199

Photo by J Frye; more photos here.

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Arlington Cemetery
Encompassing more than ten acres of land, Arlington Cemetery includes within its borders several small historic graveyards, including the original old cemetery of Arlington, the W. W. McNatt Cemetery addition, the Masonic Cemetery, and the Old City Cemetery. William W. McNatt, who brought his family here from Arkansas in 1872, was a retail merchant and large scale farmer in this area. He sold the cemetery property to the Arlington Cemetery Society in 1899. Another group, the Arlington Cemetery Association, was chartered in 1923 and maintained the graveyard for many years until the City of Arlington assumed ownership and maintenance.
The oldest documented burial here is that of one-year-old Mattie Luna Cooper (1874-75), daughter of pioneer Arlington settlers J. D. and Luna A. Cooper. Numerous other early settlers also are buried here, as are veterans of conflicts from the Civil War to World War II. Local officials interred in the graveyard include at least seven former postmasters and the following former mayors: M. J. Brinson, George M. Finger, Emmett E. Rankin, Williams C. Weeks, Thomas B. Collins, T. G. Bailey, W. H. Davis, Preston F. McKee, William H. Rose, Will G. Hiett and Harold E. Patterson.
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We're in the 0ne hundreds

198

Photo by Steve Gustafson; more photos here.

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Aransas Creek Settlers
Earliest known residents were Karankawa Indians who named creek. On this stream was one of the most famous ranches in early Texas, occupied in 1805 by Don Martin de Leon, who in 1824 founded Victoria.
In 1830's Irish colonists came by way of Copano Bay, settling downcreek. Anglo-Americans from older settlements came by road and trail, stopping mainly upcreek. Stockraising, trucking and freighting provided livelihoods in the rich, new prairie land.
In 1850 Patrick Fadden sold to Ft. Merrill corn and vegetables from 1835 land grant of his uncle, Father John Thomas Malloy. Fadden and W.R. Hayes freighted supplies to settlers in 1860's. Hays had early post office in his home, 1870; was county judge 1876-92.
John Wilson, an 1850's upcreek settler, brought first Durham cattle to country; built one of first wooden fences, enclosing 600 acres of homesite with rough heart pine plank.
On creek's north bank stood ranch of Frank O. Skidmore, founder of Skidmore, who gained fame for building first barbed wire fence and windmill in county. He promoted breeding of registered Herefords and in 1886 gave much of right-of-way to the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad. (1967)
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197

Photo by Dave W; more photos here and here.

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The Argyle
Built 1859 by Charles Anderson as headquarters for a 1400-acre house ranch. Leaving San Antonio on Civil War's eve, Anderson sold to poet Hiram McLane who lived here 30 years. In 1890 at Alamo Heights' creation, a subdivider named the mansion for his native Argyllshire, Scotland.
The O'Grady family, formerly of Boerne, bought the Argyle in 1893, making it famous for hospitality and food. The classic "Argyle Cook Book" was published in 1940.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1972
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196

Photo by Morgan Petermann; more photos here.

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Argyle United Methodist Church
Organized thirteen years after the town of Argyle was founded, this church was chartered in 1894 with twenty-seven members. The first pastor was the Rev. Blueford Henry Webster, a Methodist circuit rider from Mississippi.
Early worship services for the congregation were conducted in the Argyle Schoolhouse. In 1898 church trustees purchased land at this location from the Texas and Pacific railway and W. H. Abrams, company trustee. The first sanctuary, a frame structure, was built here soon afterward during the pastorate of the Rev. J. R. Atchley, who completed much of the carpentry work with the assistance of a Mr. Rhodes and several church members.
Adjoining property was acquired by church trustees in 1947. A brick sanctuary was constructed here in 1969, east of the original structure, and an educational building was added in 1972
Part of a circuit for seventy-eight years, the Argyle United Methodist Church has played a significant role in the development of the town. Membership has included many prominent community leaders, and church facilities have been used for a variety of civic group meetings and public functions. (1981)
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July 28, 2007 - In a game where every run mattered, one run came from an unlikely source. Appearing in his 390th career MLB game, Jason Tyner stepped up to the plate in the 3rd inning against Jake Westbrook. This would be Tyner's 1,220th career MLB at-bat. With a 1-1 count, Tyner lofted a 352 foot homerun to right field to give the Twins an early 1-0 lead. This ended the longest active drought in the MLB for a player without hitting a home run. It was Tyner's only homerun of his MLB career. After he snapped his streak, the active drought title fell to the next batter in the lineup, Luis Castillo who had gone 148 games since his last homerun; he would relinquish that title later in the year after being traded to the New York Mets. Tyner never homered as an Aggie; his first professional homerun came long after his MLB debut in AAA in 2004 with the Richmond Braves. He would homer again in 2005 for the AAA Rochester Red Wings, and after his MLB homerun, he had 1 more in him with the AAA Buffalo Bisons in 2008.

The epic moon shot can be found here (his smile at the end rivaled that of Chief Wahoo's):

195

Photo by Gary Estep; more photos here.

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Argyle
This area was first settled in the 1850s by members of the Peters Colony. In 1881 the town of Argyle was started by Galveston developer James Morrill, when a rail line was built through the area. Early residents came from neighboring settlements. Schools consolidated with Argyle included Beulah, Pilot Knob, Stoney Ridge, Lane, and parts of the Prairie Mound and Litsey districts. An 1895 fire destroyed the business area, but it was soon rebuilt. The growth of nearby urban areas, which led to a decline before World War II, has resulted in recent population increases. (1981)
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194

Photo by James Hulse; more photos here.

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Archer Park
This one-block-square tract of land was deeded to the city of McAllen for use as a public park in 1917, six years after the town was incorporated. The donor, Mayor Oliver Percy Archer (1869-1930), was a prominent local businessman and civic leader. The site was officially named for him in 1933 by the McAllen Board of City Commissioners. From 1936 to 1949 the McAllen Public Library was housed in the basement area of the bandstand. The site of many community activities and celebrations, Archer Park serves as a reminder of the early days of McAllen. (1981)
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193

Photo by Brian Anderson; more photos here.




Today I figured out something about how these markers are numbered. Has anyone else figured it out yet?

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Archer County Jail
By 1909 Archer County had outgrown its original jail, a 16-foot square frame building. Construction on this larger facility was completed in Sept. 1910. The sandstone structure was designed with living quarters for the sheriff and his family on the ground floor. The second and third floors had cells and a hanging gallows which was never used. The first prisoner held in this jail was arrested for stealing a horse. More than 8,000 prisoners were jailed here until the county opened a new facility in 1974. (1985)
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192

Photo by Gary Estep; more photos here.

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Archer County Discovery Well
M. P. Andrews No. 1, drilled in 1911, reached oil sands at 920 feet. Well first flowed oil, March, 1912, at rate of 10 barrels a day.
Production in this shallow sand development area fell off when oil prices dropped, but rose after other pools in the region were tapped from 1916 to 1921.
Since then, Archer County has become one of the state's most productive. The Hull-Silk-Sikes Well, 1939, opened a major field.
More than 333 million barrels of crude oil have been produced by the county since 1911, with Andrews No. 1 still pumping.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967.
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191

I could not find a picture of the historical marker. It seems like there might not be one.The image from yesterday is the courthouse. Here's an image from another side of the courthouse.

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Archer County Courthouse
Courthouse, Archer County, 1891. Besides government, housed many pioneer social affairs. Dome, cupola removed, 1925.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965.
THC Database

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May 23, 2006 - In his 3rd season with the Florida Marlins, Logan Kensing was handed the ball in the top of the 9th inning with his Marlins trailing the Chicago Cubs 4-3. Kensing was perfect striking out Aramis Ramrez and Jacque Jones sandwiched around a groundout of Matt Murton to maintain the 1-run deficit. Somewhat reliable closer Ryan Dempster, who was in the midst of a rocky 2006 season, was given the save opportunity by the Cubs to close out the 9th; he didn't, and the walk off, 2-run single by Mike Jacobs allowed Kensing to record his 1st career MLB win.

190

Photo by Gary Estep; more photos here
It looks like someone shot at this one.
Also, Texas A&M related! It was discovered by Sul Ross!




I love when the historical marker marker says the number on it. It's very validating.

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Archer County Copper Mines
The civilized world first heard of copper in this area from Texas Rangers after an 1860 campaign against Comanches on the Pease River, about 100 miles to the northwest. The Ranger Captain, Lawrence S. ("Sul") Ross, later to serve Texas as governor, had nuggets picked off the surface of the ground and hauled to Austin. In 1861, Assistant State Geologist S. B. Buckley charted the mineral site. The Rangers' ore haul was processed and used in gun caps for Confederate forces during the Civil War. To get more of the needed metal, the Texas Copper Mining & Manufacturing Company was founded on May 28, 1864, but wartime shortage of men apparently prevented recovery of copper at that time. The T.C.M.&M. Co., based in Dallas, sent W. F. Cummings to Archer County in 1880 to open mining sites. Although the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and Statistics reported in 1882 that no mining had commenced, ore eventually was hauled out and shipped to smelters in the east. No central vein or deposit could be found.
The Boston & Texas Copper Company of Tucson, Ariz., leased the mine site here in 1899. It produced some copper ore which was processed in El Paso, but again the project failed to meet expectations. (1971)
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April 3, 2006 - One of 11 players to make their MLB debut on Opening Day of 2006, Eric Reed started in centerfield for the Florida Marlins against the Houston Astros in Houston. Before pitch clocks were necessary, Roy Oswalt blew through 8 innings as part of a 2 hour, 28 minute, 1-0 shutout. Reed would take Oswalt to the deepest part of the ballpark in his first at bat for a long fly out. He flew out to left his next time up, and after a leadoff single in the 8th, Reed successfully bunted Miguel Olivo to 2nd where he would remain for the rest of the inning. Reed would collect his first MLB hit a few days later, but was mostly used as a defensive replacement during his 2 MLB seasons.

189

Photo by Brian Anderson; more photos here.




Just out in an odd spot on a highway with nothing but fields around. Not even on the county line. Archer County makes you work for your scavenger hunt!

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Archer County
A part of the Peters Grant, 1841;
Created January 22, 1858;
Organized July 27, 1880;
Named in honor of Dr. Branch Tanner Archer 1790-1856;
Texas Commissioner to the United States, 1835, Member of Congress, Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.
First permanent settlement, 1874; First railroad, 1890; Archer City, the county seat. (1936, 1986)
THC Database

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July 28, 2001 - The 9th player from the 1999 MLB draft to make his debut, Casey Fossum came on in the Top of the 9th to keep the Chicago White Sox in check with his Boston Red Sox trailing 3-1. He induced a groundout from Aaron Rowand, coerced Carlos Lee to try and stretch a single into a double but was thrown out at 2nd, and induced another groundout to Magglio Ordonez to finish the inning. The Red Sox would go down quietly in the bottom of the 9th to close out the game. It was the 1st of 6 relief appearances Fossum would make before transitioning into the Red Sox starting rotation to finish the season.

188

Photo by James Hulse; more photos here.

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Archer City Methodist Church
This congregation began as a mission in 1880, the same year Archer City was organized. The earliest pastors, including the Rev. D. D. Duncan and the Rev. I. N. Crutchfield, were circuit riders who also served neighboring counties. Members of Archer City Methodist Church constructed their first sanctuary in 1889 and built new facilities in later years as they grew in numbers. The church became a full-time, self-supporting member of the North Texas Conference in 1912. Throughout its history the congregation has provided significant service to the community. (1985)
THC Database

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187

Photo by Bill Kirchner; more photos here.

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Archeological Sites at Mackenzie Reservoir and Tule Canyon
Before this area was covered by Mackenzie Reservior, evidence of human occupancy was found at 77 recorded archeological sites. The earliest artifacts date back 10,000 years to a bison kill. Prehistoric occupancy is indicated by burial sites, shallow hearths, and stone tools. Gun flints, glass beads, and metal objects confirm 18th century European contact. By 1874 Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie's 4th Cavalry had driven the Indians from the Tule Canyon area which had been a lush grazing ground for buffalo and antelope. (1979)
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186

Photo by James Hulse; more photos here.

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Arcadius Steinle House
A native of Hettingen, Prussia, and a mason by trade, Arcadius Steinle emigrated to the U.S. in 1844 and moved to Castroville the next year. In 1847, he wed Marie Ann Dreyer and began construction of this home, where they reared six children. Arcadius died in 1858, and in 1858 Marie wed his brother, Franz. To the union were born five more children. The home later passed to son Henry Steinle, and it remained in the family until 1946. Built in phases to accommodate the growing family, it is a vernacular, side-gable house of stucco over rubble stone and a rear ell of timber frame and stone. Features include a central entry flanked by paired windows. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1962
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June 16, 2001 - In the 2nd to last game of Matt Blank's MLB career, he was selected as the starting pitcher in the all-Canada game of the Montreal Expos versus Toronto Blue Jays. After allowing a run to score in the first on a groundout, Blank worked his way through 4 more innings before a leadoff home run in the 6th. Despite no strikeouts, Blank completed 5.1 innings allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk. He left the game with a 4-2 lead, and the Expos would hang on to win 7-2 giving Blank his first MLB win. He was also credited with the win in his next and last start of his MLB career 5 days later against the Mets. He would bounce around to different AAA teams for the next 5 seasons but was never given another chance at the MLB level.

Here is a very brief "highlight" of Matt Blank surrendering a leadoff single in the first and a 2-out triple in the 5th to Shannon Stewart (about 40 seconds in length; if you make it to the 13:12 mark, you will see Blank credited with the win):

ensign_beedrill said:

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189

Photo by Brian Anderson; more photos here.




Just out in an odd spot on a highway with nothing but fields around. Not even on the county line. Archer County makes you work for your scavenger hunt!

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Archer County
A part of the Peters Grant, 1841;
Created January 22, 1858;
Organized July 27, 1880;
Named in honor of Dr. Branch Tanner Archer 1790-1856;
Texas Commissioner to the United States, 1835, Member of Congress, Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.
First permanent settlement, 1874; First railroad, 1890; Archer City, the county seat. (1936, 1986)
THC Database

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I've missed a few days. That spot where the marker is used to be a roadside picnic areas with a big live oak and some picnic tables. The tree died, the flowers died, and I think the picnic stuff was removed, too.

This spot is just a few miles north of the ghost town Anarene, which was the name used for the town in the movie of The Last Picture Show, which was written by Archer City native Larry McMurtry.

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Photo by Steve Henderson; more photos here.

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Aransas Pass, C.S.A.
Aransas Pass, the natural inlet (3 miles east) to Aransas Bay, separates San Jose and Mustang Islands. These islands are part of a chain of barrier islands which extend along the entire length of Texas' Coastal Mainland.
At the beginning of the civil war countless small vessels transported confederate supplies up and down the Texas and northern Mexican Coast virtually undisturbed by federal naval forces. Cotton destined for foreign markets moved freely through Aransas Pass.
By early 1861 a union blockade had halted trafficking by confederate vessels beyond the barrier islands. However, confederate supplies inside the barrier chain continued and inlets such as Aransas Pass became sites of increasingly strategic military value.
The Aransas Pass area came under the control of Federal Captain J.W. Kittredge's Naval Forces until his capture in September 1862. In November 1863 a massive federal force gained control of the south Texas Coast from the Rio Grande to Matagorda Bay.
Eventually, Federal Forces lost control of the mainland behind Aransas Pass and in June 1864 withdrew from the area. Afterward, confederate ships successfully eluded the federal blockade and delivered vital supplies to the confederacy by way of Aransas Pass.
Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995.
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July 22, 2000 - Making the 33rd start of his MLB career, Ryan Rupe toed the rubber against the division rival New York Yankees. After his Devil Rays got out to a 2 run lead, the Yankees started to chip away. A 2-out single in the bottom of the 2nd inning made it a 2-1 lead. As Rupe began the 3rd inning, 10-year MLB veteran Chuck Knoblauch came to the plate. With a 2-0 count, Knoblauch took Rupe deep to left-center field for the first and only time that an Aggie has homered off an Aggie in a MLB game. With the score knotted at 2, Rupe settled in, allowing only those 2 runs through 6 innings of work. Rupe left with a 3-2 lead, but his offense erupted for 7 runs in the 8th to run away with the game 12-4. The win would improve Rupe's record to 2-4 on the year and was the 10th victory of his MLB career. Knoblauch's homerun was the 83rd of his career, and the 5th and last homerun he would hit in 2000.

184

Photo by Dave W; more photos here.




This one seems especially hidden! It looks like there are no roads to the lighthouse; the only way to get there is by boat, so no street view. Thanks to Dave W for getting on a boat and getting out there to go take a picture! Look at that marker. It's stuck in the water! You have to be dedicated to find this one.

On that note, I would like to thank all the beautiful explorers who make this their mission and submit their photos to the Historical Marker Database. I couldn't do this without you.

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Aransas Pass Light Station
Situated on Harbor Island, the Aransas Pass Light Station faithfully served maritime needs for nearly a century before being decommissioned. In response for a long-recognized need for navigational aid near Aransas Pass, the United States House of Representatives allocated funds for a site in Aransas Pass in 1851. In winter 1855, the U.S. Department of the Treasury Lighthouse Board began construction of a 67-foot tower. The octagonal, red brick walls were four feet thick at the base and featured a cast-iron spiral stairway providing access to the top.
To provide light, a Fresnel Lens, ground in France in 1854 by H.L. Lapute, was installed. The hand-polished multi-prism lens weighed close to 100 pounds and stood nearly four feet high. The power was fueled by kerosene lamp. The lighthouse began operation on July 15, 1857. Light was visible from 13 miles away, marking the natural Gulf Pass to Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays by way of Lydia Ann Channel. During the Civil War, Confederates in 1863 buried the lens for safety before damaging the tower to avert Federal forces using the light for their own purposes.The tower was later repaired and the lighthouse returned to service on July 15, 1867. In later years, a 500-watt electric light was installed, making the light visible for 16 miles.
The auxiliary structures have been rebuilt several times due to natural disasters. One of the original Texas stations of the U.S. Lighthouse Service (merged into the Coast Guard in 1939), this light was decommissioned in 1952 after Aransas Pass shifted southward. Later site owners restored the lighthouse, employed keepers, and in 1988 returned the lighthouse to service as a private navigation aid. THC Database

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183

Photo by Norman Frank; more photos here.

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Site of Aransas Hotel
Built in 1889 by civic leader and politician John H. Traylor, the Aransas Hotel covered this city block. The three-story structure, a major tourist attraction in Rockport, had about 100 rooms and a massive open dining room with a 200 person capacity. Guests were entertained by orchestras, plays, a mounted bird display, and beach facilities. They could also cruise in Traylor's yacht, or tour in surreys from the livery stable. Remodeled and named the Del Mar in the mid-1890s, it was sold in 1910. Deteriorated by 1906 and unused during World War I, the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1919. (1996)
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June 5, 2000 - The New York Mets called up Jason Tyner for his MLB debut. They decided to bat him leadoff... Against a future Hall of Famer in Mike Mussina... No problem! Tyner singles in his first at bat. Tyner singles and drives in a run in his next at bat. Tyner successfully lays down a sacrifice bunt to move pitcher, Mike Hampton, over to 2nd in his 3rd at bat. It is not until the 7th that the Baltimore Orioles are finally able to retire Tyner officially in the box score. Unfortunately, Mussina and the Orioles bullpen hold the Mets to only 6 hits; 2 of which are Tyner's and 2 of which are Hampton's. The Mets ended up losing 4-2, but Tyner did typical Tyner things by getting on base and moving runners around. A little more than a month later, the Mets, in anticipation of a playoff run, traded Tyner to the Rays along with Paul Wilson in exchange for Bubba Trammell and Rick White; the Mets ended up the losers on that trade as both Trammell and White combined for 0.1 WAR in their Mets tenure. Tyner, mostly in a platoon situation for the Rays, had 0.5 WAR by himself.

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Photo by Jeff Leichsenring; more photos here.

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Gail Borden, Jr.
Site of the home 1837-1851, of Gail Borden, Jr.
Pioneer surveyor, newspaper editor and inventor of a process for condensing milk, which he discovered while living here in 1840.
Born November 9, 1801. Died September 2, 1874.
THC Database

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May 17, 2000 - 5 years after being taken by the Chicago White Sox in the 11th round of the 1995 MLB draft, Kevin Beirne was called upon to make his MLB debut. He would trot out of the White Sox bullpen in Yankee Stadium in the 6th inning with his Sox down 9-2. After a flyout by Jim Leyritz, a single and an error would put men at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Chuck Knoblauch would flyout to center and Beirne got Bernie Williams to strikeout swinging to end the inning; Bernie, not to be confused with Beirne, would go 2-5 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in the game. The Yankees went on to win the game 9-4 with Roger Clemens the winning pitcher of record.