San Francisco de la Espada

San Francisco de la Espada is one of the seven missions established in the 1700's along the San Antonio River by Franciscan missionaries. In 1915, it was restored to be used as a parish church; other buildings were restored to be used as a school, and a convent for sisters. On August 15, 1915, three Incarnate Word Sisters took charge of the new school. There were 53 children in grades one to six, crowded into three small classrooms. By the end of the first year, enrollment had jumped to ninety-nine. Conditions were harsh: a leaking roof, cold, no electricity or telephone, and no water. Water was carried in each day from wells in the surrounding area. Incarnate Word Sisters staffed the school until it closed in 1967.