Decatur in Wise County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Butterfield Overland Stage Line

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 29, 2017

1. Butterfield Overland Stage Line Marker

Inscription. Through Decatur passed the Butterfield Overland Mail Line connecting St. Louis and San Francisco with semi-weekly stage and mail service, 1858-1861. The length of the route, 2,795 miles and the superior service maintained made this a pioneer enterprise of the first magnitude.

Erected 1936 by The State of Texas. (Marker Number 13755.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Butterfield Overland Mail, and the Texas 1936 Centennial Markers and Monuments series lists.

Location. 33° 14.401′ N, 97° 35.816′ W. Marker is in Decatur, Texas, in Wise County. Marker is on Business U.S. 287 north of West Mulberry Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 804 North Business 287, Decatur TX 76234, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gose Trees (approx. 0.6 miles away); First National Bank of Decatur (approx. 0.6 miles away); Colonel Absalom Bishop (approx. 0.7 miles away); Wise County Courthouse (approx. 0.7 miles away); Wise County C.S.A. (approx. 0.7 miles away); Captain George W. Stevens

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(approx. 0.7 miles away); Randolph Vesey (approx. 0.7 miles away); Charles Vernon Terrell (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decatur.

More about this marker. This is one of the pink granite, 1936 Centennial Highway markers.

Regarding Butterfield Overland Stage Line. In 1861, the advent of the Civil War forced Wells Fargo to end Butterfield service across the southern route. In March 1861, as southern states began seceding, Congress called for the overland mail operations to be moved to north.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on Butterfield Overland Mail. (Submitted on July 12, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 29, 2017

2. Butterfield Overland Stage Line Marker

1936 Centennial Marker - Medallion missing for a number of years.

Marker looking south on Business 287 with Mulberry Street on left. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 29, 2017

3. Marker looking south on Business 287 with Mulberry Street on left.

View from marker north on Business US-287 with US Highway 380 in background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 29, 2017

4. View from marker north on Business US-287 with US Highway 380 in background.

Photographed By Brian Anderson, November 24, 2021

5. Butterfield Overland Stage Line Marker

As of November 2021, the medallion on this marker has been replaced.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 482 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 12, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5. submitted on December 1, 2021, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas.