Near Mason in Mason County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Peter's Prairie School

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

1. Peter's Prairie School Marker

Inscription. During the 1850s and 1860s, Mason County landowner “Major” Joshua Peters, supplied cut prairie grasses from here to Fort Mason for their horses. The community which developed took the name Peter’s Prairie. In 1877, John Rhoads and W.H. Morris petitioned county commissioners to open a community school on land deeded by Larkin Morris south of the present site. Rhoads, W.H. Morris, and C. Coalson were named trustees, and $149.60 was raised locally to fund the new picket schoolhouse, which opened with 59 students. Miss Jane Hurley was one of the earliest teachers. In 1894, J.W. Henry bought four acres from J.H. Tabor to build a frame school at the current site. Citizens showed their commitment to education by raising their ad valorem tax rate from 20 to 50 centers per 100 dollars valuation in 1913.
After Peter’s Prairie and Fikes schools consolidated in 1921, a new three-room school was built from masonry blocks poured and formed on Ms. Anna Martin’s property on the Llano River and hauled here by wagon. The grounds included a water well, playground, and courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis. Mason County’s championship tennis tradition started here, introduced by Walter Adkins. Helen Sell Tallent, who played here, was an inaugural inductee of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Peter’s Prairie taught grades one to ten, and the high quality of education was confirmed by numerous academic and athletic awards won by students in rural school competitions. Although Peter’s Prairie School consolidated with Mason schools in 1946, the schoolhouse continues to serve as a center of local activity and as the heart of the community. The school has hosted such community functions as dances, lunches, showers, musical performances, Christmas parties, and a quilting club.

Erected 2013

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by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17658.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.

Location. 30° 53.672′ N, 99° 17.005′ W. Marker is near Mason, Texas, in Mason County. It is on U.S. 87 half a mile south of Ranch to Market Road 1222, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mason TX 76856, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Camp San Saba (approx. 7.2 miles away); John Bate Berry (approx. 8.2 miles away); Wagram Cemetery (approx. 9 miles away); Old Fort Mason (approx. 9.2 miles away); Voca Waterwheel Mill (approx. 9.7 miles away);

Marker in front of Peter's Prairie School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

2. Marker in front of Peter's Prairie School

Koocksville (approx. 9.7 miles away); Two Sheriffs of Mason County (approx. 10.1 miles away); The Lindsay House (approx. 10.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mason.

View to North Along US 87 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

3. View to North Along US 87

Marker is on left (west) side of highway

View to South Along US 87 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

4. View to South Along US 87

Peter's Prairie School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

5. Peter's Prairie School

View to west across US 87

Interior of Peter's Prairie School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

6. Interior of Peter's Prairie School

Photographed by Duane Hall, November 12, 2015

7. Peter's Prairie School

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,853 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 25, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.