etched in the 1920s and 1930s.
Another interesting feature of the building is the raised concrete floor. The original floor was wooden plans, but, at some point in the early 1920s, that flooring was removed, sand brought in and concrete poured in 4-foot by 5-foot sections. Each room was finished in this manner, and today the concrete floors are as smooth and level as when first poured, with the exception of two marred sections. This workmanship and foreshight reflects the progressive nature of the early leaders in Baxter.
A map depicting the names and locations of residents and businesses of "downtown" Baxter during the 1920s has been drawn on the foyer wall. This was based on the memory of Nellie Wyrick Thomas, a treasured lady in her 90s and lifelong resident of the Baxter area. With few exceptions, all these places are long gone.
The four rooms have each been named after a former teacher. In "Miss Essie's Lunchroom," an old blackboard has been uncovered, and in the past couple of years former students have written their names and years attended on the board. Some names and years have been added by descendants of the old school. The earliest student recorded is Alberta Morgan Corder, who attended from 1907-1916. This wall will be preserved as long as the building stands.
Funds for all repairs and upkeep come solely from donations and Homecoming activities. Several ladies of the community hand-stitch a beautiful quilt to be raffled, along with other crocheted pieces and old-fashioned hooped rugs. Homemade jams, jellies and preserves are sold, and donations are also accepted.
Five years ago, partial repairs were made to the roof of the building and this largely depleted the association's bank account. Efforts are now being made to rebuild funds so the rest of the roof and the overhangs can be repaired. A portion of the north exterior wall will soon need to be braced with steel beams to prevent the brick wall from pushing out.
Donations for the upkeep and preservation of the building are gratefully accepted and may be sent to Baxter Community Center at 5809 CR 4700, Athens, Texas 75752, or made online through the form on this site. All contributions will be kindly acknowledged and are tax deductible.
Improvements Made During 2003 and 2004
- Repaired rotting floor on stage
- Removed part of crumbling chimney
- Replaced soffit and facial board on north side
- Reworked exterior doors
- Repaired bathrooms and installed cabinet and sink
- Reinforced all long tables
- New tableclothes were donated for use
- Painted all walls and floors
- Outside window trim painted
- New curtains made for one room
- Racks made to hang quilts
Needed Improvements
- Soffit and facial board replaced on south side
- Major roofing work on one half of building
- Ceiling work in main room
- Curtains for three rooms
- Bracing for north wall
- Purchase of concrete and brick paint to keep on hand
For information on making contributions to help with repairs, visit the Donations page.
The Baxter Community Center Association is a duly recognized 501(c) association by the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are tax deductible.
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