Stephenville, Texas, Erath County seat. (original) (raw)
History in a Milk Bottle
1854 - John M. Stephen settles in the area - donates land for town
1856 - George Bernard Erath, lays out the town when Erath County was organized
1857 - Town gets approved for post office - John Stephens is postmaster
1858 - population reaches 766 people - but Indian attacks and the Civil War reduce it to 300 by 1871
1870 - First newspaper - The Texas Pacific is printed for Erath county
1889 - Ft. Worth and Rio Grande Railroad arrives
1890s - Second newspaper appears - John Tarleton Agricultural College opens
1892 - Erath County courthouse is built. Designed by J. Riely Gordon.
The 20th Century History of Erath County is rather quiet. The growth has been slow and steady with John Tarleton College becoming Tarleton University.
Erath County became the top producing dairy county in the state - as proclaimed on the square by Moola the cow.
Tarleton College Campus
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Stephenville, Texas Landmarks / Attractions
Stephenville Historical House Museum
by Sam Fenstermacher
The museum's collection of structures includes several log cabin style frontier homes, a church, an old schoolhouse, and a carriage house. These buildings are all on display in the grassy field behind the Berry Cottage...
Presbyterian Chruch
1908 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Stephenville Historical House Museum Log Cabin
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, 2003
Stephenville Chronicles
- Strange News by Mike Cox
Meteor, killer pachyderm, nine lives, dog ghost ... - The McDow Hole by Bob Hopkins
"The story of the McDow ghost became very popular by the end of the 19th century ... many people would come to the water hole hoping to get a glimpse of the specter."
Stephenville Tourist Information
Stephenville Chamber of Commerce:
187 West Washington, Texas 76401
Phone: 254-965-5313, 1-800-658-6490.
website: http://www.stephenvilletexas.org/ The chamber of commerce has a good walking / windshield tour of 21 of the towns interesting buildings complete with background information. Want to know how much the fiberglass cow cost? It's provided.
The Historical House Museum Complex at 525 E. Washington St. has seven more buildings on display.
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