Red Schoolhouse, Old
Also known as: Trinity School
Why it's listed
Old Red Schoolhouse is a two-story brick school at 100 West San Jacinto Street in Trinity, Texas. Construction began in 1912 and, after delays that local tradition links to the first contractor's bankruptcy, finished around 1915. Its T-shaped plan, thick load-bearing brick walls, ninety-one windows and metal shingle roof were meant to keep the building cool in the humid East Texas climate. The school served all grades for Trinity's Anglo-American students until a new high school opened beside it in 1928, then continued as a grammar school until it closed in 1993. It was painted yellow in the 1960s to match newer buildings. After the city and school trustees moved to demolish it in 1993, residents formed a committee, raised funds and restored it, repainting the brick red. Much original material survives, including wood floors, pressed metal ceilings and stairways. The building is valued locally as an intact example of early twentieth century education in Trinity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for local significance in the area of Education under Criterion A. The building served Trinity's Anglo-American students for decades and conveys early and mid-twentieth century public schooling. It has had little alteration since its school use and was recently restored to its historic appearance.
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 05000865, listed August 10, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 W. San Jacinto, Trinity |
|---|---|
| County | Trinity County |
| Listed | August 10, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000865 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1955 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements/Prairie School |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a school in 1993, saved from demolition and restored; current function is listed as education-related. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.94462, -95.37575 (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 05000865.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321356
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.