Edmund Lieck Elementary School

This is my deceased husband's greatgrandfather. They have just named a new elementary school after him in northwest San Antonio. He was a true educational pioneer who helped establish the roots of that school district before the district was created. He was born in Heinsberg, Germany in 1845. His family immigrated to the United States when he was still a child. He and two younger brothers served in the Texas Calvary during the Civil War. He and his wife purchased ranch land west of San Antonio. Lieck and his neighbors built a one-room school on the ranch property. The school contained 25 homemade desks and a black potbelly stove. Lanterns were used to light the inside of the school and the library had five books. Lieck was the first teacher. He welcomed all children regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity. The school also was a gathering place and functioned as a dance hall on Saturday nights, a Church on Sunday mornings. and a voting site on election day. It's been more then a century since Edmund Lieck and his neighbor's built the school but his legacy continues to thrive in his namesake school.