BROWN COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKERS Contributed by: Joan Renfrow ******************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************************** BROWN COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKERS The Texas Historical Commission http://www.thc.state.tx.us/index.html ADAMS-SHAW HOUSE Marker #83 Location: 1600 Shaw Dr. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1975 Marker Text: This house was erected about 1876 for George H. Adams (1842-1920), a rancher and former Texas Ranger, whose cattle brand was carved into the front step. English- born stonemason William Frederick Morton (1851-1926) built it of sandstone quarried in nearby Willis Creek. The structure was purchased in 1908 by Laura (d. 1944) and Colin McKeever Shaw (1850-1944). It was restored and enlarged after 1945 by their son, Neil K. Shaw (1901-1969), and his wife, Maud Dabney Shaw. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1975 Daniel Baker College Marker #1165 Location: 1320 Austin Ave. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1992 Marker Text: Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and named for early Texas circuit-riding minister Daniel Baker (1791-1857), this institution was founded in 1888 by the Rev. Brainard Taylor McClelland (1845-1901). The college officially was chartered on April 5, 1889. McClelland, under whose leadership Brownwood's First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1876, served as the college's first president. His wife, Susan Mary Smith McClelland, was a member of the college faculty and assumed a leadership role for two years following her husband's death. Land for the college campus was donated by brothers Samuel R. and Modie J. Coggin. The first class of Daniel Baker graduates, consisting of eight students, received diplomas in May 1895. In addition to academic instruction, the college also featured an active sports program, with football, baseball, track, and basketball teams. Plagued with financial problems throughout its history, the college was briefly affiliated with the Methodist and Episcopal denominations. Finally, in 1953, it was consolidated with Howard Payne College, a Baptist school also located in Brownwood. (1992) BANGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Marker #296 Location: Bangs High School, Third Street, one block north of US 67 City: Bangs Marker Erected: 1992 Marker Text: The town of Bangs was established on the route of the Santa Fe Railroad, which deeded land to the city for a school. The first school building, a two-room frame structure on the south side of the railroad tracks, was completed in 1892. Miss Clemie King was the first teacher; enrollment totaled 35 pupils. A new 2- story stone structure, built on the north side of the tracks in 1903, replaced the first building. Over the years the school system has grown and built additional facilities. Nine other area schools have consolidated with the Bangs school system since its founding. (1992) BROWN COUNTY Marker #528 Location: Roadside Park, west of Pecan Bayou Bridge, on US 67/84 at east city limits City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1936 Marker Text: Created August 27, 1856; Organized March 21, 1857. Named for Capt. Henry S. Brown; came to Texas in 1824; Indian trader and fighter, commanded a company at the Battle of Velasco, member of the Convention of 1832; county seat, Brownwood 1856; moved to new site of same name, 1867. (1936) BROWN COUNTY COURTHOUSE ID #44 City: Brownwood Description: Actually referred to as a "repair" of the 1884 courthouse, however only the vault from the 1884 building survived. Modifications: 1994-1997 County has undertaken various unauthorized renovations. Presumed to include alteration of the third floor and replacement of windows. Interior has been recently renovated, destroying a large amount of the historic fabric. BROWN COUNTY JAIL Ref. # 83003129 Address: 401 W. Broadway Narrative: The Brown County Jail, constructed in 1902-1903, is a three-story, stone masonry structure built over a partial basement. The castle-like structure is superior to most late l9th-and early 20th-century American jails. As a strong statement of the consequences of breaking the law and the certainty of subsequent incarceration, the Brown County Jail is a significant public building because of the clarity of its architectural style (and stylistic origins), as well as the integration of load bearing stone masonry construction with an evolving jail hardware. The arrangement of cells and the segregation of prisoners according to security needs reflects various aspect of prison reform in the United States in the 19th century. The Auburn Cell-Block System, which served as the model for most American prisons, separated cell blocks from the buildings around them. In essence, the building acted as a shell and the cell blocks were discrete elements inside the building. The arrangement of the Brown County Jail is derived from the Auburn System, and is modified or scaled down to function on the county level. The most significant landscape feature associated with the jail is the low, rusticated stone wall which is surmounted by an ornamental iron fence punctuated by a series of elegantly detailed posts. The wall and fence, which were completed in November 1903, are stylistically consistent with the jail itself, and serve not only to enclose the jail property but also to integrate the building visually with the adjoining streetscape. Changes to the jail during its eighty-year history have been remarkably few. The slate roof was removed and asphalt shingles were applied, openings in the tower on either side of the Ionic columns were blocked up, and interior finishes were altered. Tile and linoleum were laid on the floors and the walls were painted. Other changes have occurred in response to the demands of state jail codes, causing the rearrangement of cells, the pouring of new concrete floors in limited areas, and the installation of new locking devices and new types of steed bars. Such changes are indicative of advances made in the technical field of locking devices and metallurgy by businesses such as the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St. Louis and the Southern Steel Company of San Antonio. The Brown County Jail, constructed in 1902 and 1903, exemplifies the principles which governed jail design in America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Designed and constructed by two of the leading jail companies in the South--Youngblood Brothers of Troy, Alabama; and Martin, Moodie & Co. of Comanche, Texas--the Brown County jail successfully assured the local population of their safety from various "lawless elements" while simultaneously conveying physical strength, impregnability, and the seriousness of incarceration to those who were imprisoned there. It was the first jail constructed in Texas by Youngblood Brothers, a firm which operates today as the Southern Steel Company, and which provided the equipment for many of America's largest prisons such as Riker's Island, New York. Architecturally, the Brown County Jail is one of the most significant turn-of-the-century jails in Texas. Brown County, located near the geographical center of Texas, was created in 1856 and named in honor of Captain Henry S. Brown, a member of Green C. Dewitt's colony and a delegate from Gonzales to the Convention of 1832 at San Felipe de Austin. Settlement of the county was slow, due largely to its proximity to the Comanche frontier, and a chaotic period of lawlessness lasted well into the 1880s. Perhaps in response to this chaos, the county authorized construction of its first jail in 1876, a structure which was located at the corner of North Fiske and Water streets. In March 1880, the jail and nearby courthouse burned and all county records were lost. Subsequently, commissioners contracted with Martin, Byrne & Johnston in 1881, and this prominent firm completed a new Brown County Jail. By 1901, the commissioners decided that the 1881 jail was insufficient for the county's needs. In an election held in December, voters authorized the issuance of $30,000 in bonds and the county took steps to acquire Block 9 of Brownwood proper from Brook Smith and the Brownwood Ice and Light Co. Simultaneously, the commissioners published a notice in the Dallas Daily News in which they requested that jail contractors submit plans, specifications, and bids by February 6, 1902, for the erection of a stone or brick fire proof jail furnished with the latest improved steel cells and all other modern improvements. A number of jail contractors bid on the Brown County Jail, and commissioners spent almost three days considering the alternatives. On February 6, they accepted the low bid of $24,925.60, awarding the contract to the firm of Martin, Moodie Co. of Comanche, Texas, in partnership with Youngblood Bros. of Troy, Alabama, and appointed local architect and contractor William Hood as the superintendent of construction. A plethora of experience and talent was represented within the party that assembled to design, construct, and superintend the jail project. William Martin, senior partner in the Comanche firm, was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, on November 10, 1845. He came to Texas in 1870 and settled in Comanche County. In partnership with Dave C. Byrne and John S. Johnston, he built various jails and courthouses in Bastrop, Comanche, Columbus, Caldwell, Goliad, Mantagorda, Fayette, and Victoria counties. He was a member of the firm of Martin, Holderness & Oates at one time, and a prominent member of Comanche's banking community. In about 1895, Martin formed a business with Peter Moodie, a local contractor who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 12, 1843, and who trained as a stonemason before emigrating to the United States in 1864. Moodie traveled extensively in the West and Midwest before settling in Hearne, Texas, where he built railroad shops and buildings for the Texas and Pacific Railroad Company. Later, he was involved in the construction of courthouses in Cherokee, Jasper, Red River, Montgomery, and Hood counties, and built the courthouse in Shreveport, Louisiana. He constructed the Carnegie Library and Central Fire Station in Houston, and Simmons College at Abilene. Its partnership with William Martin yielded such buildings as the Brown and Comanche County jails and the McCulloch County Courthouse. The Brown County Jail was only one among many structures erected by Martin & Moodie. But it was the first such building constructed in Texas by their partners, the Youngblood Brothers. Based in Troy, Alabama, James Algernon, David F. and George Lester Youngblood had worked for the Pauly Jail Company in St. Louis. They returned to Troy where they invented a number of pieces of equipment such as the portable cage. By 1900, they looked to Texas, hoping to expand their trade area, and David Youngblood made contact with Martin & Moodie in Comanche. The two firms associated for the purpose of building the Brown County Jail. The choice of an irregular castellated style for the structure is of particular interest. Late 18th- and early l9th-century English architects such as Robert Adam and James Wyatt began to shift from rational architecture to more irregular and Romantic styles. The Victorian era saw a great revival of castle building in Britain, as witnessed by the construction of Queen Victoria's Scottish Baronial home, Balmoral. Americans, ever eager to follow European trends in architecture, built few domestic castles, but adapted that style to public buildings and to jails in particular. Most such Texas jails seem to have been relatively sedate, symmetrical structures with crenellation added as an afterthought. The Brown County Jail, however, has a very robust, sculptural quality indicating a degree of architectural sophistication beyond that of most contemporaneous Texas jails. The influence of the German born founders of the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company, and the Scottish-born contractor Peter Moodie, apparently combined to create this extraordinary, castellated, Romanesque jail. The simplification of form and influence of local building materials indicate an interesting Americanization of the European precedent. Curiously, Martin and Moodie built an identical jail in adjoining Comanche County, which unfortunately had its upper floors removed. Construction of the jail was supervised by local contractor William Hood who, with Tom Lovell, had designed and constructed St. John's Episcopal Church in Brownwood (National Register, 1979), and with Lovell and Miller had built the Hill County Courthouse. Labor probably came from Comanche and Brownwood where an abundance of Scottish and English stonemasons worked regularly on Martin & Moodie's projects. Work began soon after the contract was signed, and the foundation was completed by April 21, 1902. A complaint by the commissioners in August that little work had been done over the summer resulted in the completion of the first story up to the I-beams by October 4, completion of the stonework and preparation of the building for the roof by January 29, 1903, installation of the roof by early March, and acceptance of the jail by the Commissioner's Court on June 29. Local stonemason Al Morton completed his work of filling the jail yard and building a stone wall around the perimeter of the building, while L.S. Leversedge & Son of Dallas erected an iron fence with posts and gates on top of the coping. The history of the building after 1903 was relatively uneventful. Increasingly, however, complaints were heard about the difficulty of modifying the structure. Eventually, the inability of the county to alter the jail so that it would conform to state standards resulted in the construction of a new jail in 1981 and the decision by the county to lease the old jail to the Brown County Historical Society for adaptation as a local history museum. Today, the Brown County .Jail is one of the most visually arresting structures in west-central Texas, and one of the most successful expressions of the era in Texas jail building when prisons conveyed sensations of fortress-like strength and romantic Medieval military traditions. The building is also significant because it is the first Texas jail built by the Youngblood Brothers, a firm which incorporated as The Southern Structural Steel Company and became one of the most prolific manufacturers in the United States. Finally, the building achieves significance as the generator of a number of important research topics concerning the little-explored history of contracting and jail-building companies in Texas, the little-understood relationship between such companies and various Texas architects, and the far-reaching influence of the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St. Louis on jail design and construction throughout the United States. BIBLIOGRAPHY ON FILE IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER. BROWN COUNTY JAIL Marker #529 Location: 212 N. Broadway City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1963 WILLIAM FRANKLIN BROWN Marker #5827 Location: Jones Chapel Cemetery, County Road 346 off US 377 City: Early Marker Erected: 1982 Marker Text: (Apr. 9, 1820 - Dec. 23, 1918) In 1857 Georgia native William Franklin Brown moved to this area, where he was a pioneer cotton farmer. The following year he led in the organization of Brown County and was elected to serve as district clerk and as justice of the peace. He also participated in early defenses against hostile Indians. Married three times, Brown was the father of 12 children, several of whom died as a result of frontier tragedies. (1982) BROWNWOOD HARVEY HOUSE Marker #11768 Location: 600 Washington St. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1999 Marker Text: Built in 1914 immediately east of the Brownwood Santa Fe Railroad Depot, this was one of a series of restaurants operated along the Santa Fe line by the Fred Harvey Company, product of railroad agent Fred Harvey's idea to provide superior food and lodging for travelers. The Harvey House was popular from its opening day. The restaurant and hotel closed in 1937, but reopened to serve military personnel when Camp Bowie was established in World War II. It closed permanently in 1945 as passenger railroad travel declined in the era of prosperity following the war. Typical of railroad structures built in the southwest during this period by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, the structure features elements of the Spanish Mission Revival style with its red tile hipped roof and decorative brackets. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1999 BROWNWOOD SANTA FE PASSENGER DEPOT Marker #12464 Location: On Washington Ave., between E. Depot and E. Adams street City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1996 Marker Text: Railroad construction began in Brown County in 1884, and the first train arrived in Brownwood in 1885. This depot was designed by Jarvis Hunt of Chicago and built in 1909 by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Company. It accommodated traffic from a major rail junction between California and Texas and led to increased regional development. Passenger train usage peaked during World War II as 15 trains came through here daily. Architectural features include solid red brick construction with stucco finish, broad round arches, a 7-bay primary facade and a hipped red tile roof. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1996 CITY OF BROWNWOOD Marker #882 Location: Roadside Park, west of Pecan Bayou Bridge on US 67/84 on Early- Brownwood line City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1968 Marker Text: (first site 1 mile E; second, 5 miles SE, present location) Settled 1857. Acquired a post office 1858. An oil vein ruined 1860s water well of townsite donor Greenleaf Fisk. Wagon-yard keeper Martin Meinsinger sold medicinal oil from 1878 well. Commercial drilling began 1889. Farming, cotton sales, business town since 1880s; was reached by Santa Fe Railroad, 1885; Frisco, 1890. Two colleges -- Daniel Baker and Howard Payne -- were situated here in 1889. Camp Bowie, World War II Military Post, operated in Brownwood from 1940 to 1946. Center for agriculture-retail sales-industry. Has a coliseum, parks, 110 miles of lake shore. (1968) THE REV. NOAH TURNER BYARS Marker #12549 Location: Howard Payne University campus, Austin Ave. at Center Ave. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 2001 Marker Text: Noah T. Byars (1808-1888) played an integral role in the establishment of the Baptist denomination in Texas. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, he arrived in Texas in the early 1830s and set up a blacksmith/gunsmith shop at Washington- on-the-Brazos, where delegates met and adopted the Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. Immediately following the declaration, Byars was appointed armorer of the Texas army. Following victory at San Jacinto, he served as sergeant-at-arms of the Texas Senate and justice of the peace in Travis County. A charter member of the Baptist church established at Washington-on-the- Brazos in 1838, Byars was ordained to preach on October 16, 1841. The Baptist State Convention appointed Byars as its first missionary in 1848. Credited with founding more than 60 churches and four Baptist associations, Byars devoted the last 40 years of his life to establishing congregations on the Texas frontier. He helped organize the First Baptist Church of Brownwood in 1876. After moving permanently to Brownwood in 1882, Noah Byars began writing letters to other Baptist ministers urging the creation of a Baptist college in central Texas. That idea was brought to fulfillment under the leadership of Dr. John D. Robnett, pastor of Brownwood's First Baptist Church, with the opening of Howard Payne College in 1889, one year after Byars' death. He is buried in Brownwood's Greenleaf Cemetery. (2001) SITE OF WORLD WAR II CAMP BOWIE Marker #4918 Location: At entrance to 36th Division Memorial Park, Burnett Street near Morris Sheppard Road City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1968 Marker Text: Huge World War II training base, Camp Bowie was a home of the "Texas" 36th Division and trained many other units, including the "Dixie" 31st, 4th, and 13th Armored; and 113th Cavalry. It was also Seventh Headquarters of Special Troops, Fourth Army. Here, too, Gen. Walter Krueger was Commander of the VIII Corps Area Troops. The camp had a capacity of 45,000. Commanders were Col. K.L. Berry, Gen. C.V. Birkhead, Col. F.E. Bonney, Col. A.G. Brown, and Col. K.F. Hanst. Camp operated Sept. 1940 to 1946, when 45th Div. was deactivated. It was named for James Bowie, hero of the Alamo siege, 1836. (1968) CAMP COLLIER, C.S.A. Marker #655 Location: Brown County Courthouse, Broadway and Center City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1963 Marker Text: Located 13 mi. southwest, this camp was one of a chain of Texas frontier posts a day's horseback ride apart from the Red River to the Rio Grande. Occupied by the Texas Frontier Regiment. Patrols and scouting parties frequently sent out kept Indian actions in check and rounded up draft evaders. Always needed were food, clothing, horses, ammunition. These men shared few of the glories of the war. Yet at the cost of the lives of not a few of them, these Confederate soldiers managed to bring a measure of protection to a vast frontier area. Texas Civil War Frontier Defense Texas made an all-out effort for the Confederacy after voting over 3 to 1 for secession. 90,000 troops, noted for mobility and heroic daring, fought on every battlefront. An important source of supply and gateway to foreign trade thru Mexico, Texas was the storehouse of the South. Camp Collier and other posts on this line were backed by patrols of State Rangers organized militia, and citizens' posses scouting from nearby "family forts." This was part of a 2000 mile frontier and coastline successfully defended by Texans. (1963) WELCOME WILLIAM CHANDLER Marker #5746 Location: At Brown County Museum, 212 N. Broadway City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1983 Marker Text: Credited with being the first permanent settler and first farmer in Brown County, Welcome William Chandler (1813-1870) arrived in 1856 with his wife Sarah, their children and several slaves. Their log cabin was a gathering place for other area pioneers and was the site of the county's original post office and store. Chandler served as Brown County judge from 1858 to 1860 and as postmaster for 7 years, although his daughter Jane in fact ran the post office. About 1868 Chandler moved north of Brownwood to a site which has remained in the family for over 100 years. (1983) COGGIN AND PARKS BUILDING Marker #931 Location: 115 S. Broadway City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1981 Marker Text: Brothers Samuel R. Coggin (1831-1915) and Moses J. "Mody" Coggin (1824-1902), prominent area ranchers, business leaders, and philanthropists, in partnership with businessman William Claibourne "Clay" Parks (1883-1916) completed this two- story commercial building in 1876. Originally part of a larger structure, it housed a variety of businesses, including a grocery, hardware store, business college, and restaurant. Because of the primary location, the Coggin-Parks building figured prominently in the early history of Brownwood. The exterior of the structure was later altered substantially. (1981) CONNELL CEMETERY Marker #11769 Location: 3 mi. SE of Brownwood on FM 2525, right on CR just before FM 2126 City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1997 Marker Text: William Connell came to Texas with his family in 1834. He later served in the Republic of Texas Army, the Texas Rangers, and the Confederate Army. Connell Cemetery, believed to be one of the oldest in Brown County, was probably in use before 1861. When William and Loumisa Wills Connell buried their son William Archibald in 1866, they erected what is believed to have been the first headstone on this site. The last was that of Edward Bruce McCallum, dated 1949. Sixteen families are noted; over twenty graves remain unmarked. Connell Cemetery was deeded to Brown County in 1893. (1997) CROSS CUT CEMETERY Marker #1119 Location: SH 279, 24 miles northwest of Brownwood City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1997 Marker Text: Settlement began in this area of Brown County after the Civil War when several families from southern states moved here. They formed a community, initially known as Cross Out. It became Cross Cut in 1897 when an error was made on a post office application. Caroline Pentecost Elsberry was the first person buried in this community cemetery in July 1879. The two-acre plot of land dedicated as a graveyard is believed to have been donated by Mark and Sarah Pentecost. Oil was discovered in 1923 in the Cross Cut sand formation. The small town quickly swelled to accommodate the increase in population and several new businesses were added. By 1940 the population of the town was exceeded by the number of burials in the cemetery. In 1954 the Cross Cut School consolidated with Cross Plains Schools, and the town declined thereafter. Only a few buildings and the cemetery remain. Among those buried here are early settlers and their descendants, and veterans of conflicts from the Civil War through the Vietnam War. A cemetery association was formed in 1976, and a perpetual care trust was established. The site continues to serve the area. (1997) WALTER U. EARLY Marker #5712 Location: Early City Hall, 960 Early Blvd. City: Early Marker Erected: 1994 Marker Text: A native of Kentucky, Walter Urie Early (1868-1939) moved to Brownwood in 1893. He became a respected local attorney and in 1895 was elected city attorney. He was county attorney from 1900 to 1906, and served as district attorney from 1906 to 1930. A leader in numerous civic groups, he donated land east of Brownwood to the Jones Chapel Rural School District in 1929. The school built there was named Early in 1930, as was the community when the citizens voted to incorporate in 1951. Walter Early died in 1939 and was buried in Brownwood's Greenleaf Cemetery. (1994) ELKINS CEMETERY Marker #1458 Location: Brownwood, take FM 2524 to CR 267. Follow CR 267 about 10 miles southeast, turn onto CR 264, and continue .2 miles to cemetery City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1994 Marker Text: This cemetery traces its origin to 1876, when noted pioneer minister Noah T. Byars helped establish Live Oak Baptist Church. That year, Civil War veteran Silas H. Wood moved his extended family from Mississippi and settled on land which included this site. The first recorded burial was that of D.O. Melton in 1876. Wood donated about three acres including the graveyard to Live Oak Baptist Church in 1884. Known earlier as Gholson, a name it shared with an area school, it later was named Elkins for the town that developed here. The cemetery continued in use as a community graveyard until interments ceased when the construction of Camp Bowie here during World War II resulted in the temporary displacement of the Elkins community. Camp Bowie was discontinued in 1947, after which a rural community developed and the cemetery was again in use. Buried here are many of the area's pioneer families and their descendants; veterans of World War I; and at least three Civil War veterans, including Confederate Lieutenant Colonel Isaac A. Melton, whose funeral in 1910 was attended by fellow Confederate Civil War veterans and Masonic friends. The cemetery is maintained by the Elkins Cemetery Association and continues to serve the community. (1994) EUREKA CEMETERY Marker #1507 Location: From Blanket, take CR 331 2 miles west, turn south on CR 327 .5 miles to cemetery City: Blanket vicinity Marker Erected: 1995 Marker Text: According to local tradition the settlers who established the town of Blanket (2 miles east) about 1870 named it for a Native American blanket they found on the banks of a nearby creek. The earliest marked grave in this cemetery, which served the rural community of Blanket, is that of Luperda Cox who died in 1876. The cemetery contains many of the area's earliest settlers and their descendants, including several teachers of the former Eureka School which was located just across the road from this site. The cemetery remains active and continues to serve the area. (1995) FAIRVIEW CEMETERY Marker #15521 Location: From Brownwood, take SH 279 north about 15.5 miles; turn west on FM 1850, cross FM 585 to CR 108/110 intersection-marker at back of cemetery City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1991 Marker Text: This community cemetery has served the people of rural Brown County for more than a century. James Jackson Martin (1847-1898) and Daniel Hulse (1822-1880) each donated land for the cemetery after settling in this area prior to 1878. Later donations by A. A. Martin and F. B. Smiley enlarged the cemetery. The first person buried here was Mrs. M. C. Cain, who died in April 1878. Four months later James William Martin, two-year-old son of J. J. Martin, died and was interred here on land donated by his father. A combination school and church building was built on the west side of the cemetery in the 1870s, and later was replaced by another structure on the east side of the property. Both the Fairview Baptist Church and the Methodist Church met here. Among the more than five hundred graves in the Fairview Cemetery are those of many area pioneers. Also interred here are veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In 1978, one hundred years after the first burial, a cemetery association was organized to maintain the historic graveyard. The Fairview Cemetery stands as a reminder of the area's early heritage. (1991) FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BANGS Marker #1612 Location: Second and Goodwin Streets (south of tracks) City: Bangs Marker Erected: 1991 Marker Text: This congregation traces its history to 1883, when the Rev. A R. Watson and a small group of worshipers formed a Baptist congregation in the community of Mukewater. The church moved to the new town of Bangs on the Santa Fe Railroad Line in 1890 and became known as First Baptist Church. By 1891 a sanctuary was built on land granted to the church by the railroad. It was replaced by a larger structure in 1923. Throughout its history, First Baptist Church has served the community with a variety of worship, educational, and outreach programs. (1991) FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ZEPHYR Marker #1686 Location: Dillon Ave. and Second St. (US 183) City: Zephyr Marker Erected: 1985 Marker Text: The organizational meeting for this congregation was held at the home of John J. Driskill in 1886. The twelve charter members were first led by Pastor J. B. Greenfield, who served only one month, and then by J. A. Jarrett. The Baptist fellowship erected its first sanctuary in 1892. Members rebuilt their church home following the devastating tornado of 1909. During its early history, First Baptist Church of Zephyr held revivals under the Zephyr Gospel tabernacle. Descendants of many of the early members still worship here. (1985) GREENLEAF FISK Marker #2273 Location: Courthouse Square, Center and Broadway City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1968 Marker Text: "Father of Brownwood" (1807-1888) Donor of present townsite of Brownwood, Fisk was noted as a soldier, public servant, surveyor, and businessman. The son of English parents, he was born in New York. As a boy he was so studious that he voluntarily gave up recess periods to read. In 1834 he abandoned his preparation for the Presbyterian ministry and, with a friend, embarked down the Ohio River on a skiff to brave the Texas frontier. Settling at Mina (present Bastrop), he fought in the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. He later served in various county offices in Bastrop and Williamson counties and was a senator in the Republic of Texas. As a government surveyor in this period, he mapped this region and like it so well he determined to settle here. Having received in 1846, for his service in the Texas Revolution, a large land grant in this vicinity, he moved here in 1860. Besides teaching, he also served as county judge and in other offices. When difficulties arose over the location of the county seat, he donated 60 acres for the town and 100 acres for county purposes. He then persuaded many citizens to move here from the old townsite. At his death in 1888, Fisk was buried in Greenleaf Cemetery. He married twice and had 15 children. (1968) HENRY FORD Marker #2447 Location: Greenleaf Cemetery, north section, US 377 City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1994 Marker Text: A native of Virginia, Henry Ford (c. 1845-1910) came to Texas in 1869 and worked as a cowboy on several central Texas ranches. He settled in Brownwood in 1876 and served several terms as county clerk and as a city councilman. A respected civic leader, he was influential in bringing the Santa Fe Railroad to Brownwood. He supported educational efforts in the city, and through his work as a banker and businessman was instrumental in Brownwood's growth. Three times married, he was the father of ten children, five of whom survived to adulthood. (1994) HEFLIN CEMETERY Marker #2426 Location: From Brownwood, take US 183 north about 11 mi., turn onto FM 1467, continue for 2 mi. to cemetery gate-marker is at cemetery City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1995 Marker Text: William W. and Pency (Williams) Heflin settled here in 1875. According to local tradition the first burial was that of a child who died in 1876 from eating wild berries as his family camped on the Heflin's property. The earliest marked grave is that of Robert Bonine in 1876. A deed confirming the Heflins' donation of 4 acres for burial purposes was executed in 1928. Among the burials are many of the area's pioneer settlers and their descendants and veterans of wars ranging from the Civil War to World War II. The cemetery is maintained by an association established in 1976. (1995) VEDA WELLS HODGE Marker #2550 Location: Center Ave., Howard Payne University City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1967 Marker Text: Alumna, trustee, benefactress of Howard Payne College. Born in Rising Star; daughter of a pioneer Baptist minister. Had teaching career before her marriage to J. Howard Hodge, a Midland theatre and oil magnate. President, Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, 1949-1951. Has held division chairmanships, General Federation of Women's Clubs, an international organization. Member of the Advisory Board, Japan International Christian University. Past member, Advisory Group, President's White House Committee for Traffic Safety. A leader in West Texas civic life. Outstanding Women of Texas Series, 1967. HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY Marker #2586 Location: Center Ave. near intersection with Austin Ave. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1989 Marker Text: The Pecan Valley Baptist Association was formed by representatives of Baptist congregations in this area in September 1876. Meeting at Indian Creek in June 1889, the association acted on an executive committee resolution calling for the creation of a Baptist college within the organization's boundaries. Brownwood was chosen as the site of the school. The Rev. John David Robnett, first president of the college Board of Trustees, traveled extensively to raise funds for the institution. His brother-in-law, Edward Howard Payne, made a large contribution to the school, which was then named in his honor. Howard Payne College opened its doors on September 16, 1890, the same day the cornerstone was laid for the main school building. Classes were held in Robnett Hall, a building John Robnett had built with plans to provide boarding facilities at the college. Dr. A.J. Emerson served as the school's first president. Over the years the college grew and enrollment increased. Daniel Baker College, a Presbyterian school which opened in Brownwood days before Howard Payne, was incorporated into the Baptist College in 1953. The school was raised to university standing in 1974. The old main building burned in 1984. (1989) ROBERT E. HOWARD Marker #4294 Location: Greenleaf Cemetery, near main gate, US 377 City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1991 Marker Text: (January 24, 1906-June 11, 1936) Born in Parker County, Robert Ervin Howard grew up in the Brown and Callahan County communities of Cross Cut, Cross Plains, and Brownwood. He attended Brownwood High School and Howard Payne College, and published his first works of fiction in school newspapers. He later wrote poetry and short stories for popular magazines. His main interest was in science fiction and fantasy. In 1932 he created the character Conan the Barbarian. Howard committed suicide at age 30. His Conan character has become known worldwide through books, magazines, and movies. (1991) LEE CHAPEL A.M.E. CHURCH Marker #3062 Location: 911 Beaver City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1989 Marker Text: Named for Bishop Benjamin Franklin Lee (1841-1926), Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1888. Led by the Rev. George E. Smith, who also organized the first school for blacks in Brownwood, the congregation first held worship services in Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Later services were held in a brush arbor at Smith's home. The first church building, originally located at Cordell and Henderick streets, was moved to this site in 1906. An integral part of the city's history, Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church continues to serve its community. (1989) LOVELL-DOBBS HOUSE Marker #3141 Location: The house was destroyed by fire - marker at Brown County Museum of History - 212 North Broadway City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1980 Marker Text: Tom Lovell (1852-1911), a native of Scotland, constructed this home for his family about 1889. A contractor, he also built various public structures, including the state capitol in Arizona, several central Texas courthouses, and the local St. John's Episcopal Church building. The Rev. Charles Holt Dobbs (d. 1920) purchased the two-story residence in 1902. He and his wife Elizabeth (1837-1921) served the rural area around Brownwood as traveling teachers and Presbyterian missionaries. Their daughters Anna and Bess later operated a kindergarten here for over thirty years. (1980) JOHN WESLEY MALONE HOME Marker #2821 Location: 606 Coggin Ave. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1962 Marker Text: Pioneer ranchers Modie J. and Samuel R. Coggin began this house after 1874. They sold it in 1888 to John Wesley Malone (1858-1932), who added the second floor in 1904. Malone ran a hardware store in partnership with his longtime friend Will H. Mayes, who became Texas' lieutenant governor, 1913-14. Also located here is Brownwood's first public swimming pool, built by Malone's father-in-law, John W. Lambeth. T. W. and Helen Waddill bought the residence in 1970. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1976 THE MAY COMMUNITY Marker #5377 Location: US 183, at May Community Center City: May Marker Erected: 1981 Marker Text: Originally part of a Mexican land grant given to impresario John Cameron in 1827, May developed in the 1870s when several pioneer families settled here. Baptists and Methodists quickly organized churches. A one-room school known as Old Swayback provided the first formal education for the children. Nathan L. May built a trading post in 1879 and became the town's first postmaster in 1881. By 1907 the village had a blacksmith shop, general store, newspaper and bank. The early history of May climaxed in 1911 with the coming of the railroad. (1981) MAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Marker #12532 Location: 18001 US 183 N City: May Marker Erected: 2001 Marker Text: Methodists in this area were initially served by circuit-riding preachers. First to come to the region in the 1860s was the Rev. Hugh M. Childress, and worship services were held in private homes. In 1882, the Rev. Peter Gravis organized Mt. Zion Methodist Church, which later merged with the congregation at Byrds. Both of these communities, along with Bethel, Brooks, Clio, Gap Creek, Green's Chapel, Holder, Pleasant Valley, Rocky, Shrum, Verbena, Williams, Windham and Wolf Valley became part of the May charge. Brush arbor revivals were held each summer. The May Methodist Church was formally organized in 1886. Members gathered for services in nearby Verbena until 1890, when they began meeting in the newly constructed May schoolhouse. Four years later, members built their own one-room church, which served until they constructed a new brick building with memorial stained glass windows in 1929-30. After 70 years of service, the church building was destroyed by fire in January 2000. Throughout its history, the May United Methodist Church has upheld the ideals and traditions of its pioneer founders. Despite the Depression, droughts, floods, wars and fire, the church has served its members and the May community for more than 100 years. (2001) McCLELLAND LIBRARY Marker #3279 Location: 1320 Austin Ave. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1963 Marker Only MUD CREEK CEMETERY Marker #3523 Location: From Bangs take US 84 west one mile. Turn north onto FM 585, continue 1/2 mile past FM 2492. Turn west onto county road and continue one mile to cemetery. On south of highway through cattle guard. City: Bangs vicinity Marker Erected: 1983 Marker Text: Named for nearby Mud Creek, this graveyard has served residents of the Thrifty and Fry communities for more than 100 years. The first person known to be buried at the site was infant Martha Blackwell, who died in 1864. However, a rock slab that bears an illegible name indicates the cemetery was used as early as 1862. Others buried in Mud Creek Cemetery include pioneer settler Charles Mullins (1790-1880) who brought his family to the area in 1858, victims of Indian attacks, and persons involved in the 1926-27 area oil boom. (1983) KATHERINE ANNE PORTER Marker #2905 Location: Brownwood take US 377 south about 6 miles to marker, on west side of highway City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1990 Marker Text: (May 15, 1890-September 18, 1980) Born Callie Russell Porter in Indian Creek, Katherine Anne Porter moved to Hays County with her family following her mother's death in 1892. She left Texas in 1915 and worked as an actress, teacher, reporter, and publicist in such places as Chicago, Denver, Mexico, and New York. Her first book of short stories was published in 1930. Her acclaimed 1962 novel "Ship of Fools", was followed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter" in 1965. Upon her death in 1980, her ashes were buried next to her mother's grave in Indian Creek Cemetery. (1990) THE REV. DR. JOHN DAVID ROBNETT Marker #12550 Location: Howard Payne University campus, Austin Ave. at Center St. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 2001 Marker Text: Founder of Howard Payne University, John David Robnett (1845-1898) was born in Missouri, where he was educated at Westminster and William Jewell colleges and was ordained to the Baptist ministry. In 1883, Robnett was called to serve as pastor at the First Baptist Church of Brownwood, Texas. There he met pioneer missionary Noah Turner Byars (1808-1888) and embraced Byars' vision of a Baptist college in central Texas. Byars' dream was realized when the Pecan Valley Baptist Association, which he and Robnett helped found, agreed in 1889 to establish such a college. As a member of the first board of trustees of the school, Robnett visited his hometown of Fulton, Missouri, where he secured sizable pledges and funds with the aid of his brother-in-law, Edward Howard Payne. The trustees named the fledgling college in honor of Payne's generosity. Dr. Robnett continued as chief fund-raiser for Howard Payne College while serving as first board president and later as college president. He returned to the pulpit in 1896, as pastor of Gaston Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas, and continued there until his death two years later at the age of 53. Originally buried on the Howard Payne College campus near the Old Main building, John David Robnett was re-interred in Brownwood's Greenleaf Cemetery upon the death of his wife, Dollie, in 1911. (2001) ROCKY CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH Marker #12400 Location: 8 miles north of Brownwood on FM 279 to intersection with CR 557 (4301 CR 557) City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 2001 Marker Text: Eighteen people gathered under a brush arbor near Rocky Creek in Brown County on August 18, 1877, to organize a Baptist congregation. They called the Rev. R. L. Baker as their first pastor, and by November began construction of a one-room church building. It was replaced by a larger structure in 1889, and in 1919 that building was destroyed in a storm. The congregation ceased meeting for two years, but in 1921 came together to once again build a new house of worship. The church grew in the ensuing decades, offering a variety of worship, educational and outreach programs. New structures were completed at this site in 1952 and 1983. The congregation continues to serve the community. (2001) R.B. ROGERS HOUSE Marker #4150 Location: 707 Center Avenue City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1982 Marker Text: This Colonial Revival residence was constructed in 1904-05 by R. B. Rogers (d. 1935), a prominent local merchant and an active church and civic leader. The elaborate styling of the home features a distinctive two-story balconied portico with massive Ionic columns. The third floor area originally served as a ballroom. Owned by members of the Rogers family until 1957, the house serves as a reminder of Brownwood's prosperity at the turn of the century. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982 ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Marker #5042 Location: Main and Depot Streets City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1962 Narrative: Inspired by the Early English Gothic cathedral form, the original edifice of Saint John's Church consists of a rectangular nave with narthex projecting from the north corner, sacristy projecting from the south corner, and sanctuary extended from the southeast wall. The nave features a high, steep-pitched roof with intersecting gables implying a transept. The structure is roofed with sheet metal, pressed to emulate shingles. The walls are constructed of load-bearing stone, both cut and pitch faced. Simple buttresses, also of stone, were incorporated to disperse the weight of the walls and allow for the large, imported stained glass windows which are a prominent design element on both the interior and exterior of the building. Tie narthex, originally conceived as a lofty spire, is a truncated tower, terminated with crenellations just above the transition from square to octagonal form. The sanctuary and sacristy repeat the high-pitched roof form on a smaller scale and extend from and intersect the nave, respectively. Additional elements which reinforce the Gothic influence are tall, narrow lancet door and window openings and stone gable crosses. The Gothic theme is carried further in the interior which features white plaster walls offset with dark wood trim, large stained glass windows set in deep reveals, and an exposed, vaulted ceiling supported by structural and decorative trusses. The furnishings of the church strengthen the theme. When services were first held in the structure, the congregation worshipped in a church that was heated with wood stoves, illuminated with kerosene lamps, furnished with pine planks, and weatherproofed with heavy ducking stretched across the window openings. Stained glass windows were designed, assembled, and shipped from Belgium in 1894. The windows are a pleasing blend of abstract geometric and floral forms combined with religious symbols, and reflect the religious and artistic climate of Europe at the turn of the century. A large, two-story, wood-frame Victorian home, featuring two octagonal turrets, was constructed on the church property in 1906 to serve as the rectory. In 1927 a parish hall was added to the original church structure. No effort was made to establish continuity between the original structure and the addition, which was attached at the sanctuary and sacristy. However, additional construction of a nursery and kitchen in 1951 covered a significant amount of the incompatible brickwork with a more complementary stone veneer. As funds became available the interior of the church was furnished. At an unknown date the pine planks were replaced with oak pews featuring hand carved bench ends terminated with a tre-foil motif. A brass-fitted pulpit and marble font were added in 1928 and a brass "Angel" lectern was added in 1940. In 1943 an oak rood screen to match the pews was installed and in 1945 a walnut alter was added. With continuous use and maintenance, the church and rectory stand today in good condition. An outstanding architectural landmark in the city of Brownwood, Saint John's Episcopal Church, built in 1892 in the Gothic Revival style, is a fine 19th century representation of Early English Gothic construction, prevalent in the 13th century. Modest in size and detail, the structure incorporates Early English Gothic design elements and decorative motifs, skillfully produced with high quality materials and fine craftsmanship. Although organized in 1857, the settlement and development of Brown County was slow due to the Civil War and the chaotic conditions which followed, and also to the presence of hostile Indians who occupied the surrounding areas until the 1870's. Following the eradication of the Indians, settlers slowly began to populate the county. Brownwood, located on Pecan Bayou in the center of the county, was designated county seat in 1857 and by 1875 boasted a population of 1200. At this time there was no organized Episcopal Church in Brownwood. With three known communicants of the faith, the town was visited annually by the Bishop of the district, and occasionally by visiting priests. In June, 1886, the Bishop approved a petition for the establishment of a mission at Brownwood to be called Saint John's. The Reverend Peter Wager of Salina, Kansas, was the first priest of the mission, dividing his time between St. John's and the neighboring communities of Comanche, Coleman, and Ballinger. The completion of the Santa Fe Railroad through Brownwood at this time increased the accessibility of the town and the population continued to grow. In September, 1888, the charter for St. John's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church was issued by the Secretary of the State of Texas. Church services were held in an upstairs room of a structure in the Brownwood commercial district. The room was furnished with plank benches and kerosene lamps and heated with wood burning stoves. Although large in neither enrollment nor financial means, the congregation decided to erect a church in 1892. Plans and specifications which allowed for the gradual completion of the structure were donated by Lovell and Hood, Architects and Builders. With funds donated by the congregation as well as generous non- members, the walls, floor and roof of the church were completed. In its skeletal form, the structure displayed the pleasing proportions, well defined lines, and simplicity in ornament characteristic of the Early English Gothic style, exemplified in the eastern portion of the Temple Church in London. The use of buttresses, lances windows, and crenellations reinforced this design statement. Furnishings at this time consisted of the stove, lamps, and plank benches used in the previous meeting room. The congregation was unable to afford the specified stained glass windows, therefore the window openings were temporarily weatherproofed with heavy ducking. With funds provided through the efforts of the ladies of the church and donations of the congregation and interested non- members, the structure was fitted with stained glass windows imported from Belgium in 1894. Gradually the interior was furnished with decorative pews and various religious implements which contribute to the overall theme of the church. In 1906 a two-story, wood frame rectory was built on the church property. The difference in proportions and style between the church and rectory provides a pleasing contrast and exemplifies the changing tastes and stylistic influences during the Victorian Era. Although plans for the church called for the construction of a tower, the expense of building it outweighed its significance. Church enrollment continued to expand until the structure, which was designed to allow for expansion, could no longer meet the needs of the congregation. The original structure was enlarged in 1927 to include a parish hall and again in 1951 to include a kitchen and nursery. The growth and development of Brownwood is reflected in Saint John's Church, which grew from infrequent gatherings of three confirmed members to full time community service from the present centrally located architectural landmark. BIBLIOGRAPHY ON FILE IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER SWINDEN PECAN ORCHARD Marker #5168 Location: From Brownwood city limits, go about 0.5 mile southeast on FM 2525. City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1968 Marker Text: Pioneer in the improved-pecan industry of Texas; founded 1888 by English-born F. A. Swinden. He began cultivating the trees in this area, where they grow wild on Pecan Bayou, and developed the large "Swinden Pecan" as well. Here, on 400 acres, he planted his orchard, which by 1894 had 11,000 trees from one to six years old. He started the first irrigation project in region by building a dam across the bayou. In 1919, H. G. Lucas and partner, Wm. Capps, acquired the orchard. Lucas operated it more than 40 years and shipped pecans to markets all over the world. (1968) THRIFTY Marker #12598 Location: 10 miles northwest of Brownwood on SH 279, then 2.7 miles west on FM 2492 right-of-way at junction with county road 105 City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 2001 Marker Text: Once a thriving agricultural area and regional trade center, the community of Thrifty was established after the U. S. Army relocated Camp Colorado, a frontier defense post, along nearby Jim Ned Creek in 1857. The first family to settle permanently in the area was that of Charles Mullins, whose three sons and one daughter and their families established ranches and homes in the Jim Ned Creek valley. Once federal troops were withdrawn from the area after Texas voters elected to secede from the Union in February 1861, settlers were on their own to provide for their defense, encountering many of the dangers of frontier life. Thrifty saw its greatest development in the period following the Civil War and Reconstruction, when a post office was established (first under the name Jim Ned, later named Thrifty). John Charles Mullins donated four acres of land for school and church purposes in 1881. At one time, Thrifty had a hotel, saloon, sawmill, sorghum press, cotton gin, blacksmith shop and physicians' offices. The mercantile store, operated by Dr. G. W. Allen and John Charles Mullins, served as a regional trading center for farmers and ranchers in the area. In 1886, the railroad bypassed Thrifty, and its life as a vital trade center diminished. This event, coupled with a severe drought between 1885 and 1888, triggered an exodus from the community, as residents sought viable employment elsewhere. The story of Thrifty remains as a lesson in the development of the Texas frontier and a part of Brown County's history. (2001) J.A. WALKER HOUSE Marker #2668 Location: 701 Center Avenue City: Brownwood Marker Erected: 1982 Marker Text: Brownwood businessman and civic leader J. A. Walker (d. 1944) built this home in 1901. A prominent Texas Baptist, he was an early benefactor to Howard Payne University. The Colonial Revival styling of the Walker home reflects his status as a leader in the community. Outstanding features include the ornate portico, wide wraparound veranda and intricate ornamentation. The house remained in the Walker family for over 75 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982 Incising on base: Restored in 1979 by Mr. and Mrs. Ben Barnes WINDHAM CEMETERY Marker #5862 Location: From Brownwood take US 183 15 miles north. Turn west onto FM 2273, continue 9 miles, then go 1 mile south on FM 2559 to Fairview Cemetery. City: Brownwood vicinity Marker Erected: 1990 Marker Text: Named for early settler and cattle rancher S. R. Windham, this cemetery dates to 1879. The earliest documented grave is that of J. M. McPeeters, who died on July 18, 1879. Also buried here in that year was Martin Shelby Byrd, who operated a store and post office and for whom the Byrds community was named. Others interred in the Windham Cemetery include victims of the early 20th-century influenza epidemic and veterans of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. In existence for over a century, the cemetery continues to serve area citizens. (1990) WOLF VALLEY CEMETERY Marker #5885 Location: From May, take US 183 north about 3 miles City: May vicinity Marker Erected: 1983 Marker Text: This cemetery originally served pioneer settlers of the Wolf Valley community, which began about 1875. The earliest grave is that of S. T. Tollette, who was buried here May 11, 1882. Also buried that same month were James Lyon and R. P. Ramsey. The cemetery was formally set aside in 1902 when trustees A. E. Bailey, A. W. Hardy and J. W. Spence bought the original tract from the D. M. Davidson family. The site was enlarged through later additions of land. A church building was constructed here in 1887 for use by Baptist, Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian congregations as well as the local schools. Brush arbors were used for summer revivals. The building and grounds were the spiritual and educational hub of the community. The structure burned, but was rebuilt through donated funds and labor. Graves here include those of pioneer settlers, early community leaders, military veterans and two state legislators, H. P. Taylor and W. R. Chambers. The site contains over three hundred marked graves and two unmarked gravesites. An annual homecoming and Memorial Day service is conducted here each May. Maintenance of the historic burial ground is funded through various donations. (1983) ZEPHYR CEMETERY Marker #5948 Location: Marker is in center of cemetery, at junction of US 183/84 and CR 259, just south of Zephyr City: Zephyr Marker Erected: 1988 Marker Text: The unincorporated town of Zephyr, located on land granted to early settlers Benjamin Head and Felix Wardziski, was established in the 1860s. As the settlement grew, a school was opened in the 1870s, and churches and businesses were established. Mail was delivered weekly from Brownwood. This cemetery has served the residents of Zephyr and the surrounding area since the 1870s. The earliest known burials in the graveyard are those of three children of the Staggs family, who died in 1878 and 1879. Another early grave is that of Ann Catherine Sewell Ward (1843-1879). The first official deed of cemetery property took place in 1899, although it was in use prior to that time. Subsequent land acquisitions have increased the size of the graveyard to more than seven acres. Among those buried here are thirty-three victims of the devastating tornado of May 29, 1909, which almost completely destroyed the town, and veterans of six wars: the Mexican War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The Zephyr Cemetery stands as a reminder of the pioneer spirit of the area's early settlers. It is maintained by the Zephyr Cemetery Association. (1988) ZEPHYR GOSPEL TABERNACLE Marker #5949 Location: SH 218, 1 block east of US 183 City: Zephyr Marker Erected: 1976 Marker Text: In 1898 John N. Coffey (1847-1919) and John Schwalm (1825-1900) deeded this site for a community tabernacle. Townspeople donated labor and material to erect this open air shelter and to rebuild it after damage from a 1909 cyclone that devastated Zephyr. Many towns in Texas once had tabernacles like this for summer church revivals, political rallies, and social events. The Zephyr Home Demonstration Club led community restoration of this structure in 1976. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1976 ZEPHYR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Marker #5951 Location: Bowsal and 2nd Streets City: Zephyr Marker Erected: 1992 Marker Text: The congregation of the Zephyr Presbyterian Church traces its history to 1890. In 1909 members of the church and community volunteers, with the assistance of Swiss stonemason John Chailette completed a church building. Worship services were held twice a month by a minister shared with the nearby Blanket Presbyterian Church. Sunday School classes, summer Bible school, and ice cream suppers sponsored by the church contributed to the social and religious life of the community until 1944, when the church was disbanded. In 1948 the building became a community center. (1992) Text of supplemental plate: In 1948 this building was donated by C. R. Boase to become a community center for the benefit and pleasure of its citizens.