Boerne Paint Co. helps restore Welfare School
WELFARE — A fundraiser to restore a historic schoolhouse piqued Greg Chapman’s interest — enough to become a fullfledged restoration project for his Boerne Paint Co.
As a result, the historic Welfare School, which served area students from 1902-1952, is receiving a frame-up and exterior paint job from the Boerne-based company at no cost to the Friends of the Historic Welfare Schoolhouse.
“Greg heard about the fundraiser they were doing to restore the old schoolhouse through Boerne Radio,” said Emily Suhr, director of marketing for Boerne Paint Co. and its construction-based affiliate, Covenant of Texas.
“Greg immediately said, ‘We’re going to do this. This is something we’re going to do for the Boerne community,’” she added.
Built as a one-teacher school about 1878 to serve the rural Welfare community, the building originally was located on the west side of Joshua Creek.
It was moved to the current site about 1902. A porch was added in 1912.
The school saw its largest enrollment in 1916 with 25 students and held classes until 1952, when education districts across the state consolidated.
“They (Greg and Melissa Chapman, Boerne Paint Co. owners) are happy they’re able to contribute. And it’s one of my favorite projects that we’re doing, too,” Suhr said.
She said several support posts and the porch, replaced in previous restoration, needed more work.
“We’re not charging for any of this.”
— Emily Suhr, Boerne Paint Co.
“We were asked if we could do that and we said, absolutely,” Suhr said. “We kind of built that into the budget, and it went from there.”
She added, “We’re not charging for any of this. We’re just happy to be able to do it.”
Boerne Paint, which opened in August on Texas 46 near Truss and Worth drives, completed the framing and other exterior woodwork about two weeks ago.
Scraping and sanding paint occupied most of Monday and Tuesday.
“ With the weather finally working in our favor, we’re able to get the sanding and caulking and all the prep work done for the painting, which should happen this week,” she said.
An open house is slated for February at the school, 217 Waring Welfare Road.
The interior of the historic Welfare School, which served as a schoolhouse for area students from 1902-1952, has been restored to resemble what the school’s classroom would have looked like. Star photo by Jeff B. Flinn
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