Hardin, R.F.,High School
Why it's listed
Built in 1917 at 1009 Hall Street in Brownwood's Bailey Addition, this one-story stone schoolhouse served the town's Black students under segregation. The Brownwood school board used salvaged stone from the burned Coggin School, a school for white children, and architect Henry Mount sketched the four-room plan. The building has rough-faced, squared stonework, deeply recessed windows, and a projecting arched entry portal. It opened in September 1917 as Brownwood Colored High School and was renamed in 1934 for longtime principal Rufus F. Hardin. It also served as a community meeting space. Until 1960 it was the only school in the district for African American children, and it gained full accreditation as a twelve-grade high school in 1947. High school students moved to Brownwood High School after integration in 1955, and a new elementary building followed in 1960. Restrooms added in the 1930s are now ruins, and the property is vacant. It is recognized for its role in local Black education and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: It is described as the last surviving building tied to the education of African Americans in Brownwood during the early years of school segregation. It was the only school in the district for Black children until 1960. It is also cited as a local example of Romanesque Revival design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000722, listed June 25, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1009 Hall St., Brownwood |
|---|---|
| County | Brown County |
| Listed | June 25, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000722 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Mount, Henry (Architect) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use. The roof and part of the rear boys' restroom addition are gone, and the girls' restroom was demolished. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.72490, -98.99062 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000722.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q110001187
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.