Saint Ludmila's Academy

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna give it to you straight. Way back in 1896, the town of Shiner got its very first Catholic school. Contractors Scherbohm and Mewes put up a two-story French style frame building, and they weren't skimping on the details.

First floor had two classrooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. Second floor was home to the Sisters. Right from the start, this place had a purpose built into every plank.

The school was named Saint Ludmila's Academy, in honor of a Slavic saint, and it opened its doors in February of 1897. The Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, a religious order operating in the state of Texas, ran the whole operation. Now, that first year, fifty-seven students enrolled.

Boys and girls both, boarders and day students together. They were studying German and Czech languages, and if you had a musical inclination, there was piano, guitar, and mandolin waiting for you. Not a bad education for a town that had only just gotten started.

Then in 1902, two years of high school were added on top of the elementary grades. Things kept growing. By 1916, enrollment had climbed enough that a new structure had to be built.

In 1928, a full four-year high school was incorporated, and with that, the school received the designation of an academy. Saint Ludmila's Academy, now carrying the name with full credentials to back it up. After 1939, the school stopped accepting boarding pupils.

The world was changing, and Shiner was changing with it. An elementary school went up in 1951, and before long a gymnasium, an auditorium, and a cafeteria joined the campus. Then in 1963, the Shiner Parish erected St.

Paul High School. What started as a two-story frame building put up by a couple of contractors in 1896 had grown into something the whole community knew by name. Today, that whole educational complex is known as the Shiner Catholic School.

From fifty-seven students in year one to a full campus with a high school, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria. Shiner believed in what that first building started.

What the marker says

The first Catholic school in Shiner was built in 1896 by Scherbohm and Mewes, contractors. The two story French style frame building housed two classrooms, a dining room and kitchen on the first floor, and a residence for the Sisters on the second floor. Named Saint Ludmila's Academy in honor of a Slavic saint, the school opened in February 1897 and was operated by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament religious order in the state of Texas. The co-educational boarding and day school enrolled fifty-seven students the first year. Courses included German and Czech language; music courses featured piano, guitar, and mandolin. In 1902 two years of high school were added to the elementary grades. In 1916 a new structure was built to meet increased enrollment. In 1928 a four-year high school was incorporated, and the school received the designation of an academy. After 1939, no pupils were accepted as boarders. An elementary school was built in 1951, and a gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria were added to the campus. In 1963 the Shiner Parish erected St. Paul High School. The educational complex is known as the Shiner Catholic School. (1997)