Lockhart Texas, Caldwell County Seat. (original) (raw)

Aerial view of Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District
On the National Register of Historic Places
Photo courtesy of Paul Turner

The Barbecue Capital of Texas is a mere 30 miles from Austin, The Legislative Capital of Texas.

Site of theBattle of Plum Creek (1840), where the Comanches suffered enough casualties to retreat from central Texas forever, Lockhart was also the southernmost point of the Chisholm Trail in the 1870s.

Lockhart, Texas Landmarks / Attractions

One block away is the former Caldwell County Jail, another interesting architectural piece. Now serving as the county's Museum, its hours make it very friendly to weekend visitors: Saturdays and Sundays 1 -5.

Across the street from the Clark Library is the old Baker Theater, which was recently bought by the Lockhart Theater Group. Members perform diverse plays and then continue with the restoration work (after changing costume).

Antique stores are opened weekends as well.

The restored Dr. Eugene Clark Library, circa 1899
TE Photo, 2002

Dr. Eugene Clark Library in the 1950s
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com

Lockhart Fire Department
TE photo, 2003

Lockhart, Texas Chronicles

• Remembering the Courthouse
  Rick Scott remembers his father, Caldwell County Judge Scott, and his inspections of the Courthouse
• Susan's Indians by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales")
  Early one morning, Rebecca and her niece, Susan Jane Ayres, happened to be on the porch of the Duncan cabin when startled by an Indian woman who stuck her head up from a place of concealment in a nearby draw ...
• Withers by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales")
  Back in Texas' trail-driving days, a cow pony could cause a man an awful lot of worry - especially a horse with idiosyncrasies...
• Dying Doctor Bequeaths a Library by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales")

Lockhart, Texas Forum

• Lockhart & Caldwell County
  My father was County Judge of Caldwell County from 1974 until early 1987 when he retired and then died of cancer in November of 1987. Leonard W. Scott was born in Staples, Caldwell County, on April 25th 1914, and lived there until the 30's. His family moved briefly to Karnes County where he met my mother, Bonnie Hinkle Scott from the Pawnee community of Bee County. He returned to Lockhart by 1936 and worked for about $30.00 a month as a gas attendant.
  Mostly self-educated and a layman, Leonard became manager of a local tire & appliance business, served in WWII, became a small farmer and rancher and watched his business (Goodyear) outsell stores in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.
  After 35 years with Goodyear he retired and went straight into local politics. He was popular enough to get elected three times, helped revise the EMS system for the county, improved fire service, obtained grants for agriculture, and tried in vain to improve growth for the county.
  During all this time this layman held court then helped establish the first County Court at Law for Caldwell County in 1987. He also set up the first modern County Fire Marshal for the county.
  Leonard & Bonnie have three sons. Leonard Wayne, a longtime Professor of Law & Mediation at St. Mary's in San Antonio, Mike, a Pharmacist with a local pharmacy for thirty years in Lockhart, now living in Grapevine, and Ricke, a retired Police Officer and the (past) second county fire Marshall for the county.
  Scott's roots in the Caldwell county area go back to about 1859-1866 when his mothers family moved to Martindale from Mississippi. - Ricke Scott, October 21, 2005
• Please add GASLIGHT THEATER to your Lockhart listing. We are a semi-professional theater, sponsored by Austin Circle of Theaters and produce a minimum of 10 shows every year. Our website also links to other entertainment in Lockhart: www.LockhartTheater.org - Paul Bright, February 27, 2001

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