The Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools

Rheingold School

Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas

School Snapshot

Quick details for visitors

  • Location 334 Rheingold School Road
  • Established 1900
  • School Type One-room country school
  • Access Grounds open; building open during events (when scheduled)
  • Directions Open in Google Maps
  • Open Houses View upcoming dates

Plan Your Visit to Rheingold School

Upcoming Open House

Click below to view all upcoming events.

Directions to Rheingold School

The Rheingold School is located at 334 Rheingold School Road.

Use the buttons below to view the driving directions to Rheingold School and to download the printable Driving Trail brochure.

Overview

Built in 1900, with a log cabin teacherage added in 1891, Rheingold School was consolidated with the Fredericksburg Independent School District in 1949. Like many rural one-room schools in Gillespie County, the property included separate outhouses for boys and girls located on opposite sides of the grounds. The schoolhouse was heated by large wood-burning cast-iron stoves, and students often carried their own drinking cups, storing them inside their desks. Water was typically drawn from a hand-dug well or provided by a nearby neighbor.

The school underwent an extensive restoration project in 2021, preserving the property's historic character for future generations. Historic photographs show the original school with students around 1905–1910, while later images document remodeling work completed in 1988.

Life at Rheingold School

Our schools are available be rented for private functions, weddings, and other social gatherings at a nominal fee of $25 per school.

All visits and tours are by appointment only. To make rental arrangements or request additional information, please contact the school’s designated rental representative by phone or submit your request through our Contact Us form. When using the form, be sure to select the school(s) you wish to visit and include your preferred date and details.

For the Rheingold School, please contact Jennifer Jenschke at 830-685-3344.
You’re welcome to explore the school grounds and surrounding property even when no official open house events are scheduled. These historic settings offer opportunities for leisurely walks, bird watching, geo-caching, and quiet reflection.

If the school building is locked, feel free to look through the windows to glimpse the interior. Should a private event be underway, we kindly ask that you respect the occasion and avoid interrupting activities.

To schedule a guided visit or tour of the Rheingold School, please contact Jenny Voigt, 512-554-4870, or submit a request through our Contact Us form. When using the form, select Rheingold School from the dropdown menu and include your preferred date, time, and any additional details.

The Rheingold Community Club was organized in 1950 and continues to keep the historic school an active gathering place for the surrounding community. The Club meets monthly on the fourth Friday evening for fellowship and games of 42 dominoes, and several BBQ gatherings are held throughout the year. Today, the restored school building remains an important community center and is regularly used for graduations, baptisms, confirmation celebrations, family reunions, bridal showers, and other special events.

Full History of Rheingold School

Rheingold School District #22 was established in 1873 after area residents recognized the growing need for a local school for community children. William Gold donated two acres of land for the first schoolhouse, a small log structure measuring approximately 12 by 14 feet. As the community expanded, additional buildings were added, including a combination frame-and-stone teacherage and, later, a larger 40-by-22-foot frame schoolhouse heated by a centrally located wood stove.

Like many Gillespie County rural schools, the Rheingold campus was built and maintained through the generosity of local families, who donated both labor and building materials. In addition to the schoolhouse and teacherage, the community later constructed a pavilion for gatherings and events.

Rheingold School served students through the eighth grade, and at times as many as 74 children were taught by a single teacher. Although instruction was officially conducted in English, German was often used when students were being scolded or disciplined. Former students later recalled those stern German reprimands so vividly that many could still repeat them decades afterward. One teacher reportedly used a paddle labeled “Black Medicine.”

The school year was divided into two parts: the “free” school term, which typically lasted six months or longer, followed by a “pay” school period funded by tuition. Even after the free term ended, most students continued attending classes. Transportation to school varied: many children rode horses, while others walked long distances. During harsh winter weather, some children arrived barefoot, sliding across icy ground on the way to school.

In 1949, Rheingold School was consolidated with the Fredericksburg Independent School District, ending more than seventy-five years of educational service to the rural community. Today, the restored schoolhouse continues to preserve the history and traditions of the Rheingold community.

Rheingold Leadership

President: Sandra Jacoby, 830-456-6656
Vice-President: Duane Herbort, 972-680-8313
Secretary: Kay Steinbring 830-456-2114
Treasurer: Jennifer Jenschke, 830-456-3344
Carol Birmingham, 512-507-6731
Corrine Wahrmund, 830-685-3387

Rheingold Photo Gallery

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