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Erath County TX
Erath County

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CHALK MOUNTAIN, TEXAS

Texas Ghost Town
Erath County, Central Texas North

32° 9' 16" N, 97° 54' 39" W (32.154444, -97.910833)
E of Stephenville the county seat
12 miles W of Glen Rose
on Erath County Road 198.
Population: 25 (2000)

Book Area Hotels › Glen Rose Hotels
Chalk Mountain TX 1900 - General merchandise & groceries
Chalk Mountain 1900 - General Marchandise & Groceries
Photo courtesy Raymond Kay Howard
Click on photo for large image

Chalk Mountain, Texas Topics:

  • History in a Pecan Shell
  • Chalk Mountain Cemetery
  • Chalk Mountain Masonic Lodge
  • Chalk Mountain - Country Living in the Mid-1900’s next page
  • Forum
  • Erath County vintage map

  • History in a Pecan Shell

    The J. H. F. Skipper ranch occupied this portion of Erath county and is said to have been used as an antebellum trading post. The community of Chalk Mountain came into being in the 1870s and grew around the post office (granted in 1876) although the building was technically in Somervell County. It relocated on the Erath side of the county line in 1902. (See 1920s Erath County map)

    Chalk Mountain had two churches in the 1890s as well as a school and a cotton gin. The 1900 census showed 81 residents. The landmark Masonic Lodge building dates from 1904.

    The community’s growth was stunted by its proximity to larger towns like Glen Rose and Stephenville and the 1910 census showed a decline to just 50 residents. By 1927 the post office had closed and Chalk Mountain never broke a population of 100.

    The 1940 census showed two businesses at Chalk Mountain supported by 69 residents. Improved roads after WWII helped deplete the remaining population and by 1980 only 25 people called Chalk Mountain home, although the Masonic Lodge remained active.

    The number of residents has remained at 25 for both the 1990 and 2000 census and it no longer appears on the official Texas highway map. It is generally considered a ghost town despite the fact that it never grew to any substantial size.

    Chalk Mountain Cemetery
    Chalk Mountain Cemetery
    © Sam Fenstermacher, 2003

    Chalk Mountain Cemetery

    by Sam Fenstermacher

    The Chalk Mountain Cemetery has over 350 graves. Oldest marked grave is that of Abigal Davis (d. 1874). The presence of unmarked graves suggests there may have been earlier use of this cemetery.

    There's a beautiful old chapel on the cemetery grounds. The white paint on the wood siding of the chapel looked freshly applied during a recent visit. The Chalk Mountain Cemetery is very well maintained today.

    Looking at gravestone inscriptions, it's easy to tell life was hard in this part of Texas 125 years ago. People died young, and there are far too many headstones for children who died in the early years of life.

    Copyright © 2003 by Sam Fenstermacher All rights reserved
    Historical Marker:

    Chalk Mountain Cemetery

    The village of Chalk Mountain originated as a trading center before the Civil War. The earliest burial at Chalk Mountain Cemetery, the only burial ground to have served this community, is that of Abigal Davis (d. 1874), but the presence of unmarked burials indicates possible earlier use. Confederate veteran Hiram Berry Rogers (1840-1929) deeded the cemetery to the county in 1915. Over 350 graves, including those of Rogers and veterans of the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War, are interred here. It has been maintained by a cemetery association since 1959. (1991)
    Erath County Texas - Chalk Mountain Cemetery historical market
    Chalk Mountain Cemetery Historical Marker
    © Sam Fenstermacher, 2003
    Tombstone
    © Sam Fenstermacher, 2003
    More Texas cemeteries

    Erath County Texas - Chalk Mountain Masonic Lodge
    Chalk Mountain Masonic Lodge
    © Sam Fenstermacher, 2003
    Chalk Mountain Masonic Lodge
    by Sam Fenstermacher

    The Masonic Lodge was Chartered December 8, 1904 and moved May 6, 1989. The lodge still holds meetings Saturdays on or after a full moon.

    The top part of the current lodge was moved from the 2nd story of the original building. The original building was located about 1/4 or 1/2 mile west of Erath County Road 198 and south of US 67.

    The wooden part of the old building was raised atop a new foundation and cement block first floor at the new location.


    Copyright © 2003 by Sam Fenstermacher All rights reserved
    Thanks to Tom Guest, the webmaster for the lodge's website, for information on the lodge.
    Chalk Mountain Masonic Lodge emblem
    Masonic Emblem
    © Sam Fenstermacher, 2003
    ChalkMountain Masonic Lodge cornerstone
    Cornerstone
    © Sam Fenstermacher, 2003
    More Texas Lodges | Texas Architecture

    Chalk Mountain - Country Living in the Mid-1900’s
    by Bruce Martin

    Growing up in the suburbs of Houston, I looked forward with excitement the opportunity to visit my grandparents “in the country”... more


    Chalk Mountain Area Hotels › Glen Rose Hotels
    Chalk Mountain Texas Forum
  • Subject: Chalk Mountain
    The land that Chalk Mountain Cemetery sits on use to belong to Hiram Berry Rogers who gave that piece of land to be used as a cemetery. The ranch house was located further east down the road where a windmill now stands, but I believe that has been removed: however, the concrete base still sits there. Historical marker is now located by the little school house that was moved on the property.

    Hiram Berry Rogers and his wife Nancy are buried there. A confederate headstone was placed on his grave and recently a Texas Rangers headstone. His great grandson is Pete Laney who was our Speaker of the House until this year. The Laney's are originally from Duffau, Erath County but Pete's kin moved to Plainview to raise cotton. Zoritta Jackson who owns the little grocery store and filling station on [Highway] 67, near the Masonic lodge knows all the history of that area. My dad belongs to the Masonic lodge. I have pictures of my grandfather on chalk mountain.

    Hiram joined Lt. Sul Ross' group of Texas Rangers in Waco. After participating in the capture of Cynthia Ann Parker, this group of rangers joined the Confederacy and became part of Hood's Brigade. He was at Appomatox when Lee surrendered and returned to Waco where he was forced to go through a gauntlet of Black soldiers before he could be released. He then served in the state police under Governor Polk. He lost both of his brothers [during the war]. Hillsboro Junior College has all of his papers pertaining to his service during this time. After the war he came to Erath County and bought land at Chalk Mountain, Erath County. - Eva Rogers, 6-6-06
  • TX - Erath County 1920s map
    1920s Erath County map showing Chalk Mountain
    (Near Somervell County line)

    Courtesy Texas General Land Office
    Chalk Mountain, Texas Area Towns:
    Stephenville the county seat
    Glen Rose
    Granbury
    See Erath County | Central Texas North

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    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and recent or vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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