Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Smith-Carlton Adobe House

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 8, 2023

1. Smith-Carlton Adobe House Marker

Inscription. In 1873, Archie Smith, a former Buffalo Soldier in the 24th U.S. Infantry at Fort Davis, built a home on 160 acres near the base of Dolores Mountain using local materials. Native oak beams support the near-rectangular one-story adobe. A large room with a vaulted ceiling was a private chapel for Smith’s wife. It was also open to other denominations and Catholic masses before St. Joseph was built. In 1911, Emmett H. Carlton bought the property and built a new home, using the Smith house as a barn and stabilizing its walls with a lime plaster. Don and Vida Carlton occupied the house after restoring it in the early 1970s. The house is notable as the oldest home still in use as a residence in Fort Davis.Recorded Texas Historical Landmark - 2013

Erected 2013 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17533.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 30° 34.985′ N, 103° 53.628′ W. Marker is in Fort Davis, Texas, in Jeff Davis County. It can be reached from South Front Street

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0.2 miles south of State Street (Texas Route 17), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 940 S Front Street, Fort Davis TX 79734, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Texas’ Trans-Pecos & Big Bend Region.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jeff Davis County (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jeff Davis County Jail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Davis United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate President Jefferson Davis (approx. 0.4 miles away); Memorial Square (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jeff Davis County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jeff Davis County Library (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in

Smith-Carlton Adobe House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 8, 2023

2. Smith-Carlton Adobe House and Marker

Fort Davis.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.