Cherry Spring, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherry Spring, Texas
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Cherry Spring schoolhouse
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 Cherry Spring, Texas
Location in Texas
Cherry Spring, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Gillespie |
| Elevation | 1,791 ft (546 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 25 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-14572 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379538 |
Cherry Spring is a small farming and ranching community in Gillespie County, Texas. It is not an official city, but a group of homes and farms. The community was started in 1852.
Cherry Spring is located along Cherry Spring Creek. This creek flows from north of Fredericksburg towards Llano. The community is also found on the old Pinta Trail. This was an important route in the past.
The Cherry Spring School is a very old and important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This means it is a special place that is protected for its history. The school was also named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985.
Today, about 75 people live in Cherry Spring. The community is located at an elevation of 1,791 feet above sea level.
Contents
How Cherry Spring Began
Early Settlers and the County
In 1847, people asked to create a new county called Gillespie County. The next year, in 1848, the government officially formed Gillespie County. It was made from parts of Bexar and Travis counties.
Many of the people who asked for the new county were German immigrants. But there were also people with Spanish names like Castillo and Pena. Some non-German Anglo names were also on the list.
Founding the Community
Cherry Spring was first settled in 1852. Two German immigrants, Dietrich Rode and William Kothe, were among the first to arrive. Dietrich Rode was an important person in the early community. He helped start the first Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg.
Mr. Rode also led church services from his home in Cherry Spring. This led to the creation of Christ Lutheran Church. This church is still active today and has about 200 members. Dietrich Rode's original home is still standing near the church.
Community Growth
By 1860, the official count of people living in Cherry Spring was 117. This shows that the community was growing steadily.
John O. Meusebach was a key figure in the area's history. In 1847, he made a special agreement called the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty. This treaty helped make the area safer for settlers from Comanche raids. However, other Native American groups, like the Kiowa and Apache, sometimes still caused trouble.
One famous story from the area is about Herman Lehmann. He was a white captive who later ran a place where cattle drives would stop. This spot eventually became the Cherry Springs Dance Hall. John O. Meusebach himself was buried in Cherry Spring in 1897. His family cemetery is still there.
Cherry Spring School History
The Cherry Spring School is part of a larger school complex. This complex includes an even older building called Das Alte Schulhaus, which means "The Old Schoolhouse." Both Das Alte Schulhaus and the Cherry Spring School are recognized as Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks.
The Cherry Spring School is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This listing helps protect the school building because of its historical importance. It reminds us of the early days of education in the community.
