Heart of Jarrell

JISD Restores Historic 1916 Building

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

In late August, Jarrell ISD staff, former students, and residents gathered to celebrate the newly restored 1916 Building. For many in attendance, the ceremony was more than just an event; it was a homecoming and return to a place where special memories were made.

“This is a historic moment where we are bridging the past to the future,”

Superintendent Toni Hicks said during the building’s ribbon cutting. “As you walk this building, it’s not only seeing what this building is today; for those who went to school here, it’s memories. It’s taking them back to when they were children, when they were at this school when it was a K-12 campus, and ensuring what that holds for them is still represented today.”

Community Jewel

For decades, the 1916 Building was the sole school in Jarrell, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. For a small, close-knit town like Jarrell, this meant classmates formed close bonds and became a family. “To them it wasn’t just a classroom; it was a second home where students became friends, and some went on to marry,” JISD Communications Director Nick Spinetto says. “Those are special memories people hold dear to their hearts. That’s why the 1916 Building is so important. The district knew that and was determined to restore the building so today’s generation can appreciate the history and importance of the building.”

“We loved having pep rallies and Friday night football,” recalls former high school student Betty Ann Vrabel. “Our pep rallies were in the auditorium, and all of my classes were there. I have lots of special memories in the 1916 Building.” After graduating, Betty Ann returned to Jarrell ISD, working for 45 years as a school librarian. Her kids and grandkids have carried on the Jarrell ISD tradition; her two children and two grandchildren are all Jarrell graduates, and her son now works as a district employee. Through it all, “the 1916 Building has been there, holding many memories for past and some present Jarrell ISD students.”

Revitalizing History

But as time marched on, so did the wear and tear on the structure. By the early 2000s, the building was closed and students moved to a new high school. In 2021, as part of a bond package, Jarrell ISD elected to restore the 1916 Building, ensuring this piece of history would not only be preserved but revitalized for future generations. Renovations began in 2022, and the project was completed last month. The meticulous restoration process involved removing rotting wood, dismantling bricks, and repairing materials that had deteriorated over the years. Happily, the exterior brick is the building’s original brick, maintaining the building’s historical integrity.

Today, the building houses a new board room, meeting space, conference room, staff training and development areas, and welcoming lobby filled with memorabilia that tells the story of the 1916 Building and its significance to the community.

Last year, Jarrell ISD formed the 1916 Building History Committee to ensure this story was told with accuracy and reverence. Comprising a diverse group of Jarrell ISD graduates from five different decades, the committee was tasked with capturing the spirit of the building and curating artifacts and memorabilia that would convey its historical importance. For 14 months, the committee pored over 100 years of history, reviewing yearbooks, newspaper clippings, photos dating back to the 1930s, graduation information, and other meaningful materials that recognize and pay tribute to the generations of families who walked the halls of the 1916 Building.