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Mason
street scene
TE Photo, 2000 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
One of the first settlers in the area was Wm. S. Gamel in 1846. Fort Mason
was established in 1851 and settlers were attracted by the protection that the
fort provided from Indians. Germans moved into the area from Fredericksburg
and even soldiers settled the town after their discharge. In 1858 the town received
mail as well as the fort's supplies from San
Antonio. The post office opened in town and the name was changed from Fort
Mason to Mason that same year.
Fort
Mason: The fort played no part in the Civil War other than being surrendered
to Confederate forces in 1861. The Confederates didn't need it and the townsfolk
appropriated much of the abandoned fort and equipment. It was reestablished in
1866 and then abandoned for good in 1868.
In the 1870's Mason County
was the scene of a violent feud between German settlers and Anglo
ranchers. Known as the "Hoo-Doo"
War or the Mason
County War - it was a nasty business of many killings with no one ever standing
trial.
Mason became a stage stop after the war and it never did get a
railroad - usually an very important milestone to a developing town. In 1923 Mason
was the largest "city" in Texas without a railroad. |
| |
The Odeon Theatre in Mason
TE Photo, 2000 | |
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Mason,
Texas Landmarks & Attractions |
| | Fort
Mason: Reconstructed
officer's quarters built on original foundation. After the fort was abandoned
in 1869, most of the stone was carted off to build Mason's residences.
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The
Mason County Museum: 300 Moody Street In an old schoolhouse c. 1875 - built
from salvaged stone from Fort Mason's buildings.
Fort
Mason City Park: one mile South of town on Highway 87 - 125 acres with lots
of shade and picnic tables, playground, RV park etc. |
| | The
Mason County Jail, still serving its original purpose
Photo courtesy Shannan
Yarbrough, 2005 | |
Mason Architecture
Photo courtesy Ernie
Wymer, January 2008 |
Mason, Texas ForumSubject:
Cisterns in Mason
I
am doing research on historic above ground cisterns (water towers) in Mason, Texas.
I was recently told that an article was written in the last five years stating
that a greater number of these cisterns have been preserved in Mason than any
other town in Central Texas. I have not been able to find this article and asking
your readers if they can provide me with the name of the magazine and date of
the publication. - Gerron Hite, Architect, ghite734@gmail.com, September 04,
2012
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us. | |
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