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Downtown
Sheffield
Photo Courtesy Fiddle Blue |
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History in
a Pecan Shell
The Spanish explorer Gaspar Sosa is said to have visited the area
as early as 1590.
In 1849, the Army surveyed a road from San
Antonio to El Paso
and they included what is now Sheffield on their route because of
the Pecos Spring and the Pecos
River.
The first settler, a man named John Cannon moved into the area and
bought the spring. Another early settler was Will Sheffield. He
had a slight advantage in having the town named after him since
he was the town's first postmaster (1898).
Six years into the new century, Sheffield had all the amenities
of a thriving town. The oil boom of the 20s changed the entire region
- including Sheffield - permanently. Sheffield didn't experience
the type of lawlessness of other oil boom towns like Ranger, Kilgore,
Mexia or Freer.
On the map,
Sheffield is tucked into the smallest little cranny available in
Pecos County like a spider in a huge room.
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Sanderson
doesn't have all the cactus
TE Photo |
Another
older building in Sheffield
TE Photo |
Lancaster
Hill on Hwy 290
You can enter Sheffield a short 5 miles from I-10 or you can enter
Sheffield after a 20-mile scenic drive on Hwy 290 off
I-10. We suggest the latter if you're heading west.
State Highway 290 is a loop that lets you know you're not in
East Texas (not that there's anything wrong with being in East Texas).
The road seems very nondescript until you suddenly come to an overlook.
Here is where the elevation drops dramatically into the valley that
once was the home for Fort Lancaster. Picnic tables are arranged
in a roadside park so you can take in this great view. It's a good
place to unwind after the long stretches of I-10.
Continue on - stopping to visit the Fort if it's open and finally
you'll pass an old iron bridge like they used to sell miniatures of
for model train layouts. Now you're coming into Sheffield. |
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The
sudden drop in altitude on Highway 290
TE Photo |
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Fort Lancaster
State Historical Park
Information can be obtained by calling 915-836-4391 or visiting the
Texas Parks and Wildlife website at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/fortlanc/fortlanc.htm.
After Labor Day, they start a Thursday through Monday schedule (9am
to 5pm). Memorial Day to Labor Day they're open every day. |
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Sheffield
Shack
"This is another house my siblings and I lived in 1953 about
2 miles south of Sheffield. We rented it off of a man named H.
C. Noelke. " - Fiddle Blue, Photo Courtesy Fiddle Blue
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The
former Pecos Hotel
".. I have 6 brothers and 4 sisters. In 1952 my family rented
this hotel for $65.00 per month. We needed it with 11 kids...."
- Fiddle Blue
Watch your step
TE Photo, 2000 |
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Abandoned
motel in Sheffield
Photo courtesy Patrick Cantrell, June 2006 |
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Sheffield
Texas Forum
To share
history, stories or photos of Sheffield, Texas, please contact
us.
We received a letter from Charles "Fiddle" Blue, whose daughter Charlotte
sent us the (now nearly famous) photos of the Oasis
Gas Station. Mr. Blue is a retired County Judge who now motorcycles
around West Texas and has recently acquired a digital camera. His
letter provides the identity of the building in the introductory photo
of the Sheffield page.
Our thanks to Mr. Blue for his contribution and insight on Sheffield
and also to his daughter Charlotte for our introduction. - Editor,
June 2001
© John Troesser |
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