Breckenridge, the mural capital of Texas, Stephens County seat. (original) (raw)
"Breckenridge - The Dynamo of West Texas" Mural
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
If not directly responsible for the reputation West Texas has for friendliness, then Breckenridge is a major contributor. With neighbors like Albany, Eastland and Palo Pinto, what do you expect?
The town's "skyscraper" is the former Burch Hotel, built during the oil boom when Breckenridge's population jumped from 1600 to 20,000 in one year. Now the First National Bank building.
The Breckenridge American is the town newspaper. In addition to their primary duty of keeping everyone informed, they also sell books and maps. Topics are Texan: regional history, flora, fauna and an excellent book on Breckenridge "Jazz-Age Boomtown". This book depicts Breckenridge's turbulent oil-boom period through vintage photographs. 114 E. Elm.
Breckinridge Main Street Oil Rig, Jan. 1920
Click on image to enlarge
The New York Times Photo Archive, Wikimedia Commons
Historical Marker: 200 W. Walker
Breckenridge Stephen Walker
Breckenridge �Breck� Stephens Walker (1877-1929) was born to E. L. and Molena Jane Yancy Walker in Stephens County and named for the town and county of his birth. With his brother B.B., Walker operated a livery and a stage that ran between Breckenridge and Ranger. He met his future wife, Cora Alice Davis, while riding past her home on stagecoach trips. The two were married in 1897.
The Walker brothers purchased a hardware store, but Breck aspired to be a banker, joining the First National Bank of Breckenridge as a cashier in 1904. He eventually purchased controlling interest in the bank and became its president. During this period, he purchased large areas of local land for cattle ranching.
Oil was discovered in the Breckenridge area in the 1910s. Walker teamed with Judge Clifton Mott Caldwell and formed the Walker-Caldwell Oil Co. In 1917. In 1920, Breckenridge experienced an oil boom. The population of the town rose from around 1,500 to 15,000 in one year. This boom brought a time of prosperity and growth to the area.
In 1920, walker opened the town of Breckwalker nine miles to the south of Breckenridge. Meant to be a supply center for the area�s oil industry, the town never prospered, disappearing completely as the boom subsided.
Walker�s company built Breckenridge�s first water system, established a daily newspaper, and constructed several buildings and churches. In 1925, Breckenridge�s leaders appointed Walker mayor. He accepted and held office until failing health forced him to leave in 1928. He died of pneumonia on January 16, 1929, and is buried in Fort Worth.
2016
Breckenridge, Texas
Landmarks/Attractions
Photo Gallery by Barclay Gibson
Looking like a Mayan ruin, the main entrance to the 1883 Courthouse is displayed on the lawn of the 1926 (and current) Courthouse. Also of note is the homage to the Egyptian "Father of Architecture" Hammurabi (above the door on the NW side (rear) of the building.
The Swenson Memorial Museum
The Old First National Bank Building
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
32� 45' 19.04" N, 98� 54' 11.66" W
116 W. Walker
254-559-8471
Home of the Basil Clemons Photograph Collection
of oil boomtown Breckenridge photographs
Historical Marker:
Old First National Bank Building
The First National Bank of Breckenridge was organized in 1904, when Stephens County was primarily a farming and ranching area. The financial institution moved its headquarters to this building following its completion in 1920, during the height of the area oil boom. The Beaux Arts Classical Revival structure, which features Ionic columns and bracketed architecture over the doorway, served as the First National Bank building until 1972.
1984
Simpson's Grocery & Market Mural
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
"Spirit of the Buckaroos" mural
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
"Spirit of the Buckaroos" mural detail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
"Spirit of the Buckaroos" mural detail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
"Spirit of the Buckaroos" mural detail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
Historical Marker: 1301 W Elliott
Breckenridge Cemetery
THE FIRST BURIAL HERE, FOR DR. ALEXANDER MILLER, DATES FROM DEC. 27, 1872. W. R. BROWN OFFICIALLY PATENTED THE LAND FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IN 1881 AND BEGAN SELLING CEMETERY PLOTS. THE CEMETERY WAS DEDICATED AS OAKLAWN CEMETERY IN 1926; SOME EARLY BURIALS ALSO REFER TO EAST SIDE CEMETERY. THE CEMETERY EXPANDED IN THE 1940s, AND IN 1952 THE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION DEEDED THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF BRECKENRIDGE.
GRAVE MARKERS ARE PRIMARILY SANDSTONE, MARBLE, LIMESTONE, GRANITE AND BRONZE. VETERANS FROM THE TEXAS REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT ARE INTERRED HERE.
TODAY, THE ONLY CEMETERY IN THE CITY LIMITS NUMBERS MORE THAN 10,000 GRAVES, REFLECTING A CONTINUUM OF THE AREA�S HISTORY FROM PIONEER TIMES TO THE MODERN DAY.
2012
Breckenridge, Texas
Vintage Photos
Oil Rigs in Breckenridge
Looking South East from School House
ca. Jan. 1921
Click on image to enlarge
DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University, Wikimedia Commons
Largest Oil Well in the U.S.A.
ca. 1921
DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University, Wikimedia Commons
Nearby Destinations
- 38 miles east to Palo Pinto on Hwy 180
- 24 miles west to Albany on Hwy 180
- 28 miles south to Cisco on Hwy 183, then 10 miles east to Eastland on Hwy 6.
Lakes - Hubbard Creek Lake, 15,000 acre feet of recreational water, 4 miles west.
- Lake Daniel is 7 miles from the city. Fishing and boating but no swimming or wading (it's the city's water supply).
- Possum Kingdom Lake - 20 miles East of Breckenridge - here's a lake in three counties (Stephens, Young & Palo Pinto).
Breckenridge murals by Billy Ines
TE Photo
Murals from "The Mural Capital of Texas"
Editor's Note:
" In November, 1999, we wrote: One of the ongoing projects of the Main Street Cities Program is their award winning series of murals depicting Breckenridge's past. Airbrush artist Billy Ines provides the talent, while Main Street Manager Shelly Hargrove coordinates. Just short of "photo-realism", the murals are inspired by vintage oil boomtown photographs by Basil Clemons currently housed at the Swenson Memorial Museum. At last count there were six and they range from excellent to fantastic. Most are around the town's major intersection (Hwys 180 and 183).
They now have a total of eight murals, and another two in the works.
And now: January 19, 2001 - We were notified by William Myers that Breckenridge has been proclaimed "The Mural Capital of Texas". This designation was passed by the Texas Legislature on January 17, 2001. Our congratulations to Breckenridge and our thanks to Mr. Myers for notifying us of the good news."
- January 19, 2001
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Mural by Billy Ines TE photo, 1999 |
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Breckenridge, Texas Forum
- I really enjoy your website and I appreciate the information you have on Breckenridge, Stephens County, Texas. There is some information that I would like to share with you about Breckenridge. Breckenridge, Texas is now "The Mural Capital of Texas". This designation was passed by the Texas Legislature on January 17, 2001. Please add this information to your website. Thank you, William Myers
- We are now officially The Mural Capitol of Texas. There are a total of eight murals now. We've got another two in the works...... - Kristi Williams Community Development Director City of Breckenridge
- I am soo proud of Breckenridge now being the "Mural Capital of Texas". too cool! - Shelly Hargrove, Taylor Main Street Project Manager.
- I'm an ex-Texan living in St. Louis, MO. I used to live in Breckenridge. I graduated from high school in 1982 and went into the Army. My parents still reside there. It's nice to see that Breckenridge is on the computer. Just wanted to say hi to everyone in Breckenridge. Thanks. .. - Donald Willis, April 09, 2001
*Texas Department of Transportation includes Stephens County in the Panhandle Plains
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