Historical Markers of Texas

179 Aransas County Aransas County Courthouse grounds Created out of the coastal portion of Refugio County in 1871, Aransas County is the second smallest county in Texas. Within its boundaries are three ... 180 Aransas County East Orleans Street, greenspace near intersection with Broadway (SH 35) Created September 18, 1871 from Refugio County; Organized in 1871 with Rockport as the county seat Named for the river Nuestra Senora de Aranzaz ... 12429 Aransas County Airport 421 John Wendell Rd. This aviation facility developed out of a need during World War II for additional air training sites for U.S. Navy pilots. In 1942 the Aransas County ... 184 Aransas Pass Light Station About 2 miles NE of E end of Port Aransas (on Harbor Island), private and only accessible by boat Construction of 67-foot tower was started in 1855. The French lens was lighted in 1856, to mark natural Gulf pass to Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays ...

16918 Baldwin-Brundrett House N. Live Oak St., E side between E. Alamito and E. Cedar streets Aransas County Judge W.H. Baldwin, who promoted Rockport as a deep water port, lived in this house in the 1890s. George A. Brundrett, Jr., was a ... 343 Baylor-Norvell House 617 S. Water Street Located on the waterfront in a community that has survived many hurricanes, this house was built about 1868 by Dr. John W. Baylor. In addition to ... 16457 Bracht House 409 N. Magnolia Adolph L. Bracht (1872-1961) was born in Rockport and worked at lumber and grocery stores before establishing his own wholesale and retail grocery ...

18430 Casterline Fish Company 110 N. Casterline Dr., Fulton TX 78358 Founded by Cecil Weber Casterline in the 1930s, his “fish house” initially sourced fish, oysters and shrimp from local fisherman, iced the catch ... 11686 Cementerio San Antonio de Padua 0.9 mi. N of Aransas Pass on Bus. SH 35, north of Foggy Hill Road According to local lore, George Lewis (1859-1895) donated one-half acre of land at this site to the Hispanic citizens of the area for use as a cemetery, ... 1041 Connie Hagar E. of SH 35/Broadway Street "Y"; city waterfront property facing Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rockport. (June 14, 1886 - November 29, 1973) Born Conger Neblett in Corsicana, and married to Jack Hagar in 1926, Connie Hagar received early training as ...

1669 First Baptist Church of Rockport 1515 N. Live Oak Organized in 1873, the First Baptist Church of Rockport originally was located on S. Church Street. L. D. Young served as the first pastor. The hurricane ... 1767 First Methodist Church of Rockport 801 E. Main Street The Methodist Church has been in existence in Rockport since about 1870. The Rev. H. G. Horton was assigned as pastor of the Rockport church in 1872. ... 1799 First National Bank of Rockport Corner of Austin and Liberty Streets, Rockport. Chartered on October 8, 1890, the First National Bank of Aransas Pass (now Rockport) was organized by a group of businessmen led by John H. Traylor, ... 1846 First Presbyterian Church of Rockport 514 N. Live Oak Street, Rockport. This congregation traces its history to 1869. Although deactivated in 1879, it was reorganized with twenty charter members in 1889. The members met ... 11685 Frandolig Island Bay Shore Drive, S side 300 feet NW of Riviera Drive, at entrance to Key Allegro. Marker reported missing Nov. 2017. Replacement in progress. Dubbed "Nine Mile Point" by early settlers, this island was first used commercially by the Cushman Meat Packing Company in the late 1860s. Austrian ... 2080 Fulton Fulton City Hall, 205 N. Seventh Street, Fulton. Located on Aransas Bay, the city of Fulton has a history closely associated with the fishing and shipping industry. The town was founded in 1867 ... 2081 Fulton Cemetery 3 blocks east of SH 35, at 5th and Myrtle Streets, Fulton. Land for this community graveyard was set aside when the town of Fulton was platted by George Ware Fulton in 1868. The earliest documented burial ... 16305 Fulton Community Church southwest corner of 3rd & Chaparral Before the growth of fishing and tourism industries, Fulton was a community of only about 200 settlers. Although Sunday schools met in town, residents ... 2083 Fulton Mansion Fulton Mansion State Historic Site. Corner of Henderson and Fulton Beach Road, Fulton Built between 1874 and 1877 by George Ware Fulton (1810-1893) and his wife, Harriet Smith Fulton (1823-1910), this imposing residence was named "Oakhurst." ... 18743 Fulton Volunteer Fire Department Fulton Townsite, BLOCK 42, Lot 1-16, & 30` of LAUREL ST. ADJ. to 8 & 9 (ADD'N IMPS); 401 N. 9th St., Fulton TX. In 1947, an agricultural brush fire quickly accelerated and destroyed a large part of Fulton, starting in Copano Village, crossing the highway and ... 2084 Fulton-Bruhl House 409 N. Broadway, Rockport. Built about 1868, this vernacular early Texas home was purchased in 1872 by James C. Fulton, a noted early business and civic leader. Fulton sold ...

2537 Home of George W. Fulton Fulton Mansion State Historic Site. Corner of Henderson and Fulton Beach Road, Fulton. Born at Philadelphia, June 8, 1810. Served in the Texan Army in 1836. A pioneer resident of Refugio County. After an engineering career of distinction ... 2557 Hoopes-Smith House 417 N. Broadway, Rockport. Prominent local businessman and land developer James M. Hoopes (1839-1931) had this home built between 1890 and 1892. The home later served as a ... 18105 Hynes-Balthrope House 801 S. Church This 1874 house of longleaf pine features full-length gallery porches and such classical revival elements as square columns, dentils and brackets. ...

18113 Jackson Family Maritime Companies Near NW corner of Veterans Memorial Park, next to Interpretative Graphics sign about seafood industry, on Navigation District property located at Rockport Harbor. In the early 20th century, Rockport earned its place as a major center for the fishing industry along the Texas coast. In 1906, Roy Jackson opened ... 17584 Joe A. and Bertha Harper House 811 N. Live Oak Built around 1910, this two-story frame Colonial Revival was used as a boarding house for shipyard employees. The home was also used for shelter ... 1547 John Fagan Located in Lamar Cemetery. From Rockport, take Highway 35 north about 7 miles to Goose Island State Park (just north of causeway). Follow P-13 E then NE about 2.5 miles to cemetery, Lamar. Soldier in the Texas War for Independence at Goliad, 1835-1836. Erected by the State of Texas, 1962.

23643 Kline's Cafe 1006 St. Mary's St When popular hangout “Capt Davis’ Drive-In,” owned by brothers Marvin, Jack and Charlie Davis, burned to the ground in 1942, Charlie’s wife, Mollie ...

23863 L.M. and Clara Bracht House marker pending marker pending 5368 Lamar Cemetery Lamar community, Hagy Drive This burial ground originally served pioneer settlers of the Lamar community. Founded by James W. Byrne (d. 1862), a native of Ireland and a veteran ... 18745 Lamar Volunteer Fire Department Northwest corner of Bois d'Arc and Lamar Pointe Road; 302 Bois d'Arc. Established by a group of concerned citizens, the Lamar Volunteer Fire Department formed in 1963. The volunteers dedicated themselves to fire prevention, ...

3256 Mathis House 621 S. Church Street, Rockport. John M. Mathis (1831-1922) had this home built for his family in 1868-69. Instrumental in platting the town of Rockport, he served as its first mayor ... 17220 Mc Lester Family Cemetery 2 miles NW of Rockport. Take 1069 to 1781, north to McLester Rd., east to 406 McLester Rd. McLESTER FAMILY CEMETERY SITUATED AMONG HACKBERRY, MESQUITE AND LIVE OAK TREES, THIS HISTORIC CEMETERY HAS SERVED THE McLESTER FAMILY FOR OVER A ... 16924 Mills Wharf 9 miles north of Rockport at the base of the Lyndon B. Johnson Causeway on the northeast side MILLS WHARF, BUILT BY JOHN HOWARD MILLS IN 1932, WAS A RENOWNED CENTER FOR WATERFOWL HUNTING AND FISHING FROM THE 1930s UNTIL IT WAS SOLD IN 1960. ... 13692 Moore House 413 S. Church Street Built in 1906, this house was the vision of James Edward (J. Ed) and Josephine Kennedy Moore. The two were married from 1903 until 1915, when Josephine ...

4073 Port Bay Hunting and Fishing Club FM 1069 at Port Bay Club Road Danish native Andrew Sorenson (1864-1941), established a reputation as a hunting and fishing guide in this area in the early 20th century. He bought ...

19965 Richard Henry Wood House 203 N. Magnolia St. Born in 1846, Richard Henry Wood was one of the first residents of Rockport. In 1866, Wood partnered with James Doughty and built the first cattle ... 4325 Rockport Orleans Street and SH 35, Center Island, Rockport. The town of Rockport was founded by cattlemen J. M. and T. H. Mathis in 1867. Originally a part of Refugio County, it became county seat of newly ... 18431 Rockport Air Force Station Marker will be on north side of airport access road 0.3 miles north east of airport terminal building. On April 22, 1943, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and Aransas County agreed to build an airport for military purpose and public use. ... 4326 Rockport Cemetery Tule Park Road, 1.25 mi. E of SH 35 This cemetery has served the citizens of Rockport and Fulton for over a century. The oldest marked grave is that of Emma Fulton (d. 1876), granddaughter ... 16785 Rockport Marine Laboratory 702 Navigation Circle, Rockport In 1935, Rockport Marine Lab was set up aboard the houseboat "Vivian" in Rockport Harbor to assist the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission with ... 4327 Rockport Pilot, The 1002 Wharf Street, Rockport. The earliest newspaper in this area was "The Vaquero," published by Charles F. Bailey and Geraldo A. Beeman in St. Mary's in 1868. In 1869 Bailey ... 13653 Rockport School 619 N Live Oak St Rockport School has served the town of Rockport for many years as both an educational and community institution. It dates to 1935, during the era ... 18115 Rockport Volunteer Fire Department 212 N. Gagon Street, Smith and Wood, Block 9 Lot A As Rockport grew as a center of commerce and a tourism destination in the 1880s, businessman Sam Smith, who owned several homes and businesses, donated ...

4428 Sacred Heart Catholic Church 704 Cornwall Street at Church St., Rockport (corner of Church Street and Cornwall). Roman Catholic priests visited the Rockport area as early as 1838. The first Mass in the town of Rockport was celebrated in the home of County Judge ... 4522 San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad in Rockport, The 105 S. Magnolia, Rockport. During its early years Rockport relied on Gulf shipping for goods and services. After the arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad in ... 23864 Simon Michael Gallery 510 E. King St. Born in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, Simon Michael (1905-2002) showed artistic ability at an early age. He became an artist and itinerant art teacher. ... 183 Site of Aransas Hotel Austin and Main Street, Rockport 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 ... 2427 Site of Heldenfels Shipyard 1800 S. Church Street (SH 70), Rockport. Shipping industries flourished on the Rockport waterfront by the 1880s. Heldenfels Shipyard was established here on 12.9 acres in October 1917. Four ... 3213 Site of Marion Packing Co. Fulton Beach Road and Chaparral Street, Fulton. The ruins of this rendering vat mark the location of the Marion Packing Co. (spelled "Meriam" in some records), one of the dozen or more meat packing ... 2733 Site of One of the Homes of James Power SH 35, west side, intersection with Loop 1781 Site of One of the Homes of James Power Born in Ireland, 1789 Died in Live Oak Point, Texas, 1852 With James Hewetson he was granted authority January ... 3018 Site of the Town of Lamar southeast corner of Main Street (Park Road 13) and Bois D'Arc Street, near entrance to Goose Island State Park Named for Mirabeau B. Lamar 1798 * * * 1859 President of the Republic of Texas 1838 * * * 1841 Established in 1838 Made a port of entry in 1839 Sacked ... 18009 Smith-Brundrett House West side of N. Austin Street between Orleans and Cedar Streets at 901 N. Austin, Rockport, Texas, Aransas County Built in 1903 in Old Rockport, this Cottage and Craftsman Style House is an early frame Bungalow surrounded by giant oak trees. In 1920, W.H. smith, ... 15535 Sorenson-Stair Building 406 S. Austin Simon Sorenson, a native of Denmark, bought Brunner's Merchantile at this site in 1886. The building was originally two stories, rebuilt after an ... 5078 St. Peter's Episcopal Church 412 N. Live Oak Street, Rockport. The Rt. Rev. Alexander Gregg, Bishop of the Diocese of Texas, officiated at the dedication of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Rockport on November ... 5103 Stella Maris Chapel From Rockport, take SH 35 north about 7 miles to Goose Island State Park (just north of causeway). Then follow P13 east then NE to Lamar Cemetery Irish immigrant James W. Byrne (1787-1865), a veteran of the Texas Revolution, was an early settler of this area. He established the town of Lamar ...

16784 The Cedars Rockport, 1203 South Water Street Tourism has been a major part of the Rockport economy for generations, but in the 1920s and 1930s with the rise of the automobile, more visitors ...

15786 Woman's Club of Aransas County Building Woman's Club of Aransas County building, NE corner E. Concho and Broadway streets In March 1948, Mrs. Fred B. Hunt issued a call to organize the Woman’s Civic Club. One of the club’s major early activities was financing a permanent ... 17218 Wood-Jackson House northeast corner of Magnolia and Nopal Tobias “T.R.” Wood purchased lots at a sheriff’s auction in 1910 and built this Queen Anne style house. T.R. worked on his father’s cattle ranch ...