A deeper look of what Maple Run Sink is.

Maple Run Sink is one of the lesser known sinkholes in Austin, Texas. This news article will explain what Maple Run Sink is.

Maple Run Sink is a sinkhole with a subtle moist environment with a high level of moisture perfect for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are the natural wildlife that inhabit Maple Run Sink. The moist environment is a subtle breeding ground ideal for mosquitos among other insects, spiders, flies, and other insects of course. Many insects inhabit Maple Run Sink as insects inhabit and Mosquitos compromise a huge portion of natural wildlife in the sinkholes of Texas. Maple Run Sink is no exception.

Maple Run Sink is actually easy to access and enter due to a steep drop from the outside of the sinkhole. Bringing groups will be difficult to due to a steep drop inside the sinkhole. Going in small groups is recommended when touring Maple Run Sink.

Maple Run Sink was formed out of all natural limestone and calcite. The primary type of rock formation you will expect to see inside and outside of this sinkhole is native limestone as many sinkholes in Central Texas have a rock formation of native limestone. Del Rio clay covers the floor. There is no calcite breakdown though. Maple Run Sink os connected to a series of connected sinks and caves.

Maple Run Sink is located at 3907 Davis Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78749. Maple Run Sink is located in Goat Cave Karst Preserve Park.

EI Elemental enters into agreement to purchase land from the Lowman Ranch in San Marcos, Texas.

EI Elemental and EI Elemental Heat Energy Systems have entered into an agreement to purchase land for developing an eco-sustainable residential project on the site of the Lowman Ranch in San Marcos, Texas. EI Elemental has plans to purchase land from the Lowman Ranch.

They are depositing 628,134 shares of common stock to be delivered against tender of title and will owe approximately $314,000 at closing. EI Elemental anticipates being able to complete required predevelopment approvals within nine to twelve months from the date of closing.

The idea is to create eco-sustainable residential housing that is both environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable.This will allow them to test the installation and production aspects of their technologies, market a project, and offer a new environmentally sensitive method of development to other home, commercial developers, and resort developers.

Future for old Don’s Grass property in Austin, Texas remains unknown.

The future for Don’s Grass property remains unknown currently as of November 2017. Many citizens, activists, council members, and preservationists from both Austin and Oak Hill wonder about the future of the old site.

However Don Farmer plans to demolish the old Oak Hill School so he can build a new modernized storefront for his business Don's Grass & Landscape Inc. But nothing has materialized yet. All buildings have remained in tact. He has not made comment to the public regarding the future outcome for his business or those 2 buildings. Don Farmer and his landscape business Don’s Grass occupied the former site from 2005 to 2012.

The building Don’s Grass occupied was none other than the old Oak Hill School located at 6240 West US 290, Austin, Texas, US 78735. The Oak Hill School was the old Oak Hill Elementary School that taught grades 1 through 7 operated by Austin ISD from 1923 to 1985.

The former Oak Hill School and its school buildings remain in tact leaving many Austin and Oak Hill citizens to wonder about the future of the Don’s Grass site. Future for the former Don’s Grass property or its buildings is unknown.


It’s last tenants was Don Farmer and Austin 1825 Fortview Inc. Don Farmer has not occupied the property since 2012. Don’s Grass has not been in business since 2012.

The future January 12, 2012 Austin City Council meeting regarding Don Farmer violations were reported in the December 30, 2011 edition of Austin Chronicle and again in another issue of the Austin Chronicle. A foreclosure notice was filed to the Travis County Courthouse on January 14, 2012.

Back in January 12, 2012, the City of Austin shut down Don’s Grass by giving Don Farmer a citation for alleged violations of failure to install a water meter and failing to accurately record & submit monthly reports of groundwater withdrawals from a permitted Middle Trinity water well.

On January 12, 2012, City of Austin council members held a public hearing related in reference towards alleged violations that Don Farmer failed to install a water meter and for failing to accurately record & submit monthly reports of groundwater withdrawals from a permitted Middle Trinity water well. District Rules required the permittee to appear before the District’s Board of Directors and show cause why it should not be subject to an enforcement action by the Board.


Bulldozers occupy the site of the old Don’s Grass. Piles of dirt can be seen from road-view off of US 290 visible to the public eye. As of now, BGSIX Holdings LLC and City of Austin own the property. Both BGSIX Holdings LLC and City of Austin are keeping an eye on the property for any potential buyers willing to purchase the property.

For now the former Don’s Grass sits vacant and unoccupied at 6420 West US 290, Austin, Texas, US 78735.

Why we need to remember Willowbrook State School.

We need to remember Willowbrook State School. Because Willowbrook State School was a breeding ground for all sorts of human rights violations. Many clients were mentally, emotionally, and physically abused during their stay there. Many were neglected and mistreated by direct care staff and head doctors. Clients were left to fend for themselves.

Willowbrook State School opened in 1947 as a state school operating as a state-supported institution for mentally disabled children in New York City, New York on Staten Island. In its first years of operation, the quality care began to slowly decline. Disease spread rampantly. Hepatitis was common amongst state school residents. In 1955, Willowbrook had a resident population of 4,000.

By 1963, the institution was overpopulated at 6,000 clients over its original capacity of 4,000. By 1965, Senator Robert F. Kennedy left touring the facility and called it a "snakepit". Residents were injected with Hepatitis A for science experiments. Luckily then news reporter Geraldo Rivera exposed Willowbrook State School in 1972 on a news broadcast called “Willowbrook : The Last Great Discgrace”. Geraldo Rivera’s expose prompted the State of New York to launch several investigations of their state schools, state hospitals, and other institutions. Carey vs. NYARC lawsuit is what led to many state institution such as Willowbrook State School to close down and receive the community based services we have today. But luckily the institution was shut down for good and put out of its misery for good by September 1987.

Mixerr Reviews rediscovers Maple Run Cave in Austin, Texas.

On the date of October 15, 2017, Michael Mixerr of Mixerr Reviews discovered Maple Run Cave at Goat Cave Karst Preserve in Austin, Texas while during a caving outing. Maple Run Cave is one of the most known caves of Austin/Travis County connecting to the lesser known Wade Cave.

Maple Run Cave is difficult to enter group to due to the steep drop inside the cave and not just the steps. Bringing groups will be difficult to due to a steep drop inside the cave. Going in small groups is recommended when touring Maple Run Cave.

Maple Run Cave  is a cave with a subtle moist environment with a high level of moisture perfect for mosquitoes and bats. Mosquitoes and bats are the natural wildlife that inhabit Maple Run Cave. The moist environment is a subtle breeding ground ideal for mosquitos among other insects, spiders, flies, and other insects of course. Many insects inhabit Maple Run Cave as insects inhabit and compromise a huge portion of natural wildlife in the caves of Texas. The caves of Goat Cave Karst Preserve Park are no exception.

“Upon entering Maple Run Cave , I felt a sense of moisture the first 20 seconds I was down there. You can feel a sense of moisture down in that particular cave. The moist environment is a subtle breeding ground for mosquitos. I had noticed mosquitos had been swarming over me while I was 20 feet-30 feet into Maple Run Cave.” said Michael Mixerr.

At the entrance of Maple Run Cave, mosquitos among other insects can be found swarming around that area. The moist environment suites well as a breeding ground for mosquitos and other insects as well.

A hydrogeological study of Goat Cave, Maple Run Cave, and Wade Cave is anticipated to be completed in 2017.

Friendship of Manda School works to historically preserve Manda Community Center.

From 2016 to 2017, the Friends of Manda School have begun maintenance and upkeep of the former Manda School building as an attempt of historic preservation. The Manda community along with several volunteers have been restoring the Manda School building to its original condition as found decades earlier.

Every single year the Friends of Manda School clean the school building and land property by mowing the grass and terminating insects from hidden corners. Ceiling tiles from top roof have been restored.

Several window panels have been replaced and window screens have been added to all windows of this school. All wooden floors have been flattened and resurfaced to be up to code for building standards and code standards by volunteers from Friends of Manda School. Central AC heating is now connected to this building.

Every single year the Friends of Manda School hold meetings at the Manda Community Center. Mainly these meetings are about future regards of Manda Community Center and funding for historic preservation toward this building which are held by the Board of Directors for Friends of Manda School. Friends of Manda School is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of this school building.

As a community center, community functions, social gatherings, programs, and various meetings are still held inside this building.

Manda School is now operated and preserved by the Friends of Manda School (Friendship of Manda School) as Manda Community Center. Friends of Manda School plans to keep the Manda School open as the Manda Community Center in Manda, Texas which is near the town of Manor, Texas.

History of Vidor, Texas revisited.

The city of Vidor, Texas was founded as a logging mill town in 1895 by Charles Sheridan Vidor and his group of men. Charles Sheridan Vidor was the founder of the city of Vidor, Texas. The area was surrounded by big thicket forest which had provided a good business incentive for Charles to start up his Miller & Vidor Lumber Company in that area of East Texas in 1905. In 1909, the first post office was established for the small town of Vidor. In 1910 is when business had really gotten started. During the early part of the 20th Century, Vidor was a lumber town and a mill town.

Charles Sheridan Vidor was the founding father of the town of Vidor, Texas. He helped plan the blueprint layout of Vidor to become a city. Charles Sheridan Vidor was a racist city official who was the towns founding father and local KKK member that happened to make it very clear in law and order the nobody black would live there. He carried two .38's on his hips.

EVEN in 1920 when Vidor had a population of 50 people that was roughly male and all white. So despite local historians and citizens stating that black people had lived in Vidor prior to Charles Sheridan Vidor and his men moving there is false. The United States Census books show Vidor had an all-white population back then. Vidor has always been white by default. White flight found a haven in Vidor as well as Rose City and Lumberton in 1920.

In the 1920s, Vidor, Texas was known as the Bloody Vidor. The reason for that is because violence and bar fights were part of the culture in Vidor, Texas. Violence was a recreational sport back then. The local KKK was no exception to that. The violent activities had ranged from shootings, hangings, lynchings, arson, murder, and beatings along with cross burnings. Violence and terrorism was a common factor in Vidor, Texas at that time.

It was prior to 1925 that Vidor was only by ferry across the Neches River. The ferry was accessible to the residents of Beaumont who worked for the Miller & Vidor Lumber Company. Vidor just had one road call Main Street running through the city back then.
There were malaria epidemics that swept people away. The mosquitoes were so thick that they had smothered cattle. Vidor was known as a swamp back then. Many of the roads had huge potholes. There has always seemed to be an atmosphere of poverty and isolation in Vidor that has really continued to thrive.

In 1926 is when the Miller-Vidor Lumber Company had moved to the small town of Lakeview, Texas in search of more virgin timber for their business. Vidor had lost a lot of jobs a result from that particular business decision. The rest of the Miller-Vidor subdivision was planned on a blueprint, built, and laid out by 1929. The final results were finished by then over there.
By 1929, the town of Vidor had faced poverty, violence, fire, and isolation. The reasons for these factors was because of the Great Depression that had struck the United States economy with a fatal blow to the NYSE stock market.


By 1930, it was clear that the local KKK did not want black citizens living in Vidor. The reason for that is because of a local tale that a black men had raped a white woman in the middle of the night at midnight. The women had screamed loudly and had gotten the local KKK's attention. So the local KKK had formed a local search party to find the black rapists. The KKK had hung two black men before they got the right one. The fourth one got away. There were 3 nooses from a tree at a fishing hole nearby and nooses hanging from a sign in the middle of Vidor. The sign said "Nigger, don't let the sun set down on you in Vidor.". It was at that point that the KKK members had decided they did not want black citizens living in the city of Vidor.
By 1930, Vidor was known as a sundown town.

In the 1930s, the Ku Klux Klan groups that had a stranglehold in local politics that had ruled Vidor with an iron fist were known as Knights of the White Camellia (KWC), White Camellia Knights (WCK) and Vidor Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The surrounding thick forests provided some cover for secret meetings of the Ku Klux Klan. It was an idealistic environment for the local Ku Klux Klan groups.
Vidor was national headquarters and state headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan along with Dallas, Texas , Pulanski, Tennessee , Beaumont, Texas , Houston, Texas , Mena, Arkansas , Pine Bluff, Arkansas , Harrison, Arkansas , and Hammond, Indiana along with several other klan klaverns in cities & town across the Untied States.


In the 1950s is when Vidor had became a white flight haven in East Texas. It was known to many citizens in East Texas that Vidor was a white flight haven for racist bigots and the KKK. Vidor was a Democratic city right then. The town of Vidor was still very small. Arsons, cross burnings, and fires were a common sight in Vidor in the 1950s and 1960s. The 50s is when Vidor had built many public schools for the city as well as Rose City.

In 1960s and 1970s, Vidor had continued to attract large numbers of residents as white citizens left Beaumont. Vidor was a haven for white flight. There have been local stories that had persisted of black people stopping for gas and just being chased out of town. Hippies being refused serviced because of their long hair along  with many other horrible treatments. Vidor was the national headquarters for the KKK along with Dallas and Pulaski along with several other klaverns. A Klan bookstore welcomed shoppers on Main Street and the Klan catered local functions. The KKK was headquartered in Vidor.

The local VOKKKK had made the local newspaper headlines in the Vidorian newspaper during the 1980s era. Local klansman A.W. Harvey, Grand Dragon of Vidor's Original Knights of the Ku Klux Klan had ran for mayor of Vidor in an unsuccessful attempt in the 1980s. No citizens took his political viewpoints very seriously at all of course. Most of the KKK left Vidor by 1987.
By the 1980s, things were quiet in the small town of Vidor for a while.


In the 1990s is when Vidor started getting riled up wild again!

In 1993, the US government had to bring blacks into Vidor's public housing after a court order from the Black vs. Young court case that caused a court order that public housing complexes be desegregated back in 1981. Most public official did not comply. So the White Camellia Knights and KKK had held a march in the community. The KKK had forced black families to move out of Vidor by 1994.
The main perpetrators of these controversial events were local citizens Charles Wayne Lee (then Grand Dragon and now Imperial Wizard of the White Camellia Knights), Michael Daniel Lowe (Grand Dragon of the Texas Knights of the Ku Klux Klan), James Hall Jr., Edith Marie Johnson of the Nationalist Movement and White Camellia Knights, and Thom Robb. Organizations such as the White Camellia Knights, Nationalist Movement, Texas Senate, Texas Legislator, The Creationists, and Aryan Nation were responsible

By 1995, the racial tension had calmed down and black citizens had moved in again with no hassle. The city of Vidor was surely but slowly loosing it's racist stigma on again for the second time since the 1980s. The reputation of Vidor had changed drastically around the middle of the 1990s.

By 2000, Vidor had became a mill town and a business town again. The city official of Vidor started encouraging people to move to Vidor in the mid 2000s. The KKK had left the city of Vidor thus moving away from the city limits into other towns in the United States.

The town of Vidor had suffered considerable hurricane damage from Hurricane Rita in the mid 2000s which led city officials and local politicians to change the image of Vidor around as a city. 2008 is when the city of Vidor decided to change their image problem. The City of Vidor offered asylum for evacuees of Hurricane Rita. By 2012, everything got quieted down.

Berg's Mill School history long forgotten.

Berg’s Mill School is one of the many forgotten educational institutions of San Antonio and Bexar County. The Berg’s Mill School was a rural school located way out in the county in San Antonio, Texas. Not much is known about the Berg’s Mill School or its history. Many historians have not covered this school written in books. Many citizens of San Antonio seemed to have forgotten about this school’s existence or its presence.

Berg’s Mill School was constructed believably as a one room schoolhouse in the year of 1896. The one room schoolhouse was probably built as a single story structure. 1896-1897 is the first school year the Berg’s Mill School operated from. By then Berg’s Mill School was considered both as a rural school and a “county school”.  This school was a co-ed school. Most of the pupils were children of Mexican descent.

Student enrollment never went past 100. School attendance boasted a bumbling small population. Despite a small bumbling population of students, attendance seemed not to be very high. School attendance in the 1930s boasted a bumbling population.

Manual training and sewing were taught at this school. Boys were taught manual training while girls were taught sewing. Girls learned sewing at a young age. Girls held an intense interest in sewing.

In 1940, Berg’s Mill School closed. In 1940 when Berg’s Mill School closed, students who attended Berg’s Mill School were transferred and redistricted to Harlandale ISD and Southside ISD. Berg’s Mill School pupils were then transferred to San Juan School (now San Juan Elementary School). Berg’s Mill School closed due to the curbed growth of San Antonio growing southbound. Post World War II growth absorbed the population.

US President Donald Trump plans to attack Korea.

It’s official! Donald Trump has planned to attack Korea. Donald Trump has declared the US is running out of patience with Korea over its nuclear drive. Trump claims its ballistic missile programs have gotten out of hand. United States calls on other regional powers in other countries from across the globe to implement sanctions against Korea. Sanctions will be employed in a phased and comprehensive approach. He wants all “responsible nations” to join in. So does the US.

Things have gone out of hand. Donald Trump has made attacking Korea a top priority over nearly everything else in politics. He warns that the Korean dictatorship regime “better choose a better path do it quickly”. Russia is ready to do whatever they can to help United States against Korea. Russia is ready to render aid to the United States.

“Today we are facing the threat of the reckless and brutal regime of Korea. The Korean dictatorship has no regard for the safety and security of its people, for its neighbors, no respect for humanity, and has no respect for human life.” said Trump.

Former New Sweden School in Manor, Texas long forgotten.

New Sweden School was built as a one room schoolhouse in the summer of 1916. Classes started in the fall later that same year. Construction for the New Sweden School lasted from summer to fall. Herman Hees and Raymond Hees owned the land.

New Sweden School had its own school district called New Sweden School District (School District No. 22) before being consolidated into Manda School District. New Sweden School and several other schools along with school districts were consolidated to form the Manda Common School District in 1947. The Manda School District was dissolved in 1960 and was divided among Manor ISD, Pflugerville ISD, and Elgin ISD. Most students were bussed to Manor ISD though.

From 1948 to 1985, New Sweden School had served as a church. In 1985, the school building was all but abandoned. Over the years, the former school building fell into a horrendous state of rural decay. Overtime the building burned down from natural wildfire. Top roof perished from the flames. Top roof for this former school is no longer extant. Today the school is surrounded by shrubs, bushes, wild brush, and a slew of trees in the country breeze.

The former New Sweden School was located 7 miles north of Manor, Texas. The address for the New Sweden School was 12178 New Sweden Church Road, Manor, Texas, US 78653.

*New Sweden School District was School District No. 22 better known as District #22.
*New Sweden School and New Sweden School District eventually consolidated into Manor ISD.
*New Sweden School and New Sweden School District was abolished in 1947 even though the building was still in operation.
*Manda School District also went under the title of Manda Common School District.

US President Donald Trump declares war on Korea.

It’s official! As of August 10, 2017, Donald Trump has declared war on Korea. Donald Trump has declared the US is running out of patience with Korea over its nuclear drive. Trump claims its ballistic missile programs have gotten out of hand. United States calls on other regional powers in other countries from across the globe to implement sanctions against Korea. Sanctions will be employed in a phased and comprehensive approach. He wants all “responsible nations” to join in. So does the US.

“Today we are facing the threat of the reckless and brutal regime of Korea. The Korean dictatorship has no regard for the safety and security of its people, for its neighbors, no respect for humanity, and has no respect for human life.” said Trump.

Things have gone out of hand. Donald Trump has made declaring war on Korea a top priority over nearly everything else in politics. He warns that the Korean dictatorship regime “better choose a better path do it quickly”. Russia is ready to do whatever they can to help United States against Korea. Russia is ready to render aid to the United States.

City of Lago Vista plans to preserve Cox Springs School building.

City of Lago Vista is currently working on plans to preserve the Cox Springs School building in a better more efficient manner. North Shore Heritage & Cultural Society and former students are working with the City of Lago Vista, City of Jonestown, and Travis County Historical Commission to move the school building onto a permanent location into the city of Lago Vista, Texas.

North Shore Heritage & Cultural Society wants to save this building in an attempt of historic preservation so students of today can see how students who lived in Lago Vista and Jonestown during the early 20th century received their education. Both commissions plan to keep the old school in tact. North Shore Heritage & Cultural Society and former students are working to restore the former school building.

Both the City of Lago Vista and City of Jonestown consider Cox Springs School to be a historical building despite no Texas Historic Landmark marker. Although there is no Texas Historic Landmark marker, a brown metal sign about the school’s history is located behind the school building facing Old Burnet Road. Cox Springs School is one of the oldest buildings in Lago Vista next to the Lago Vista School which is commonly known as “the little red schoolhouse” to local citizens and historians.


Cox Springs School was built in 1908 as a one-room building for Lago Vista Common School District No. 2 better known as Lago Vista Common School District. Cox Springs School was known as Cox Springs School House when the school district first opened this school. Grades 1 through 11 attended this school with Grade 12 eventually being included. Cox Springs School had its own school district called Cox Springs School District (District #2) from 1908 to 1950 before being consolidated into Lago Vista Independent School District.

Originally the Cox Springs School was located closely near the intersection of Lohman Ford Road & Sylvester Ford Road in Lago Vista, Texas from 1908 to 1940. In 1940, the school relocated to Old Burnet Road in Jonestown, Texas in a modern day neighborhood called The Bluffs. Although the Cox Springs School is considered to be in Lago Vista, Texas, the actual location the school building is currently located at is 18842 Old Burnet Road, Jonestown, Texas, US 78645. The alternate address is 18842 Old Burnet Road, Leander, Texas, US 78645.

In 1940, the Cox Springs School building was moved from the intersection of Lohman Ford Road & Sylvester Ford Road in Lago Vista, Texas to Old Burnet Road in Jonestown, Texas. Grade 12 was added in 1949 due to Gilmer-Aiken Law mandated by the State of Texas. More funds went towards the school district that following year. 1950 is when Cox Springs School District was abolished and consolidated into Lago Vista Independent School District (Lago Vista ISD).

In 1960, the last group of students from grades 1st through 12th were moved to Lago Vista School which was known then to Lago Vista citizens and locals as the “the little red schoolhouse” on 7610 Lohman Ford Road. Lago Vista School was a K-12 school then.

History pertaining to the small Colorado School long forgotten.

History about the Colorado School in Austin, Texas has been long forgotten as the Colorado School is one of the many forgotten educational institutions of Austin that have faded away with time. Only longtime Austinites from generations ago may remember the Colorado School located in rural Travis County. Colorado School is one of the many schools in Austin/Travis County that did not receive a Texas Historic Landmark plaque or was revitalized to house school district offices. Colorado School is also historically significant and important because the Colorado School was listed as a defendant in the 1948 court case of Delgado v. Bastrop ISD regarding racial segregation in public schools. That court case declared segregation illegal in Texas public schools.


The Colorado School was one of Del Valle's earliest schools as it was the oldest school in the Del Valle ISD school district at one point in time dating back to 1874. Colorado School was the first school operated by Del Valle ISD. Years of operation for Colorado School ran from 1876 to 1948. The Colorado School itself was located at the present day intersections of US 183 & SH 71 near Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).

The Colorado Common School District in Austin was established in 1874. A school house was needed. Land where Colorado School was located on land owned by the Martin Family and Andrew M. Davidson. Enoch Martin, Sarah Elizabeth Martin, and Andrew M. Davidson deeded land to S.G. Sneed, Travis County, and the Colorado Common School District for a school house to be built on in the year of 1874 along with land for a city cemetery which would later become the Greenwood Cemetery. 5.6 acres of land were deeded to Colorado Common School District in the same year by F.A. Maxwell and Andrew M. Davidson. Colorado School was located on the Davidson tract named after Andrew M. Davidson.

Martin Family Cemetery had preceded the small school by a couple of years as their cemetery was plotted in 1874. The Colorado School was to be located north of the Martin Family Cemetery as a part of a land agreement with Travis County and City of Austin. Cemeteries called Martin Family Cemetery and Greenwood Cemetery were plotted south of the Colorado School.

A cistern was built in 1875 predating the school but not the cemetery. Water was gathered from a cistern from the years of 1875 to 1895 until the cistern got old and needed replacement. The 1875 cistern was built fairly well under a sturdy foundation.

Building a log cabin school was no easy task. It took a few months for the school to open after construction was completed. The log cabin was built and completed in 1876. Local citizens and several businesses donated wood for a log cabin school to be built. Colorado School was built in to serve as a public school which was operated under Colorado Common School District now known as Del Valle Independent School District bka Del Valle ISD. The Colorado School along with the Colorado Common School District itself were named after the Colorado River.

Colorado School was built as a single story log cabin in 1876. The log cabin School was located near Colorado River adjacent to a large group of live oak trees and a clear spring. The school itself was 12 feet tall at maximum height as the school was only 1 story tall. The school was a one room school. Originally grades 1 through 8 were educated there. Later on, grades 1 through 12 were taught at this school.

Average daily attendance was 26 to 30 students for the Colorado School. Some days 30 students attended school at best. Attendance was never very high due to the agricultural lifestyle. Students had to tend to family farms during harvesting season. Students had to pick cotton and work in the fields.

Students had to use outhouses located not too far away from the school as the Colorado School did not receive indoor plumbing until near mid-20th century. 2 separate outhouses were located outside the Colorado School. The wait to use these facilities was long and time consuming. Some students and teachers simply used the forest that surrounded the area.

Of course racial segregation was implemented by law in Texas and southern United States, so schools were separated by race. Separate schools were built for white, black, and Hispanic students. Black students attended separate schools from white students. White students attended separate schools from black students. That is the reason why the "Colorado White School", "Colorado Mexican School", and "Colorado Negro School" existed. The Colorado Mexican School was built adjacent to the Colorado White School.

Despite being racially segregated, black and white students shared the one room School with Hispanic students. Black students were taught alongside with white students here at this school. Some of the other schools were like this. Hispanic students had either attended the negro schools or white schools. Usually Hispanic students attended both the negro schools or white schools.


A new cistern was built to replace the old cistern in 1895. The school district decided to eventually to drill a new water well in 1895. The well had to be drilled away from the cemeteries for sanitary purposes. So this led to a controversy to where the school district would locate the new water well. Another new water well and a cistern were installed in 1905.

The Colorado Mexican School was built next to the Colorado White School in 1906 which eventually became combined into one school. Black student had sometimes attended the Colorado Mexican School. Roof replacement was installed in the same year.

1921 was the year the log cabin school was demolished. This time the Colorado School was built on top of a concrete cement slab foundation that was built over an old graveyard. A single story brick building at a height of 12 feet was constructed in to replace the log cabin school to accommodate growth in enrollment as the log cabin school became overcrowded due to lack of space in classrooms. A sign with the words "Colorado School" had been placed on top of the school painted in a blackish brown color.

Schools known to local citizens as Colorado Mexican School and Colorado Negro School were constructed in 1934 adjacent to the Colorado White School although the original Colorado Mexican School had been built next to the Colorado White School for some time earlier. Prior to the Colorado Mexican School operating, Hispanic students attended the Colorado White School before a separate school for Hispanics became available. Hispanic students were not required to attend school. Hispanic students had either attended the negro schools or white schools. The Colorado Negro School was added as an additional building to accompany black students.

An additional room was added to the Colorado School in 1935. A number of additional rooms were later added to be expanded. Average daily attendance was 26 to 30 students on daily basis during the 1930s. But the attendance rate still remained low as it historically was and has been.


By the 1940s, the Colorado School receive indoor plumbing with 2 separate toilets inside the brick building. Water pipes were upgraded and fixed.

By the late 1940s, both the Colorado Mexican School, Colorado Negro School, and Colorado White School had experienced extreme overcrowding. Extreme overcrowding was common for schools in the Colorado Common School District such as the Elroy School, the Garfield School, Lamar School, Cloud School, and Popham School unfortunately. The Colorado School had a daily attendance rate of 100 students in 1944. 100 students was the average on a daily basis. A huge increase from the 1930s attendance rate. The rate remained the same even in 1945.

Colorado Common School District was 1 of 4 school districts listed as a defendant in the 1948 court case of Delgado v. Bastrop ISD. Colorado School was listed as a prime example of racial segregation in the lawsuit against the state of Texas. LULAC brought suit against several school districts for denying Hispanic students the use of school facilities and educational services. The suit claimed Hispanic students were separated and segregated from white students even though under state law they were considered "White" or "Caucasian". Although US Court found both the Colorado School and Colorado Common School District to be operating within the terms of the decree, overcrowding of the school witnessed would contradict the provision for “equal school instruction.”

By the late end of 1948, the school was closed due to overcrowding conditions. Travis County Schools Superintendent Irving W. Popham described conditions at Colorado School as “the worst Travis County has ever known.” Travis County Schools, Austin Independent School District (then Austin Public Schools which is now known as Austin ISD) and Colorado Common School District deemed the Colorado School unfit and inadequate for a learning environment due to overcrowding from a lack of space and growth in enrollment. Overcrowding was extreme. Travis County government officials determined the Colorado School deemed to be unfit and antiquated.

From 1948 to 1950, the Colorado School was used as a community center and church. As part of the land agreement with Travis County and City of Austin, the school was to be zoned as a church and community if in the event the school were to close down due to overcrowding, structural error, or declining enrollment. Colorado School held religious services during operation as a church.

When the Colorado School was closed, elementary students attended the Popham School while the junior high students attended Del Valle Junior High School. The high school students had  attended Del Valle Senior High School which was later Del Valle Junior-Senior High School which had eventually became Del Valle High School. Other students were sent to Austin ISD schools to relieve overcrowding.


In 1950, the old Colorado School was all but abandoned by the school district as students were being shipped to other schools as part the consolidation into Del Valle ISD on part of Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Colorado Common School District. Grass was kept untrimmed. Windows and window panels were boarded with thin plywood. Vegetation sprawled over Colorado School.

The Colorado Common School District along with Travis County Schools & TEA was consolidating school districts & schools in Southeastern Travis County in the 1950s in an effort to collect more on property taxes, declining enrollment, and lack of funding. Schools and school districts that were consolidated into Colorado Common School District were Elroy, Creedmoor, Pilot Knob, Dry Creek, Hornsby-Dunlap, Maha, and Garfield.

1950 is also when the Del Valle schools became slowly integrated. Some schools were no longer separated by race or ethnicity. Integration was slow to come to liberal Austin and Del Valle, but it came easy as the racial integration process went smooth with no trouble.


1952 is the year when the city of Austin began annexing portions of the Colorado Common School District in both Austin and Del Valle. The Colorado School was within the city limits causing confusion with Austin ISD and Del Valle ISD school district boundaries. Because the Colorado School was within The Austin city limits, the school district had to find a new location for its own schools. Although the Colorado School had an Austin address, it served students from the communities of Del Valle, Austin, Montopolis, Bergstrom Village, Glenbrook, Valle Del Rio, Colton, and Timber Creek.

Enrollment stood at 600 students in 1952 for the Colorado Common School District. That created a demand for new schools in Del Valle. The new renovated Popham School was open by then. Del Valle High School and Del Valle Junior High were underway.


In 1958, grass vegetation took over the driveways as the school was totally abandoned. The buildings were still standing by then. 1958 is also the year when the Del Valle schools became integrated. Schools were no longer separated by race or ethnicity. Integration was a smooth process for the large Del Valle school district with no hassle or race riots.

In 1958, Austin Public Schools (Austin Independent School District bka Austin ISD) sold the land to United States Government as the school was located dangerously close in a flight path being so close to Bergstrom Air Force Base. Davidson tract was located outside the former Bergstrom Air Force Base. The Colorado Common School District was renamed the Del Valle Independent School District in 1964.


In 1964, the Colorado School was demolished after years of being abandoned. All that remained in 1965 was a gravel pit located on site of the former Colorado School. That gravel pits sat out there for years before becoming overgrown by vegetation. Outbuildings sat in their positions. All outbuildings have been demolished. A portion of an outbuilding for the Colorado School was added to the Del Valle ISD district offices on Shapard Lane in Del Valle, Texas in 1967 which remains there today. To this day, the school district boundaries for Austin ISD and Del Valle ISD remain chaotic.


Colorado School is one of the many forgotten schools and institutions of Austin & Del Valle that have faded away with time and from people's memories unfortunately. Schools such as this one should be preserved as a museum, converted to a dance studio, bank, or revitalized into government offices. This can be listed as an example of priorities placed in the wrong place. Historic preservation should be a secondary priority for a school district.

Something needs to be done to commemorate the Colorado School as a part the 1948 Federal Court ruling on Delgado v. Bastrop ISD. People don't recognize how LULAC fought for equal school instruction and facilities. Efforts of LULAC also need to brought to attention.


*Colorado Common School District was known to Travis County Schools officials and civilians as Colorado Common School District No. 36 or as School District No. 36.
*The Colorado School was simply just called "Colorado School" at one point in history.
*Colorado School had an Austin address despite being zoned to Del Valle ISD.
*Colorado School was adjacent to 2 other schools before the schools became molded into one school called "Colorado School" due mainly to racial integration following 1948. Thus Colorado Mexican School and Colorado Negro School were eventually combined into the Colorado White School.
*Old Del Valle Road was also known as Old Austin-Del Valle Road, Austin-Del Valle Road, and Del Valle Road.
*The Martin Family Cemetery preceded the Colorado School.
*Popham School bka Popham Elementary School was built in 1948 to relieve overcrowding from other schools located in the Colorado Common School District. From 1952 to 1953, Popham School went under construction during an extensive renovation period. In 1953 the school was finally open to the public again.



As for the Martin Family Cemetery, the Martin Family Cemetery was plotted and constructed in 1874 by Enoch Martin and Andrew M. Davidson when they deeded land to Travis County for a school to be built on and a city cemetery. Many family members from the Martin Family were buried there. Last recorded burial in the Martin Family Cemetery was Walter Martin in 1909.

The Martin Family Cemetery is now behind a secure fence located southeast of the US 183 & SH 71 intersection near the northwest corner of Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). Martin Family Cemetery is located 140 feet north of Greenwood Cemetery also. Permission must be obtained to view the Martin Family Cemetery due to Homeland Security restrictions. Homeland Security restrictions require visitors to be escorted by ABIA staff to the site.


Enoch Martin, Andrew M. Davidson, and F.A. Maxwell deeded land to Travis County and City of Austin for another cemetery that was to become a city cemetery in 1907. Other acres were purchased in 1910. This cemetery would eventually become Greenwood Cemetery. Austin-Del Valle Road served as the northeast boundary between separating the Martin Family Cemetery from the Greenwood Cemetery. Martin Family members are also buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Greenwood Cemetery operates as a public cemetery owned by the City of Austin to this day. ABIA staff and Homeland Security staff patrol both cemeteries on a daily basis. Greenwood Cemetery is located directly south of the Martin Family Cemetery adjacent near ABIA. Both Greenwood Cemetery and Martin Family Cemetery are located at 1927 Old Lockhart Road, Austin, Texas, US 78742.

*Martin Family Cemetery is located near Old Del Valle Road.
*Also Martin Family Cemetery is located less than 1 acre north of Greenwood Cemetery.

History about the old Martin Family Cemetery not lost or forgotten.

Martin Family Cemetery was plotted and constructed in 1874 by Enoch Martin and Andrew M. Davidson when they deeded land to Travis County for a school to be built on and a city cemetery. Many family members from the Martin Family were buried there. Last recorded burial in the Martin Family Cemetery was Walter Martin in 1909.

The Martin Family Cemetery is now behind a secure fence located southeast of the US 183 & SH 71 intersection near the northwest corner of Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). Martin Family Cemetery is located 140 feet north of Greenwood Cemetery also. Permission must be obtained to view the Martin Family Cemetery due to Homeland Security restrictions. Homeland Security restrictions require visitors to be escorted by ABIA staff to the site.


Enoch Martin, Andrew M. Davidson, and F.A. Maxwell deeded land to Travis County and City of Austin for another cemetery that was to become a city cemetery in 1907. Other acres were purchased in 1910. This cemetery would eventually become Greenwood Cemetery. Austin-Del Valle Road served as the northeast boundary between separating the Martin Family Cemetery from the Greenwood Cemetery. Martin Family members are also buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Greenwood Cemetery operates as a public cemetery owned by the City of Austin to this day. ABIA staff and Homeland Security staff patrol both cemeteries on a daily basis. Greenwood Cemetery is located directly south of the Martin Family Cemetery adjacent near ABIA. Both Greenwood Cemetery and Martin Family Cemetery are located at 1927 Old Lockhart Road, Austin, Texas, US 78742.

*Martin Family Cemetery is located near Old Del Valle Road.
*Also Martin Family Cemetery is located less than 1 acre north of Greenwood Cemetery.

Opium crops still rise in Afghanistan's premium economy.

In the 1990's, Afghanistan was producing a large amounts of illicit crops. These illicit crops were known as opium. Opium is known to be highly addictive and effective for medicine. This led the country of Afghanistan to be first place in the world for opium production. But it was not long until these opium crops were banished from existence in Afghanistan.

The year 2000 is when opium was banned in Afghanistan. It was due to the political influence of the Taliban that led opium to be illegal by government policy. By then, governmental policies had taken a u-turn in laws of the land in Afghanistan. The crops of opium were highly effected by these laws. Production of opium took a massive decline over the years to come. By 2002, most of the opium crops were destroyed by the Taliban. However in 2016, opium usage would continue to rise despite all the country of Afghanistan's hardships. Opium remains a problem to this day still.

How Tent Cities are run in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio was the first person to set up "Tent City" in Maricopa County during the year of 1993 as an extension of the Maricopa County Jail system. Eventually later on, Sheriff Joe Arpaio would approve more building of these "Tent Cities" around the state of Arizona and not just Phoenix metropolitan area. By 2009, there were more than 15 Tent Cities. These Tent Cities are similar to prison and jail of course. These Tent Cities are run like a prison system obviously.

And yes, Sheriff Joe Arpaio has even went to the extent of describing Tent City as a concentration camp. Lawyers and attorneys have questionably wondered and continue to fight over the constitutionality of Tent  Cities. Tent Cities are criticized by human rights groups stating there are violations of human rights and constitutional rights going on there. In 2010 even more tent cities were built.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio runs law enforcement for Phoenix along with the state of Arizona with an iron fist. We all know that Sheriff Joe Arpaio doesn't play around when it comes to law enforcement and politics.

How teachers are pushing our children towards into indoctrination with the extreme liberal politics today.

Today a majority of teachers are devout Communists that are trained by the government who is only interested in indoctrination rather than education. A majority of teachers are devout Communists who are only interested in indoctrination and the paychecks rather than education.  It seems that technology is replacing common sense and teaching for one thing. That one thing is indoctrination. Public school teachers and private school teachers  are indoctrinating our children by "their education standards". The educational system has removed common sense and good judgement from everyday life. People have lost all common sense. Not good.
The teachers of the educational system have instilled such fear into the people to the point where now most of us live in a constant state of fear and paranoia due to extreme indoctrination caused by the teachers and government.

It's really very shameful!! American people, wake up and retake our country! Take the United States back!

What really happened to the Austin State School - Farm Colony.

Austin State School - Farm Colony (better known as the Travis State School) was a living center that was operated as a farm colony, work facility, and educational facility for the mentally retarded citizens of Texas operating from 1933 to 1996 for which in part was totally operated by Texas Mental Health Mental Retardation (TX MHMR & Texas Board of Control) via Texas Government. The institution taught the mentally retarded how to be self-sufficient. Travis State School itself was located at FM 969 and Decker Lane 8 miles east of Downtown Austin located near the Colorado River.

A Texas State Legislature meeting was held for a decision on what to rename the Austin State School. It was due to reforms in healthcare along with mental health that the name of this institution was changed. To reflect this change, Austin State School - Farm Colony was renamed to Travis State School in January 1961. The farming operations did not cease due to mental health care reforms in the 1960's due to popular belief as many believed.

Farming operations at the facility slowly ceased in January 1961 due to the fact that the farm colony was a total failure. The farm colony could not produce enough to maintain for the patients at the institutions. Farming operations ceased due to lack of attention and criminal negligence. Despite that, the farming colony operated until 1974.

The reasons why Austin State School - Farm Colony ceased operations was due to revisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1974 and the oil recession of the 1970s that greatly effected the United States economy.

Texas Government discovered the free labor residents and inmates provided was considered somewhat exploitive especially for the high functioning residents. High functioning residents were assigned to take care of low functioning residents. The State of Texas could not afford to pay residents and inmates as workers. So residents and inmates worked for free This in turn was a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1974.

The courts ruled in 1974 residents and inmates in these institutions run by the State of Texas (federal, state-run, or otherwise) were entitled to protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This was a tragedy for some of the residents and inmates residing in these institutions. They had no sense of purpose and had idle time sitting on the ward. Despite that, state run programs were still readily available.

Income inequality in the United States of America revealed.

United States of America is the known chosen land of the free. All you need is common sense to realize that you are not truly free as an American citizen. It helps to have some money.
Many American citizens are underpaid and overworked. So many American citizens consider their pay to be low in terms of income. That's just the reality though. The perspective of an average American citizen who is considered a modern day slave by society. In the eyes of many American citizens, income equality is income inequality. The average American citizen is a modern day slave. Only those who are rich will succeed. Those who are poor are deemed as failures. Those are the norms in such ideology imposed by American culture and society. Politics and culture play huge roles inside income inequality and income equality in the United States of America.

What conditions a potato is best for consumption.

It all depends on the condition of the potato. When a potato is covered by dirt and with blemishes, it's sometimes usually not safe to eat. The potato skin can get in the way of eating when it comes flavor of food. Never eat dirty potato skins as there could be hidden bacteria on potato skin as well as the potato itself. Eating a dirty potato could cause a symptom of having diarrhea or other illness. When a potato is covered by dirt and with blemishes, it's best to peel the potato so appearance isn't all messed up. Small potatoes have thin skin and don't need peeling. Of course this depends on the condition of the potato. Some people will say and think, "Why even peel a potato? Just wash it, chop it, and be done! Just wash it and chop it."