1936 Texas Centennial Highway Markers

There are 264 Centennial Texas Highway Department Markers.

Scholz Garten

While in Austin, you should visit Scholz Garten.  They have a good selection of beers on tap, including some great german imports.  The food is decent with german favorites such as schnitzel and bratwurst.  Don’t forget the side of their excellent German Potato Salad.  The seating for this place is huge, including a couple banquet halls and a stage for live music.  An Austin institution.  To the right of the door, you will see the Austin Landmark medallion.  And to the right of the next window, is the Texas Historical Marker.  Marker number 12245, erected 1967.

Text:  German immigrant August Scholz (1825-1891) opened Scholz’s Hall at this site in 1866. About the turn of the century, this building replaced the original hall. A German social club, the Austin Saengerrunde, purchased the property in 1908 and added the adjacent hall. The Texas legislature honored Scholz Garten in 1966 as “A gathering place for Texans of discernment, taste, culture and erudition, epitomizing the finest traditions of magnificent German heritage in our state.”

#HistoricalMarker #Texas #texashistory #texasheritage #Austin #ATX #Travis #TravisCounty #beer #german #AustinLandmark

Emma Tenayuca

The third of three marker/monument photos I took on that cold and wet day in San Antonio, Tx.  I was crossing Milam Square after leaving Market Square (the old Produce Market) and saw there were a more than a few markers and monuments to be seen in the park.  I took a couple quick photos, mid-30 temps with drizzle rushed things.  Solid base instead of the normal metal post.  Marker number 16245 Erected in 2009.

Text:  During the 1930s, San Antonio native Emma Tenayuca was a prominent leader of a movement that fought deplorable working conditions, discrimination and unfair wages on behalf of the city's working poor. As a child, Tenayuca had often visited the Plaza Del Zacate (now Milam Park), where residents gathered to discuss politics and civil issues in the days before Spanish radio programming. These visits awakened in her awareness of injustice, and she converted her concern into action. Tenayuca joined the Workers Alliance of America and other activist political organizations because of their philosophy in favor of workers' rights. As a gifted and compassionate orator, she organized and participated in many demonstrations in support of San Antonio workers. In 1938, Tenayuca led thousands of pecan shellers, most of whom were Hispanic women, to walk off the job in protest of proposed pay cuts. San Antonio served as the center of the U.S. shelling industry, and typical salaries ranged from only two to three dollars per week. The strike was one of the first successful actions in the Mexican-American struggle for political and social justice. Unable to find work in Texas in part because of her political activities, Tenayuca relocated to California in 1945, where she earned an undergraduate degree. She returned quietly to San Antonio in the late 1960s, and earned a master's degree and worked as a reading teacher at Harlandale I.S.D. in South Bexar County until her retirement in 1982. Tenayuca died in 1999, leaving behind a legacy of courage and compassion.

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Historical Marker Database

#HistoricalMarker #Texas #texashistory #texas heritage #SanAntonio #milampark #SATX #Bexar #BexarCounty #workersrights

Republic Texas Legation marker

Now this is an interesting marker for the Republic of Texas that I saw on Instagram I would love to find out if this is a series of markers

For a Soldier, Scout and Spy

The second of three marker/monument photos I took on this cold and wet day in San Antonio, Tx.  I was crossing Milam Square after leaving Market Square (the old Produce Market) and saw there were a more than a few markers and monuments to be seen in the park.  I took a couple quick photos, mid-30 temps with drizzle rushed things.  I thought this was the pink granite of the Centennial markers I hunt but I am leaning to not.  Karnes was buried in a cemetery where the hospital across the street now stands.  This is the closest that they could come to put up a memorial.  His gravesite is now unknown.  Erected in 1932.

Text:  Erected by the State of Texas in Memory of the famous scout and spy, Colonel Henry Wax Karnes.  Captain of a company of infantry at San Jacinto.  Elected Colonel of Cavalry, May 10, 1837.  Born in Tennessee Sept 12,1812, Died at San Antonio, Aug 16, 1840.

#HistoricalMarker #Texas #texashistory #texasheritage #RepublicOfTexas #ROT #spy

Wikipedia Link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Karnes

Erected Mysteries in Milam Square

Cold wet days in San Antonio, Tx.  I was crossing Milam Square after leaving Market Square (the old Produce Market) and saw there were a more than a few markers and monuments to be seen in the park.  I took a couple quick photos, mid-30 temps with drizzle rushed things.  This monument seems to be missing something. Well, a lot of things.  When and why would be a good place to start.  Perhaps there was something I was missing in my hurry but there does look like there should have been something like a plaque about the word Erected or maybe a long lost statue?  This is just a list of Organizations involved.  I include this as a curosity and a mystery.  

Text:  Erected by the De Zavala Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, De Zavala Chapter of the Daughters and Sons of the Heros of Texas and The Texas Historical Landmark Association.

#HistoricalMarker #Texas #texashistory #texasheritage #DeZavala

1936 Centennial Grave Marker for Joseph Baker

This is another piece of history to be found at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Tx.

Joseph Baker Another 1936 Centennial marker from Oakwood Cemetery. Such a rich source of history here. The marker number is 14153 Marker Text: Joseph Baker Born in Maine 1804. Died in Austin, Texas July 11, 1846. One of the founders of “The Telegraph and Texas Register” at San Felipe De Austin, October 10, 1835. A soldier at San Jacinto. First Chief Justice of Bexar County, 1836. Member of the Congress of the Republic, 1837.

A photo posted by Michael (@tx_markers) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:29pm PST

Joseph Baker
Born in Maine 1804. Died in Austin, Texas July 11, 1846. One of the founders of “The Telegraph and Texas Register” at San Felipe De Austin, October 10, 1835. A soldier at San Jacinto. First Chief Justice of Bexar County, 1836. Member of the Congress of the Republic, 1837.

Erected 1936 by The State of Texas
Grey Granite Grave marker
Number 14153

More Info:
HMDB.org Page
Handbook of Texas Page
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1936 Marker Hunt 5/1100
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1936 marker for Woods Fort

Easily found along SH 71 between Smithville and LaGrange

Site of Woods' Fort which was the fortified home of Zadock Woods. This white granite marker is located on State Highway 71 in Fayette County on the edge of a small picnic and rest stop. Erected by the State of Texas in 1936 as part of their centennial series. Marker number 5902.

A photo posted by Michael (@tx_markers) on Sep 9, 2014 at 2:06pm PDT

Marker Text:  Site of Woods Fort - Used by colonists of this vicinity as
a protection against Indian attacks
1828-1842
fortified residence of
Zadock Woods
veteran of the War of 1812
One of the old "Three Hundred"
of Austin's colonists
Oldest man killed in the
"Dawson Massacre"
September 18, 1842


Located on SH-71 between LaGrange and Smithville.
Erected 1936
Marker Number 5902
HMDB.org page
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1936 Marker Hunt 4/1100
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Travis County 1936 Pink Granite marker

This is one of the 1936 Centennial Markers (pink granite Highway marker)

This one is for Travis County and explains its beginnings.

1936 Texas Highway Marker for Travis County. The marker is under the Mopac bridge where hundreds of runners, dog walkers and others on the Town Lake trail pass by it every day. Travis County was created January 25, 1840 and was named after William Barrett Travis. This is one of over 1000 granite markers that the State of Texas erected in 1936 in celebration of the state Centennial

A photo posted by Michael (@tx_markers) on Aug 8, 2014 at 8:43pm PDT

Located under Mopac at Town Lake
Erected 1936
Marker Number 6447
HMDB.org page
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1936 Marker Hunt 3/1100
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Gen. George W. Terrell

Gen. George W. Terrell - The Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas is a wonderful place to visit. The first city cemetery. Some of the graves are as old and as historical as the Texas State Cemetery. Gen. George W. Terrell is only one of the many historical figures buried in here. This marker is one of the 1936 Centennial markers commemorating an important individual in Texas independance. The number for Gen. George W. Terrell’s marker is 15113.

A photo posted by Michael (@tx_markers) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:09pm PST

Marker Text: Gen. George W. Terrell Born in Kentucky 1803. Came to Texas in 1840 from Mississippi. Associate Justice, supreme court, 1840. Secretary of State, 1841. Attorney General, 1841-42. Charge d'affairs of the Republic of Texas to England, France and Spain 1844-45. Died in Austin, Texas May 17, 1846.

Located near the main entrance to Oakwood Cemetery.
Erected 1936
Marker Number 15113
HMDB.org page
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1936 Marker Hunt 2/1100
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Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church is a beautiful church out near Czestochowa and Stockdale in Karnes County. You can see the church from the main road but the marker is easily missed. I appreciated the small stone shrine next to the church for a moment of quiet meditation. The marker number is 12347.

A photo posted by Michael (@tx_markers) on Oct 10, 2014 at 8:42pm PDT

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church is a beautiful church out near Czestochowa and Stockdale in Karnes County.  You can see the church from the main road but the marker is easily missed.  I appreciated the small stone shrine next to the church for a moment of quiet reflection.  The marker number is 12347.

Marker Text: The second Polish colony in Karnes County, the village in this area grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe and was formally established in 1873.  At times the priest at Panna Maria would conduct services at St. Joseph School in what would become Czestochowa. The "Mother Colony" church at Panna Maria was destroyed by lightning in 1877; Czestochowa settlers decided to build their own church. This was the subject of much controversy among the Polish pioneers of Karnes County. Anton Jarzombek (1836-1922) and Frank Mutz (1814-1891) each donated land for the church. Area residents contributed their labor to build the eighty-five by forty foot church with Gervase Gabrysch (1830-1904) as contractor.  Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the church on February 10, 1878. Father W. Pelczar was assigned as the first pastor that September.  As a sign of their reconciliation, the parishioners from the newly rebuilt Panna Maria church presented the new parish a large painting of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, the Patroness of Poland.  The two congregations often shared leadership in the ensuing years. The Cestohowa church (adopting the Americanized spelling of the community) thrived into the 20th century. In the 1930s the church underwent intensive additions and remodeling. Though the original walls remained, the roof was completely removed and the ceiling raised. The north and south wings were added and the steeple was increased in height.  In 1998, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. At that time, the parish consisted of 380 members.  The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church continues in the traditions of its founders.   (2000)

1936 Centennial marker types

There are six major marker types for the 1936 Centennial series:

1. Museums
2. Bronze Plaques
3. Monuments
4. Pink Granite Highway markers
5. Grey Granite Historical markers
6. Grey Granite Grave markers that look just like the Subject markers.

The Texas Historical Commission has a brief document demonstrating these.

Unfortunately their Atlas database which is their authoritative source on-line does not keep it so simple. The field containing the marker type has a large amount of variation and the data could be incomplete or even missing all together.

Here is a list of all the marker types per the Atlas database.

Marker Type	Number Of
Missing Information	61
14" x 24"	2
18" x 12"	3
18" x 24"	2
18" x 28"	9
1936 Centennial	3
1936 Centennial (bronze plate)	1
1936 Centennial - Grave Marker	7
1936 Centennial - Grave Marker (gray granite)	51
1936 Centennial - Highway Marker	38
1936 Centennial - Highway Marker (pink granite)	116
1936 Centennial - Highway Marker (pink granite, bronze plaque)	1
1936 Centennial - Monuments and Statues	13
1936 Centennial - Subject Marker (gray granite)	149
1936 Centennial County Highway Marker	1
1936 Centennial Grave Marker	1
1936 Centennial Marker	115
1936 Centennial Marker (gray granite)	177
1936 Centennial Marker (pink granite Highway marker)	1
1936 Centennial Marker (pink granite)	10
1936 centennial marker; approximately 60" high 36" wide 12" deep	1
1936 Highway Marker	1
1936 Texas Centennial -- pink granite monument with bronze plaque	1
2' diameter disk -independent marker adopted as state marker	1
20" x 24" Aluminum Plaque	1
24 x 18 Plaque, pink granite highway marker	1
27" x 42"	10
62" x 34" x 10.5"	1
Brass Plate	1
Bronze	1
C	153
Centennial marker	2
Centennial marker - brass plaque on small red granite	1
centennial marker-large	1
Centennial monument	5
Centennial-courthouse grounds	1
central highway	1
Civil War Memorials (pink granite)	1
Civil War Memorials - (pink granite)	1
Granite Centennial marker	1
Grave Marker	72
Grave Marker-1936 Centennial	4
Gray Centennial Historical marker	2
Gray Granite	5
gray granite centennial	1
Highway	1
Highway Marker	11
Historical Marker	6
Hwy. Marker-1936 centennial	1
Large granite	3
Large Granite Centennial	1
Large granite Centennial Marker	1
Medallion Plate	1
Memorial	1
Monument	5
N/A	5
other	2
Other - explain	5
other, 24" x 18"	1
Pink centennial highway marker	1
Pink Gramte Hwy. marker	1
Pink Granite	1
Pink granite 1936	1
Pink granite highway	1
Pink granite highway marker	11
Pink Granite Hwy. Marker	2
Pink highway centennial marker	1
Pink Hwy Marker	2
Pink Hwy. Marker	5
Small centennial marker	1
State Approved	1
State-approved marker	1
statue	5
statue monument	1
Statue/Monument	1
Texas Centennial Commission Monument	1
Texas Centennial grave marker	1
Texas Centennial monument, pink granite and bronze, 11 feet tall	1

Hunt for the 1936 Centennial Markers

I have a new goal.  Hunt down all of the State of Texas 1936 Centennial Markers.

Before there was a historical survey or commission.  1936 became a very big year for historical markers.  Before this, the State of Texas might partner with other groups to memorialize events and places.  So this was the first large scale state sponsored effort.  1936 was huge, it was the 100th anniversary of Texas Independence.  And to commemorate this,  the state legislator chose to create a series of permanent makers in granite that would point out the people, places and events that were important to Texas independence and spread them all across this huge state.

There are 1,100 official markers in 250 of the Texas' 254 counties.

Think of it as a scavenger hunt as big as Texas.

San Patricio de Hibernia

Not sure if this is considered a Bronze Plaque or a Monument officially. Seems stuck in between to me.  This is one of the 1936 Centennial markers commemorating Texas independence. Even when the light is good, it is hard to take readable photos of these.  The light was particularly bad at this time of the day  because it was coming from behind.  Causing interesting lens flare issues.  The pink granite maker number is 4550.  This location on Main St.(FM 666) in San Patricio is a great place for marker hunters since there are six markers here. 

Marker Text: Founded in 1830 by John McMullen and James McGloin as the seat of their irish colony under an empressario contract dated August 17, 1828 which was fulfilled by the empresarios 1830-1835.  Named in honor of Saint Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland.  As the frontier outpost of Texas when the revolution began San Patricio 1835-1845 suffered all the miseries of that conflict with no compensating returns.  At and near San Patricio, on February 27, 1836 general Jose Urrea's division of Santa Anna's Army surprised and overwhelmed Johnson's texan party of 35 men, 9 or 10 texans were killed, 6 or 7 escaped and 20 were sent to Matamoros as prisoners.  After San Jacinto the town was destroyed and its inhabitants driven away.  In Memory of Rev. Henry Doyle, Rev. T.J. Molloy, Wm. O'Docharty, Geo. O'Docharty, Walter Henry, Patrick Henry, John Hart, Michael Haley, Mark Killalea, Wm. Hefferman, Oceola Archer, Lewis Ayers, Catherine Hoye, Owen Gaffney, John Ross, Wm. Pugh early settlers of San Patricio.  John McMullen delegate to the consultation, 1835.  John Turner, John White Bower, signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.  John McGloin, John Fadden, Dennis McGowan, Andrew M. O'Boyle, Geo. Pettuck, Matthew Byrne, Patrick Nevin, Edward Garner, Edward Ryan, Dennis Mahoney, Miles Andross, W.M. Quinn Soldiers in Texas Revolution.  San Patricio has contributed the following distinguished citizens.  Patrick O'Docharty, Susanna O'Docharty, Thomas O'Callaghan, Patrick McGloin, Chris Sullivan, Rose K. Mahoney, John Ryan, Geo. McCowan, Catherine Ryan, James McKeown, Patrick McMurray, Thomas Magowan, Wm. P. Allen, Mary Ann Collins, Hubert Timon, David Odem, John Timon, Andrew Jackson Brown, John Donahue, Mary E. McCloin, Margaret Hart McFall, Patrick Brennan, Margaret Baldeschwiler, John Corrigan, Margaret Q. James, Andrew Gerhardt, Matthew Kivlin, James Grover, Robert Weir, Eliza A. Sullivan, J. Chrys Dougherty, Steve J. Lewis, Joe E. Sullivan, Hugh Touhy, John Dee.

 **Location**
N 27 57'06.045"
W 097 46'22.452"

Main St. (FM 666)
San Patricio
San Patricio
 

Erected 1936

Marker Number 4550

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1936 Marker Hunt 1/1100
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Saint Patrick's Catholic Church

A very nice church in San Patricio.  I have to admit, most of what I remember is the sticker weeds that were a pain removing from my shoes and pants.  Marker 4476 was erected in 1992 and the church and marker can be found at the corner of Main St. and Magnolia.

Marker Text: Empresarios John McMullen and James McGloin brought irish catholic immigrant families to Texas about 1829 to form a new colony, San Patricio de Hibernia.  Under the direction of the Rev. Henry Doyle, the colonists established Saint Patrick's Catholic Church about 1830.  A fire in 1858 destroyed the original frame church building and all church records.  The Rt. Rev. Jean Marie Odin, first Bishop of Texas, dedicated a replacement church building about 1859.  Local citizens built a two and one half story building for a convent and school on the grounds of Saint Patrick's Church.  After an 1875 hurricane destroyed facilities at Indianola, nuns from the order of Sisters of Mercy relocated in San Patricio and operated Saint Joseph's convent and school from 1876 until 1884.  After a 1919 hurricane completely demolished the church facilities, the congregation rebuilt in 1922.  A need for a larger facility led the congregation to build a fourth structure in 1961.  Through the years Saint Patrick's Catholic Church has served the community with sunday mass and the sacraments and missions given by visiting priests

**Location**
N 27 57'17.409"
W 097 46'18.607
Main St. and Magnoia, San Patricio, San Patricio County
 
Marker Number 4476
 Erected 1992

Education in San Patricio

Not all markers are sponsored by government entities or historical associations.  Sponsored by a chapter of The Order of Alhambra, a Catholic charitable organization, this marker tells about early education and church activities in the area.   Erected in 1976 and located on Magnolia in San Patricio, to the left of the marker is Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church and to the right, a cemetery.

Text of the marker:  Education in San Patricio began in 1830 on this site in the picket cabin of Catherine Hoy.  In 1876 Saint Joseph's Convent was erected here.  The Sisters of Mercy, having left Indianola after the Hurricane of 1875, came to run the Mother House and school in San Patricio.  It closed in 1884.  The three story building was razed in 1897 and the lumber was used to build the first Catholic Church in Sinton.  The nuns were Mother Camillus Lucas, Sister Joseph Dunn, Sister Stanislaus Brodrick and six postulants.  Erected July 1976 by Order of The Alhambra Baza Caravan No. 78, Corpus Christi, Texas

Location
N 27 57' 15.645"
W 097 46'13.169"

San Patricio, San Patricio County, Texas

Erected 1976

Old Dougherty House

Old Doughtery House, this marker feels like it is in the middle of nowhere.  However there are 9 other markers near by so this area is rich in Marker Hunting possibilities.  It is a few miles west of Mathis, outside of San Patrcio.  The marker is on a corner near a store with no remnants of the old building to be seen.  Marker number 6342 was erected in 1970. 

Text on Marker:

     Location of noted St. Paul's Academy for Boys.  Home of school owner Robert Dougherty (1827-1881), a refugee from 1840s Irish famine.  Educated at St. Mary's College, Kentucky, Dougherty worked as a journalist and merchant before settling in Texas, here marrying Rachel Sullivan.  In 1867-1874, he was principal, Hidalgo Seminary, Corpus Christi.  Built his school here on Round Lake, near wife's family, 1876.  He taught geography, history, mathematics, Latin, Greek, classical literature and Gaelic--subjects rare in that era.  His seven children all began their careers as teachers.  (1970)

**Location**
N 27 57'20.410"
W 097 46'20.035

**Marker Number**
6342

**Location**   
W. Main and Nopal St., San Patricio, San Patricio County

John Howland Wood and Nancy Clark Wood House

Found this on my phone and nearly forgot that I took it. Very random, completely off the beaten track but well worth the effort to find. John Howland Wood and Nancy Clark Wood House is located on the shores of Copano Bay. If you were to turn 180 degrees from where I took this photo you would have an unimpeded view looking over the beautiful waters of the bay. An incredible sight. And this Bayside house was For Sale this summer! That is if you have a couple extra million laying around. Marker Number 12168

Marker Text : John Howland Wood (1816-1904) was born in Dutchess County, New York. Trained in the mercantile trade and apprenticed to a painter, Wood enlisted in the New York Battalion to aid the Texas revolution. He arrived in Texas in 1836 in time to participate in the Battle of San Jacinto and several other major events at the close of the war. Wood settled at Victoria as quartermaster of the Texas Army, marrying Nancy Anna Clark in 1842. They became civic and political leaders and the parents of twelve children. The woods moved to St. Mary's, later called Bayside, where they opened a mercantile business and began to acquire vast land holdings throughout the state while John established himself as a cattleman. In 1849 they purchased this property, establishing a ranch which Nancy Wood dubbed "Bonnie View." Lightning damage to the original house led to the construction of this magnificent edifice on its foundations in 1875. Erected by contractors Viggo Kohler and Hugo Heldenfels, the structure combines a typical Greek revival plan with exuberant high Victorian Italianate detailing. The two-tiered, full-height projecting portico supported by Italianate columns establishes the house's imposing character. The house also features pedimented window surrounds, bracketed eaves and a "widow's walk" or "captain's walk," reflecting the architecture of John Wood's native New York. The house's presence on the rural Texas Coast, where few mansions were built, surely impressed visitors and area residents alike during the post-Civil War era. An outstanding example of the Italianate style, it remains one of the area's most substantial and least-altered country mansions of the period. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1998

Site of Old Saint Mary's

At 202 N. St. Mary's Street in San Antonio you can find this piece of history. This has been the  site of St. Mary’s since the early years as a state when they started holding services in 1857. The current church was built in 1924 to replace the older church which had been destroyed in a flood in 1921.  The THC marker number is 15600. 



Marker Text:
After the Texas War for Independence, numerous immigrants, notably from Ireland, Germany, and the Eastern United States, arrived in San Antonio. The need to minister to these non-Hispanic Catholics prompted the Rt. Rev. John M. Odin, first Bishop of Galveston, to establish a separate church for them.   In 1852 land at this site was purchased from the heirs of Ambrocio Rodriguez, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1855 Bishop Odin authorized a building project, undertaken by the Rev. J.M. DuBuis, who became first pastor of St. Mary's Parish and later second Bishop of Galveston. A stately Gothic church building was constructed and opened for worship in mid-1857, serving both English and German-speaking congregations. (In 1869 St. Joseph's Church assumed the ministry for the German Catholics.) On July 1, 1884, the oblates of Mary Immaculate accepted responsibility for St. Mary's, with the Rev. Richard J. Maloney as first oblate pastor.   The old church building was also the site of a seminary, an early free parochial school, the publication of a major Catholic newspaper, and the founding of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.   In 1921 flood irreparably damaged the church building. This Neo-Romanesque structure was dedicated in 1924. (1985) 

Location:
202 N. St. Mary's Street, San Antonio, Tx. 78205

Austin Landmark medallions and plaques

The Historic Landmark Commission is charged with reviewing and granting landmark designations in the City of Austin. But it is the Historic Preservation Office that protects and enhances them.  Many of the properties designated as a Austin Landmark either have a medallion or a plaque identifying the property as such.  The plaques may have a description telling something about the property.

Plaque outside the Paramount Theatre
on Congress Ave.

This medallion was on a building on Congress Ave.