Brady, Texas, McCulloch County Seat, Geographic center of Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The County was named after Ben McCulloch who fought at San Jacinto and served in the Mexican War. This was after he returned from California where he had served as a Sacramento County Sheriff about the time of the gold rush. He was a U.S. Marshall back in Texas when the County was created in 1856. He and his brother Henry almost started the Civil War when they demanded the surrender of the Union garrison at San Antonio. This would've preceded Fort Sumpter, had the Federals put up a fight.Both brothers rose to the rank of General, but Ben was killed and was interred in the Austin State Cemetery. Henry lived until 1895.

A marble marker on the courthouse lawn states that Brady is "The Geographic Center" of Texas. Another, more official marker just North of Placid on Hwy 377 is a bit closer, but we've heard the really, really exact, smack-dab-in-the-middle center of Texas is on a nearby private ranch. For awhile, due to a surveyor's 10 mile error, the village of Whon in neighboring Coleman County was thought to be the geographic center. It's close enough to say you've been there.

Brady, Texas

Landmarks & Attractions

Last Run of "Doodlebug" at Brady depot
Photo courtesy Mary L. Irving, Curator, Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum

Brady Depot - Santa Fe Center at North Bridge St. The restored depot now functions as an art gallery.

A theatre building in Brady
TE Photo, 2001

More Nearby Destinations

• Calf Creek. - Eleven miles SW of town on Ranch Road 1311
• Doan's Crossing - Brady was on the "Western" or "Dodge Trail" for the herds of cattle that were going to Dodge City, Kansas. They would go due North, crossing the Red River at Doan's Crossing.
• Brady Creek Reservoir - Outside Brady
• Brady Hotels

Brady, Texas Old Photos

Post Office in Brady
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Post Office

Christian Temple
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Churches

Brady street scene
Postcard Courtesy of Wm. Petersen

Brady, Texas Chronicles

• Talking Texas Turkey by Mike Cox
  "As Texas prepared to celebrate its centennial in 1936, a turkey from McCulloch County made its way from Brady to the District of Columbia to provide a generous helping of white meat and maybe seconds for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. So far as is known, this Tom is the only beaked turkey from West Texas to reach the White House. ...
  Here�s how the Nov. 21, 1935 issue of the Texas Centennial Review reported the news about Brady�s briefly famous turkey: ... more"
• "Cattle Highway" between Sonora and Brady
  History cartoon by Roger T. Moore

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