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A ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the renovated 1916 Building was held on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. It's a historic moment in the history of Jarrell ISD. The 1916 Building was the District's primary schoolhouse for over a century. When Jarrell High School opened its doors in 2007, it was no longer used as the District's primary classroom space.
A few years later, the building closed its doors and was unused for more than a decade. During that time, it started to deteriorate. In 2021, a bond committee was formed, and part of the bond package was to restore the building to serve the Jarrell community again. The two-story structure will serve as the District's administrative building and provide space for community meetings. Part of the first floor will also host school board meetings.
The 1916 Building is a historical piece of Jarrell's history. For years, it served as a K-12 school in the community. Generations of families attended school in the building, so there are many memories. The District was determined to ensure those memories were kept alive.
In June 2023, Jarrell ISD formed the 1916 Building History Committee. The committee's goal was to capture the spirit of the 1916 Building and display artifacts and memorabilia of its history and importance in the community. The committee was made up of Jarrell ISD graduates from five different decades. For fourteen months, the committee searched through 100 years of Jarrell ISD history. They reviewed yearbooks, newspaper clippings, photos from as far back as the 1930s, graduation information, selected wall graphics, and other meaningful materials that recognize and pay tribute to the generations of families who walked the halls of the 1916 Building. The entire first floor of the building is dedicated to the history of the 1916 Building.
Construction of the 1916 Building was completed in July 2022, more than a year ahead of schedule. The original timeline for completion was October 2025.
