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History
in a Pecan Shell
The
town once known as Menardville was formed in 1858. The following year Ft.
McKavett was deactivated, leaving the settlers without protection from the
Indians. After the Civil War the fort was reopened and while nearby Mason
was supplied from San Antonio,
Menard received its supplies via Burnet.
The county was organized in 1871 with county court being held under the branches
of a Live Oak tree. They built their first courthouse in 1872 and
Menardville settled into a period of hard work and slow but steady growth.
A bad flood of the San Saba River occurred in 1899 and the railroad arrived
in 1911. In one of those little historical quirks that abound in Texas, the railroad
asked the town to drop the ville from its name to make sign painting easier. Menardville
complied and was renamed Menard.
The town had as many as 2,500 people
in the mid 1920s.
Menard County
Courthouse
Menard
County Jail
Menard
Landmarks/Attractions |
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Vintage Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Menard
Historic Landmarks & Attractions |
| | The
Menard County Historical Museum
The Former Menard Depot
TE photo |
The
Menard County Museum
In the AT&SF Depot on the Northside
of the San Saba River. Donated to the city when the railroad pulled out, the museum
opened its doors in 1978. |
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Pioneers
Rest Cemetery
In town on US83 - an attractive cemetery with a very interesting
terrain.
TE photo | |
Historical
Marker TextPioneers
Rest CemeteryBurial
plot was begun by Adam Bradford, who buried his father, Jack Bradford, here in
1863. As the town and cemetery grew, the city bought the tract from Mrs. Gustav
E. Schleicher in 1904. Fence surrounding cemetery was built of stone from the
old courthouse and jail, razed in 1931, and reputed to have been in the original
structure of nearby San Luis de Las
Amarillas (Built by the Spanish in 1757). Final resting place for many area
pioneers, including soldiers, cowboys, gamblers, preachers, civil war veterans,
Indian fighters, and Texas Rangers.
1973 |
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The San Saba River at Menard's Stock Pen Crossing Park
TE photo |
Menard
Grave by
Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)
A few folks knew of a solitary
tombstone surrounded by a fence in a live oak mott east of Menard off what locals
call River Road (FM 2092)... |
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Menard
water tower
TE photo |
Menard,
Texas Area Destinations Fort
McKavett State Historic Site
Stock
Pens Crossing Park
Spacious park with beautiful river view - just west
of townThe
San Saba River Park - 12 acres with deep shade and picnic tables - a stone's
throw from downtown.
The
Ditch - An irrigation ditch first dug in 1756, it still flows through the
Menard's downtown. Mason
Junction
Menard
Tourist Information
Chamber of Commerce: 915-396-2365
website: http://www.menardchamberofcommerce.org
Where
to Stay - Menard Area Hotels
Junction
Hotels | Austin
Hotels | San
Antonio Hotels
|
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Mission
Drive-In Theater in Menard
TE photo |
Menard
Texas ForumSubject:
Menard
Hi,
I'm (James) Coe Linn, and I was born in 1937 in Menard and was raised there. I
noted the great photos on your website.
The old drive-in theater was
the Mission Drive-In as was the old theater downtown... the Mission
Theater owned and operated by Henry Reeve. I went to the Saturday matinees
at the downtown theater as a child and then to the drive-in while in junior high
and high school.
The crossing on the San
Saba was called the Stock Pen Crossing. There was a swimming hole
just a few yards east of the crossing that we called "High Banks." We had a very
long rope in a big pecan tree and could swing almost to the other side of the
river. Many happy memories swimming there.
A short distance to the west
of the Stock Pen Crossing was the Baptist Encampment, and open-air revival
facility with cabins and camping facilities.
I really enjoyed your website.
Please check out http://www.menardroots.com/.
I graduated in 1954 from
Menard High School. The section on MHS Annuals is a great compilation of many
of the High School yearbooks.
Regarding Fort
McKavett, Theodore Roosevelt’s son, Elliot Roosevelt, spent time in the
Fort McKavett area hunting and relaxing in the sunshine. Best wishes. - Coe
Linn, Austin, Texas, June 24, 2004
Where
to Stay - Menard Area Hotels
Junction
Hotels | Austin
Hotels | San
Antonio Hotels
|
| 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 of their town, please contact
us. | |
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