Nicolas Street School
Why it's listed
Built in 1938, this single-story brick school in southwest Uvalde served the city's African American children during the era of segregated public education. Designed by San Antonio architect Will N. Noonan and built by local contractor Robert Holcomb for a low bid of $7,606, it has two classrooms, a hipped metal roof, high-set windows and a modest Prairie Style influence. The school opened in September 1938 and served eight grades with two teachers, Susie Harris and Jewel Kinchlow. A 1978 addition later made room for an elderly nutrition center, and the building was also used by a youth boxing club. It is now vacant and shows the effects of deferred maintenance, though much of its original character remains. It is the only surviving property tied directly to African American education in Uvalde, and it reflects the community's long effort to obtain adequate schooling before the district integrated in 1955.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving property directly associated with African American education in Uvalde. It represents the era of legally segregated, unequal schooling and the community's effort to secure quality facilities for its children until the district integrated in 1955. It was listed under Criterion A for Education and Ethnic Heritage: Black.
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 10000963, listed November 29, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 332 Nicolas St, Uvalde |
|---|---|
| County | Uvalde County |
| Listed | November 29, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000963 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1938-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Noonan, Will N., architect; Holcomb, Robert, contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th Century American Movements: Prairie Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the building has suffered from lack of maintenance and the brick is painted, but it retains historic integrity. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.20409, -99.79350 (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 10000963.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002709
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.