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HARTLEY,
TEXASFirst
Hartley County SeatHartley
County, Texas Panhandle
Hwy 87 and 385
15
miles N of Channing
15 miles S of Dalhart
on Hwy 385
24 miles W of Dumas
on Hwy 87
73 miles NW of Amarillo
Population: 441 (2000) |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Hartley
had been the county seat, but Channing
got the railroad. The frame courthouse in Hartley was put on wheels and pulled
15 miles to Channing
by cowboys from the XIT
Ranch (and armed deputies). This was in 1903 and the deputies were needed
since there was strong opposition to the change of county seats. Channing
was the headquarters of the XIT
Ranch.
The town's namesakes were the Brothers Hartley; Oliver Cromwell
and Rufus, early lawyers in the area. |
Photographer's
Note:
Another nice Panhandle town.
Don't know why I like road
signs. I just do. Hartley and Channing
are two of my favorites. - Barclay
Gibson |
First Hartley County
Jail
Built 1892, during land boom. Has not been used as jail since 1903.
Recorded Texas
Historical Landmark, 1966 |
Historical
landmark fallen into disrepair
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
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Historical
Marker Texas
Location - ChanningHartley
County CourthouseHartley
County was created in January 1891, and an election held that year designated
the town of Hartley as county seat. A frame courthouse was built on the town square.
In October 1896, largely due to XIT
Ranch interests, a second election was held which resulted in the removal
of the county seat to Channing.
The frame courthouse was dismantled and moved to the new county seat, where it
was reconstructed.
In May 1905 the commissioners court approved the construction
of a new courthouse. Contracts were awarded to Solan & Wickens, contractors, and
O. G. Roquemore, architect. The 2-story, structure was completed in October 1906
at a cost of $10,525. The beaux arts style building features a triumphal arch
on the front facade, native sandstone base, and Roman Ionic paired columns. When
completed, the top story provided a courtroom and two offices, and there were
five offices and a lobby on the first floor. At the time of construction, the
building was served by its own water well and lighting system. A vault was added
to the county clerk's office in 1927. A second vault and jury dormitories were
built in 1935.
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark, 1987. |
1936
Centennial Highway Marker
Location: Hartley - U.S. 87 Hartley
CountyFormed from
Young and Bexar territories: Created, August 21, 1876. Organized, February 5,
1891. Named in honor of two brothers, Oliver Cromwell and Rufus K. Hartley. Distinguished
members of the Texas Bar. Hartley, the county seat.
(1936) |
A
Catholic mural in Hartley
Photo courtesy James Feagin, May 2001
See Texas
Murals | |
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