Santa Margarita School


Raymondville Newspaper - February 17, 1927
 NEW SCHOOL FOR SANTA MARGARITA
Trustees Call Election March 19th to Vote on $25,000 Bond Issue for This Purpose

No sooner was the last remaining indebtedness of the Santa Margarita Independent School District wiped out than steps were taken looking to the calling of an election to create a bonded indebtedness of $25,000 for the purpose of erecting a modern brick and concrete school building and equipping it with the latest appliances.
Upon petition of more than the necessary signers, the Board of Trustees of Santa Margarita Independent School District, at its meeting last Monday night, voted to call an election for $25,000 in bonds. The election date was set for Saturday, March 19th.
Santa Margarita is located about nine miles due east of Raymondville and will be on the new railroad extension of the Missouri Pacific from Raymondville to Point Isabel. It is one of the new towns to be established on this new rail line and the School Trustees are preparing to put the Santa Margarita Independent School District in condition to meet the increased demands that will be made upon them by constructing a building that will be adequate to take care of the increased population during the next few years.
It is planned to construct a brick and concrete structure, fire-proof in every detail and arranged conveniently for six class rooms. The present frame school building will be converted into a general assembly hall and community center and will make an ideal place in which to hold all kinds of community meetings.


Raymondville Newspaper - September 1, 1927
SCHOOL BUILDING
Handsome New Structure Rapidly Nearing Completion - Elaborate Ceremony is Being Planned


The Board of School Trustees of Santa Margarita Independent School District, as well as the many patrons of that school, are justly proud of their handsome and modern new school house.
This building, under the supervision of Contractors Rayburne Construction Co., and the efficient management of their chief superintendent, George W. Commins, is rapidly nearing completion. Workmen are now busily engaged in putting the finishing touches to the interior of the structure, plastering, writing, painting, etc. It is expected that this building will be turned over to the trustees by the end of this month.
The Santa Margarita School Building was provided for in a bond issue of $25,000. The building costing in the neighborhood of $20,000 while the balance will be used in equipping it with the most approved school furniture. The building has eight large, airy classrooms, a large auditorium with a seating capacity of 350, superintendent's offices, cloak rooms, etc.
An elaborate ceremony is now being planned to take place on or about the 9th of September when the cornerstone of the handsome structure will be laid with impressive Masonic rites. Along with the features of the entertainment will be a monster basket barbecue, literary and musical numbers.




Raymondville Newspaper - September 15, 1927
CORNERSTONE HAS ARRIVED
Program Arranged for Two Weeks Ago Will be Carried Out in Due Form on Friday Evening
(note from Beth: Only the second half of the article is printed. The first part was missing)


The stone arrived at Santa Margarita Tuesday afternoon and will be ready to be placed in the modern $25,000 school building tomorrow evening. Raymondville Lodge A.F. & A.M., No. 1204 will have charge of the ceremony.
Rev. Grady Timon, pastor of the First Methodist Church of McAllen, is scheduled to deliver the principal address of the evening
immediately following the ceremony.
A basket supper will preceed the laying of the cornerstone. This is to be supplied by all families who expect to attend. The lunch will be spread on a long table with ample iced lemonade and ice water free to all.
The Hoot Owl Brass Band of Sebastian, assisted by several musicians from Raymondville and Santa Margarita will furnish music throughout the evening, while an excellent program has been arranged by Mrs. Brown in which the school children of Santa Margarita will play a prominent part.

 


Raymondville Newspaper - September 29, 1927
SCHOOL BUILDING WAS DEDICATED
Santa Margarita Structure Receives Share of Praise

Between three and four hundred citizens of this section attended the dedicatory service of Santa Margarita's handsome new school building last Friday evening.
The ceremony was under auspices of Raymondville Lodge No. 1204, A.F. & A.M. with Art Baughman, W.M., acting as master of ceremonies.
A monster basket picnic preceeded the ceremonies which was heartily participated in by men, women and children. The long table was burdened with innumerable good things to eat and drink. Every conceivable table delicacy, prepared only as many housewives of this section know how to prepare them, were at the disposal of the citizens of Santa Margarita and their guests. Immediately following the picnic supper, the ceremony of laying the cornerstone in the school building was started.
Under the direction of Mrs. R. Lee Brown, the school children of Santa Margarita sang a number of peppy songs. This was followed by introduction by the master of ceremonies of Architect Hardy, who designed the structure and Mrs. Archie Clark, who gave a detailed description of Santa Margarita Schools from its inception until the final chapter of this evening's program, culminating in the laying of the cornerstone of a dream of several years and considerable hard work. The history, as related by the speaker will be found elsewhere in this issue. (Note from Beth: Hopefully, I can find this article in the future!)
The actual dedicatory services were then started with the following personnel acting as representatives of the Grand Lodge of Texas: Isadore Mortiz, G.M.; W. R. Corley, D.G.M.; Art Baughman, G.S.W.; S. V. Kinser, G.J.W.; C. C. Beecraft, S.D.; H. A. Shapiro, J.D.; V. H. Tumlinson, G.Treas.; R. F. Robinson, G.Sec.; S. E. Smith, G.Architect; F. B. Eaton, G.Marshall. The impressive Masonic ceremony was carried out which was followed by a splendid address on education by the Grand Orator, Rev. Leslie A. Boone.
Santa Margarita may well feel proud of its achievement in erecting a monument of this type for the betterment of the boys and girls, young men and young ladies of this territory. It is a school building any community may justly boast.
This building is equipped with a large, airy auditorium 40 feet wide by seventy feet long with a seating capacity of more than 300. The spacious stage permitting of many educational and entertainment features to be held here. There are three large classrooms, each fitted out with individual lockers and each will be modernly equipped. A superintendent's office, library room and other smaller compartments fill up the rest of the building with a wide concrete walk running the full length of the structures.
It was built at a total cost of a little over $20,000, Raybourne Construction Co. securing the contract with actual work left in charge of Geo. W. Commins as superintendent of construction.
The visitors had an opportunity to inspect the building from one end to the other and all were loud in their praise not only of its general appearance, comfort and convenience, but also for its construction.


NOTE: The five-hundred to six-hundred pound cornerstone is said to have ended up on someone's walkway.


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