Rockport in Aransas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Packeries of Rockport
Initially, packeries were built nearby to render hides and tallow. The packeries consisted of holding pens, a main rendering barn, skinning building, and pier. Cattle were driven on foot from nearby ranches. The hides, hooves, horns, and tallow were shipped East to make fine leather, buttons, glue, candles, and soap. Carcasses were usually discarded.
In 1871, an ice plant was added to one of the packeries, which allowed preservation of the meat. Rockport’s packeries included W.A. Cushman; Doughty & Clark; West & Weiser Co.; William S. Hall; Coleman, Mathis, & Fulton; J.W. Baylor & Co.; American Beef Packery; and Butler & Co.
The local packing industry declined after 1875 as railroads pushed into Texas to allow shipment of cattle directly to giant packing plants in St. Louis and Chicago. Yet, as late as 1880, the Rockport packeries handled 93 percent of the Texas-packed beef production. By 1890, most packeries had switched to butchering sea turtles, and Rockport handled almost the entire Gulf production. Most prized were the green turtles, and 85 percent of all Texas turtle nets were in Aransas Bay. By the late 1890s, the turtle population had diminished and the industry folded. Remnants of turtle capture pens can still be found along Rockport’s bay shores.
Erected 2011 by Visionaries in Preservation, Aransas County Historical Society, Inc., Texas Historical Foundation, Texas Tropical Trail/Texas Historical Commission, Aransas County Historical Commission, City of Rockport, and Margaret Sue Rust Foundation. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.
Location. 28° 1.361′ N, 97° 3.002′ W. Marker is in Rockport, Texas, in Aransas County. Marker is at the intersection of Water Street and North Street, on the right when traveling north on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rockport TX 78382, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rockport’s Wharves and Pavilions (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Aransas Hotel (about 400 feet away); The Rockport Pilot (about 500 feet away); Rockport’s Grand Hotels (about 500 feet away); The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad in Rockport (about 600 feet away); Sorenson-Stair Building (about 700 feet away); Aransas County Veterans Memorial (about 700 feet away); Gold Star Families (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockport.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2012. This page has been viewed 928 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 21, 2012. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.