The Temple Historic Prevention Committee is honoring the Vandiver. Temple's oldest elementary school.
Set for demolition in 2016 one Temple resident chose to preserve its history instead.
"This is not only history, it's their history." Homeowner, Tina Ortiz said.
The first building was a simple frame structure, known as Temple Ward School, and was torn down in 1891. A six-room stone structure was built for $6,500 in 1896. That's when the Vandiver School got its name in 1904 to honor Bell County educator, Mrs. M. V. Vandiver. Then the second building was also torn down in 1928 due to structural issues and replaced with the 13,043 square foot building that stands today.
The Vandiver was vacant for 5 years before Temple Independent School District decided to set a demolition date.
'I was a little disappointed that it could be torn down, but it was heartening to hear that it was going to be usable and was going to be used for the purpose they had in mind." Bert DeBourd, Vandiver alum, said.
When Ortiz saw the Vandiver she wasn't sold on it right away but her husband Fred reassured her it's a challenge they can accomplish.
The two decided to use it for an adult's special needs facility that they currently run. The deal was set, paying $5,000 for the school she started the renovations. That's when the City of Temple told her, because of the size and commercial use, it needed a $115,000 fire suppression system.
"Literally was in tears that night when I went to bed," Ortiz said. "And I woke up the next morning and I thought, I'm going to live in it."
The bottom floor now finished and many from the Temple community knocking on her door to take a trip down memory lane.
"I still remember which room was which grade and I remember every teacher." Guy Fowler, Vandiver alum, said.
Fowler went to school here for 6 years, joking about spending most of his days in the principal's office, he was still happy to see his history preserved.
"I've been concerned that they were probably going to tear it down," Fowler said. So knowing that somebody was going to take care of it was a warmed my heart."
Ortiz hopes to challenge the Temple community to do the same in keeping the town's history alive.
"I hope they become inspired," Ortiz said. "To do something similar to this because this is a great town and it's got so many possibilities."
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