|
|
SHERWOOD,
TEXASIrion County,
West Texas
On Hwy 67
about 25 miles SW of San
Angelo
Population: about 75
|
|
|
Former
Irion County Courthouse c. 1901
TE Photo 2000 |
|
|
Clockface
of the former courthouse in Sherwood
TE Photo |
In
a familiar case of death-by-railroad, Mertzon
became the county seat in 1936. This was merely a technicality since
Sherwood had all but been abandoned when the railroad by-passed it
by two miles in 1910.
The now privately owned courthouse is available for special
events and festivals. The clock faces had painted hands. This was
not an uncommon practice in counties across the U.S. in the 19th Century.
The present Irion
County Courthouse in Mertzon is one of the ugliest in Texas. The
entire Irion County population is less than 2,000 with about half
living in Mertzon.
Nearby is the site of the Battle of Dove Creek,
although it is on private land. This fight took place in January of
1865 and involved a Confederate Frontier Battalion and a large number
of Kickapoo Indians who were en route to Mexico (where they remain
today). The Confederates engaged the Indians who were well defended
by terrain. A rare snow was falling and after the battle the defeated
Southerners resorted to eating some of their horses. Nothing was accomplished
except for creating a hostile border environment for many years later.
The Kickapoo Indians today maintain dual Mexican - U.S. Citizenship.
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
San
Angelo Hotels |
Sherwood Texas Forum
While it is
true that the Kickapoo do live near Nacimientos, Coahuila, Mexico,
they also live near Eagle
Pass, Texas and in Kansas and travel between all locations freely.
I really enjoy Texas Escapes and thank you for your dedicated work
on it. - Bick Eubanks, June 22, 2002
I was recently
doing some metal detecting in the Mertzon, Tx. area and found a
token with the following on one side: Ranchman's Retreat J.W. Murphy
- Propr. Sherwood Texas and the following on the other: Good for
one 12 1/2cent drink. If you could help me identify this piece,
or give me some idea where I might get additional information, it
would be greatly appreciated. - Ray Bartek, May 10, 2002
Anyone with stories, photos or incidents of Sherwood's history
is invited to share them with our readers. Please contact
us.
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
San
Angelo Hotels
More Hotels
© John Troesser |
|
|
