Near Gardendale in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Near site of Baker Ranch School

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 11, 2015

1. Near site of Baker Ranch School Marker

Inscription. Since there were no public schools in rural Ector County, R.W. Smith and Teague Baker in 1906 erected an 8'x10' school building in Baker's pasture. They hired a teacher at $15 a month, plus room and board, which each furnished on alternate months.

Ranch schools like this one taught not only children of ranchers, but also those of cowboys and nesters--small farmers coming west to homestead or to by land at nominal prices.

Baker community later had a public school. Till the Permian Basin had good roads and buses, ranch schools served it well.

Erected 1965 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 280.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 32° 1.264′ N, 102° 25.737′ W. Marker is near Gardendale, Texas, in Ector County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 385 and Texas Highway 158, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 385. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gardendale TX 79758, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. LeGrande Survey of 1833 (here, next to this marker); Emigrant Trail (approx. 7.8 miles away); West Texas Relays (approx. 8.1 miles

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away); El Paso Natural Gas Company's First Compressor Transmission Engine (approx. 9.6 miles away); The Cable Tool Rig (approx. 9.7 miles away); Permian Basin Oil Show (approx. 9.8 miles away); Permian Basin Fair & Exposition (approx. 9.8 miles away); Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang (approx. 9.8 miles away).

Near site of Baker Ranch School Marker (on left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 11, 2015

2. Near site of Baker Ranch School Marker (on left)

LeGrande Survey of 1833 Marker is on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 315 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 27, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.