Remember Lockhill School’s story as we stand before this plaque. This isn’t just a marker. It is a testament to a community’s dedication to education. Lockhill School is one of Texas’ oldest public schools. It has operated continuously since 1868.
The school got its name from William J. Locke. He donated the land for the school. Locke was born in Illinois in 1828. He eventually made his way to Texas with his wife and children. They traveled by river and oxcart. Locke and his brother bought land north of San Antonio. This area became known as Locke Hill.
Locke served in the army and became a captain. After his service, he and his brother opened a supply depot. It also served as a post office. This accommodated the stagecoach route. In 1870, Locke served in the Texas House of Representatives. He represented the 29th District.
Initially, classes for Lockhill School were held in a shed. This shed was behind the supply depot. The community recognized the need for education. Parents wanted more for their children. Other early locations included the Flathouse home and a spot near the Locke Hill Cemetery.
A two-room brick building was erected in 1923. This was on the original Locke Hill land. In the 1940s, six more rooms were added. Trolley cars served as lunchrooms. A local lady brought food from home. Later, a remodeled wooden building housed the school-operated cafeteria.
Lockhill School had some interesting transportation in the 1930s. Two Model-T Ford buses were used. They were named Archibald and Percival. In 1935, Lockhill became a Standard Rural School. The Works Progress Administration built a large auditorium. Rocks from a nearby quarry were used. The auditorium served many purposes. These included school programs, PTA meetings and a lunchroom.
In 1949, Lockhill became part of the Northside Consolidated District. It became an elementary school. Before this, it taught first through tenth grades. More additions came in 1957. These included a cafeteria, classrooms and a principal’s office.
Former students celebrated the school’s centennial in 1968. They gathered at Raymond Russell Park. The first historical marker was dedicated that year. It was later moved to the current campus.
Due to increasing enrollment, a new school was built in 1975. Lockhill Elementary School moved to its current location on DeZavala Road. In 2015, a historical marker honored the old auditorium. It was dedicated at the former campus.
Captain Locke raised nine children. He died in 1922 at the age of eighty-three. He is buried in the National Cemetery in San Antonio. This plaque commemorates more than just a school. It honors a man and a community’s commitment to education. It embodies their enduring legacy.