Rheingold School
Why it's listed
Rheingold School is a rural school complex in eastern Gillespie County, about fourteen miles northeast of Fredericksburg. The 5.50-acre site holds a 20-by-36-foot frame schoolhouse built in 1881 by volunteers from the community, and an 1873 log and stone schoolhouse later enlarged and used as a teacherage. A pavilion, barbecue pit, cistern, well and privy date from the 1930s. The pavilion, built in 1936 by Max Hahne and neighbors, hosted the traditional end-of-year closing with a barbecue supper and dance. The school served a German-settled farming community known as Gold or Rheingold until it consolidated with the Fredericksburg school district in 1949. The grounds then became home to a community club and still host reunions, picnics and an annual Fourth of July celebration. The property is listed for its local importance in education and because it remains largely unaltered since its school years. The 1873 teacherage is no longer used because of its condition.
Significance in brief: The complex is significant locally under Criterion A in the area of Education. It shows how a dispersed German-American farming community built and used its schools from 1873 until consolidation with Fredericksburg in 1949. The property has changed little since then and keeps a high degree of integrity. It also served as a social center for the community.
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 05000388, listed May 6, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 334 Rheingold School Rd., Fredericksburg |
|---|---|
| County | Gillespie County |
| Listed | May 6, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000388 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873-1949 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a community clubhouse and gathering place; the 1873 teacherage is not in use because of its deteriorating condition. |
| Acreage | 5.5 |
| Coordinates | 30.34696, -98.68745 (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.
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 05000388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7320357
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.