Ames in Liberty County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church

Ames, Texas

— Liberty County Historic Landmark —

Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 22, 2022

1. Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Marker

Inscription. The Catholic church in Ames owes its establishment to natives of New Iberia, Louisiana. Several prominent families including the Wickliffs, Trahans and Cormiers purchased farmland in the area. Attending the church in Liberty was difficult because of road conditions prompting the Ames Catholics to build a chapel in 1897 known as Sacred Heart Chapel. Josephite priests from Houston serviced the mission. In 1912 a second building was constructed and a rectory built in 1915 insured a full-time priest. With the establishment of a school in 1914, the Catholic presence grew.

By 1929, the community required a larger church and it was renamed Our Mother of Mercy. Mission churches sprang forth in Raywood and Dayton. Through the years the church complex has grown to include a parish hall and education center. Since 1937 the church has sponsored an Easter Sunday rodeo.

Priests from the Missionary Society of St. Paul in Nigeria have served since 1993. Our Mother of Mercy continues to be the hub of church and social life in Ames.

Erected 2017 by Liberty County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 30° 3.276′ N, 94° 44.675′

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W. Marker is in Ames, Texas, in Liberty County. Marker is at the intersection of Donatto Drive and Martin Luther King Road (Farm to Market Road 2830), on the right when traveling west on Donatto Drive. The marker is located on east side of the front entrance to the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Donnatto Drive, Liberty TX 77575, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Liberty County (approx. one mile away); Camp Liberty (approx. 2 miles away); Trinity Valley Exposition (approx. 2 miles away); Griffin Methodist Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Ruth Canfield Park (approx. 2.6 miles away); Homesite of George Orr (approx. 2.6 miles away); Liberty Bicentennial Observance (approx. 2.6 miles away); Atascosito (approx. 2.6 miles away).

Also see . . . Ames, TX (Liberty County). Texas State Historical Association

Ames is at the junction of Farm Road 1909 and U.S. Highway 90, forty-two miles west of Beaumont in south central Liberty County. Once known as Rachal Station after pioneer Darius Ciriaque Rachal, Ames was renamed for a section foreman on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. The community had a flag station during the Civil War and a full station by 1890. A local Catholic rectory was built in 1915. Ames had a population of twenty-five
Photographed By James Hulse, September 22, 2022

2. The Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and Marker
in 1930. The county set up a new voting box there in 1945. In 1972 Ames voters incorporated their town by a margin of 69 to 8. During the mid-1970s the town's population was estimated at 350, and by 1980 Ames had 1,155 residents and an array of businesses. The population was 989 in 1990 and grew to 1,079 in 2000.

(Submitted on September 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and Marker from the parking lot image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 22, 2022

3. The view Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and Marker from the parking lot

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.