Austin Building
W.E. Austin & Family, Owners 1908-1960 Charles and Beverly Runyan, Owners
Gift Shop 1996-present
Historic Use: The Alcove 1909-1939 Neuman's Dry Goods 1940-1984
Designated as a Landmark Building April 20, . . . — — Map (db m195201) HM
Bachman Grocery
1936-1978
Jim Frankson & Mike Griffith Professional Building 1996-present
Designated as a Landmark Building April 20, 1998 — — Map (db m193873) HM
Built by subscribed funds, about 1907. Stage for city's patriotic political rallies, entertainments, concerts by city band, made up of music lovers of all ages, talents. Once on southeast, then southwest corner of court square. Moved here in 1963. . . . — — Map (db m191960) HM
Organized in 1912, the Bay City Public Library was first housed in the J. P. Keller Insurance Company office. The non-profit Bay City Library Association, also formed in 1912, spearheaded community fund raising efforts to operate the library. Land . . . — — Map (db m120755) HM
The origins of this congregation date to 1870, when circuit-riding ministers visited people living along the Colorado River at Red Bluff. Norman Savage (1826-1879), church elder, served the small congregation, and the first minister was Thomas W. . . . — — Map (db m191961) HM
An election in the fall of 1894 resulted in the relocation of the Matagorda county seat from the city of Matagorda to Bay Prairie (now Bay City). D.P. Moore, the postmaster at the nearby small town of Elliott, owned property in the new town and . . . — — Map (db m96314) HM
Erected in 1941 on land loaned by the Pierce Estate to serve both local citizens and World War II military personnel at Camp Hulen in nearby Palacios, this is one of 16 United Service Organization (U.S.O.) facilities built that year in Texas, . . . — — Map (db m191959) HM
Lacking church facilities in their "North-End" African American neighborhood, Harris and Maria Anderson began to hold lay services in their home about 1904. They built a brush arbor and in 1905 organized the Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe . . . — — Map (db m191987) HM
Dr. W.W. Bouldin & Family, Owners 1927-1978 Patricia Hardy Townsend, Owner 1978-1997 Gordon and Annette Smith, Owners Travel World 1997-Present Historic Use: Western Union Miss Lila Hardy's Millinery and Ready to Wear Designated as a Landmark . . . — — Map (db m293284) HM
The Cedarvale Cemetery traces its history to 1896, when Rufus A. Mathis was killed in a hunting accident and buried on land owned by D.P. Moore. At the time of his death, Mathis and other community leaders were in the process of establishing a . . . — — Map (db m191945) HM
Dolph Phenias (D.P.) Moore (1852-1928) moved to Matagorda County in 1869. He married Louise Wendel in 1879 and together they reared ten children. A successful merchant, rancher, and landowner, Moore sold the land on which the town of Bay City was . . . — — Map (db m292813) HM
Henry Hofmann Loos (1887-1963) graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1908 with a B.A. in the summer of 1911, Dr. Loos interned at the government hospital in Colon, Panama Canal Zone. He graduated with an M.D. in 1912 and interned for three and . . . — — Map (db m191985) HM
This cemetery traces its origin to 1907, when 1.8 acres of land were purchased from D.P. Moore. The first recorded burial was that of Henry Abram in 1912.
Known earlier as "The burying ground for Negroes," "Cedarvale Eastside," and "The Old . . . — — Map (db m191946) HM
During the early days of Anglo-American colonization in Texas, the Matagorda Bay Prairie area was an important route for people traveling between settlements. A convenient river crossing was a necessity, and a ferry was established on the Thomas . . . — — Map (db m89332) HM
Members of Trespalacios Baptist Church, a Matagorda County congregation established in the early 1850s, organized a Baptist church in the nearby community of Red Bluff in 1889. In 1895 they moved the church to the new county seat of Bay City, . . . — — Map (db m191965) HM
In 1894, the Bay City Town Company established the town of Bay City on Bay Prairie between the Colorado River and Caney Creek. As families moved to the new townsite, religious institutions, businesses and schools were established to serve the . . . — — Map (db m191947) HM
Within a year of becoming one of Bay City's original settlers in 1894, Alexander D. Hensley organized an interdenominational Sabbath school with the help of Gilford M. Magill. Early religious services were held in the county courthouse and in a . . . — — Map (db m191962) HM
J.W. Gaines, Jr., Owner First Lawyer in Bay City Victor Letulle & Family, Owners 1921-1991 Mary Steves Hatchett, Owner Heart and Home 1991-Present Historic Use: American Cafe 1920 White House Cafe 1927 Battens-The Smart Shop 1960-1977 . . . — — Map (db m293282) HM
Born in Quitman, son of Hugh McAllister (1876-1964) and June Kendrick (1878-1914), Harmon Jerome (H.J.) McAllister dedicated his life to serving this community as an educational leader in various roles. After graduating from Mineola High School, . . . — — Map (db m292823) HM
Alexander D. Hensley (1859-1947) purchased land at this site in January 1898. With his wife Maggie (1875-1960), he asked his brother, architect Henry Hensley, to design this house to catch breezes from any direction. Built in 1905 by the Alamo . . . — — Map (db m292805) HM
Spanish-American War Veteran and Matagorda County Judge (1908-1914) William Shields Holman and his wife Louise (Kaulbach) built this house in 1908-09. Designed by A.W. Large and constructed by contractor H. Speckles, the house is an excellent . . . — — Map (db m292814) HM
In May 1847, the Catholic Church established a new frontier diocese in Galveston. During the next several years, many Polish Catholic immigrants moved to Matagorda County, and priests from nearby towns visited their small community, known as St. . . . — — Map (db m191948) HM
(front side)
Born in Vermont. Came to Texas in 1824. Worked to establish the Republic. Represented Matagorda in the First Congress of the Republic where he served as speaker, Oct. 1836 to April 1837. At his death in Sept. 1837 left . . . — — Map (db m117462) HM
Prominent ranchers, merchants, and civic leaders Edward John and Ann Elizabeth (Holt) Kilbride built this classical revival style house in 1910-11. The house is a good example of large scale residential properties built in the early 20th century. . . . — — Map (db m292812) HM
Le Tulle Building (Commercial Style) Historic Use: First United Methodist Church Church School and Fellowship Hall 1937-2001
Made Possible by the Generous Gift Louis and Hattie C. Le Tulle 1937
Designated as a Landmark . . . — — Map (db m193869) HM
Lewis Building
J.C. Lewis, Owner
Housed Five Governmental Agencies
V.W.H. Enterprize Owners 1983-present
Designated as a Landmark Building October 5, 1998 — — Map (db m195181) HM
By 1894, Matagorda County had 20 African American schools with more than 700 students. The first school for African American children in Bay City was a one-room frame building donated by one of the railroad companies. In 1905, the community built . . . — — Map (db m292828) HM
An architectural hybrid incorporating Colonial Revival and Queen Anne style elements, the M. S. (1872-1919) and Cora Alice (1883-1970) Perry House was erected in 1917 and 1918. A prominent community leader, Perry was the principle owner of Le . . . — — Map (db m292816) HM
Early home of the Karankawa Indians. Landing place of LaSalle in 1685. Settled 1822-1836 by colonists of Stephen F. Austin. The municipality of Matagorda organized under the Mexican Government on March 6, 1834. Became on March 17, 1836, Matagorda . . . — — Map (db m120752) HM
Dedicated to the Memory of those who died in the defense of our Country World War I Leonard E. Blackburn William R. Cherry William E. Downer John E. Fisher Cyrille M. Foisy Clarence L. Greenwood Leo F. Kelly Ernest C. Marshall . . . — — Map (db m293281) WM
Near the mouth of the Colorado River, 20 miles to the south, is the town of Matagorda, the second most important port of entry in early Texas. In the Civil War, center for rich farmlands and one of 8 Texas ports that blockade runners used for . . . — — Map (db m120750) HM
McLendon Building P.A. McLendon, Owner
Historic Use; Klein's Dry Good Store Guess 5&10 Cent Store 1935-1956 Hines Youth Shop 1982-1995
Claude & Hildred Hines, Owners 1981 Present
Designated as a
Landmark Building
April . . . — — Map (db m195186) HM
The Rev. Basil Tolson, an African American farmer in eastern Matagorda County, joined with his neighbors in 1887 to form a Baptist congregation which they named Mount Zion Baptist Church. Tolson was elected pastor, and served the congregation until . . . — — Map (db m191984) HM
Established 1898, four years after founding of Bay City. Private bank. Owners: Henry Rugeley, Frank Hawkins. This building erected 1903, site of many investment transactions important to Texas Gulf Coast development.
Recorded Texas . . . — — Map (db m120754) HM
Known 1838-1899 as Deming's Bridge Cemetery. Second post office in Matagorda County was located nearby in 1858.
Two acres donated by Emelius Savage and his son Norman for the cemetery and Tres Palacios Baptist Church, founded 1852. More . . . — — Map (db m293287) HM
Original City Hall Building City Hall and Fire Station 1927-1963
Matagorda County Museum 1965-1992
Municipal Court 1997-
Restoration/Renovation by: Bay City Community Development Corp. Bay City Gas Company City of Bay . . . — — Map (db m193870) HM
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), founded in 1899, traces its roots to military veterans securing rights and benefits for their service. Following an initial Jul. 21, 1940 meeting at the old bandstand on the courthouse square, . . . — — Map (db m191943) HM
Richard C. Gusman was Mayor of Bay City from 1947 to 1979, thereby serving as mayor longer than any person in the history of the United States of America. The title of Mayor Emeritus was bestowed in 1981, again a first in the history of the United . . . — — Map (db m292809) HM
By the turn of the twentieth century, Bay City was a flourishing community with houses and buildings constructed all over the city. John Thomas Sargent (1834-1911), a prominent cattleman, purchased a home in Matagorda for his family after a . . . — — Map (db m292820) HM
William Selkirk (1792-1830), one of Stephen F. Austin's original "Old Three Hundred" settlers, came to Texas from New York in 1822. Selkirk was a surveyor for the Austin colony and served in the colonial Militia. He was part of a group sent (1824) . . . — — Map (db m292801) HM
In 1901 this land was a pastoral scene of trees and a strawberry field outside the city limits. That year the Bay City Independent School District purchased most of this block for $300. A two-story, eight-room frame school was erected here, and . . . — — Map (db m191956) HM
The Bay City African American community established a school in the 1890s, and A.A. Deleon served as its first teacher. Three others, A.G. Hilliard, A.P. Allen and J.J. Grundy, began shortly after the school opened. By 1904, the school's enrollment . . . — — Map (db m206315) HM
This congregation traces its roots to Christ Church, Matagorda, from which parish many of its early members had come following the relocation of the Matagorda County seat to Bay City in 1894. Formally organized in 1895 under the leadership of the . . . — — Map (db m191964) HM
Sugar cane mills were used to make syrup from the sweet sorghum cane that grew extensively along Caney Creek in the late 1800's and early 1900's.
Once the cane was stripped, topped, and cut, it was hand-fed into one side of the mill. A . . . — — Map (db m118408) HM
Publication of this newspaper, one of the oldest in the state still in operation, began about 1845 in the nearby town of Matagorda (22 miles south). The business was moved to Bay City in the 1890's, soon after the town was named the new county . . . — — Map (db m292803) HM
On May 5, 1969, A.C. Herreth Jr. and wife, Georgia, purchased this home. It had been vacant for a number of years and required extensive restoration, which included landscaping and the planting of the nine beautiful oak trees. With true Southern . . . — — Map (db m292822) HM
Born in Little Compton, Rhode Island, to Jonathan (1801-1866) and Hannah Phillips (Head) Pierce (1803-1879), brothers Abel Head "Shanghai" (1834-1900) and Jonathan Edwards Pierce (1839-1915) came to Texas penniless and built a cattle and land . . . — — Map (db m286788) HM
In the first years of the 20th century, Jonathan Pierce filed a deed with the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad (Southern Pacific) to lay out a town along the rail line at the junction of two major roads. He named the community . . . — — Map (db m118424) HM
Built during the boom of 1907, the Blessing State Bank is one of the few remaining commercial buildings from this period. Possibly designed by Victoria Architect Jules Leffland, designer of the Blessing Hotel, the bank operated until 1932. . . . — — Map (db m168631) HM
The Deming's Bridge community grew up around a wooden bridge built over the Tres Palacios River at this site in 1857 for Edward A. Deming, owner of land along the west side of the stream. The crossing provided by Deming's Bridge became a natural . . . — — Map (db m168618) HM
Cattleman Richard Grimes (1789-1858) established this family cemetery in 1856 when his infant grandson died. Grimes was born in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and from a young age he pursued a seafaring career. In 1837, Captain Grimes came to Texas in . . . — — Map (db m169090) HM
Built 1906 for landseekers, as well as a family home for prominent developers, Jonathan E. Pierce and son, Abel B. Pierce. Town and hotel were named out of gratitude for era of railroads and Gulf Coast development. Recorded . . . — — Map (db m292845) HM
Hall built 1875 at Deming's Bridge, near Pierce Ranch, by John Pierce and Masonic brothers. First floor used as Baptist church and community hall. Moved about 1903 when town of Blessing was founded. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - . . . — — Map (db m168624) HM
Though Catholic settlers initially arrived in this area in the 1800s, it was in 1912, just five years after the founding of Blessing, that a Mass was held in the community. At first, Mass was held in the homes of Blessing residents, whenever . . . — — Map (db m168640) HM
Built 1909 for A.B. Pierce, who with father co-founded town of Blessing in 1902. Pierce was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He and wife, Adelaide, had four sons. Home was gathering place for area civic leaders. The Rt. Rev. C.S. Quin, . . . — — Map (db m292978) HM
”Pudge” Heffelfinger was born in 1867 in Minneapolis and began playing football at age 15. He organized a team at his High School and played four seasons at Yale on the Varsity team where, in 1890, he conceived the idea of the Pulling . . . — — Map (db m168609) HM
Following emancipation in 1865, freedmen and women established the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church near Caney Creek in 1866. Instrumental in the church formation were the Reverend Dennis Gray (1814-1879), Secretary John Alexander Sidney . . . — — Map (db m303618) HM
Originally part of land granted to early colonist Henry Parker, this was a rural farming and ranching area until 1908 when F.J. Hardy discovered oil and formed the Hardy Oil Company. By 1911, F.J. Clemenger had settled in the community, then known . . . — — Map (db m120739) HM
Jonathan Edward Pierce and Abel Brown Pierce hired land developer Burton D. Hurd to sell off 9,000 acres of their ranch lands in 1908. The agreement with Hurd called for the development of a town that would include a college and a port on . . . — — Map (db m169089) HM
The town of Collegeport, on Tres Palacios Bay in Matagorda County, was planned by the Burton D. Hurd Land Company as a promotional scheme for selling the lands of J.E. and A.B. Pierce. The company provided land for a townsite and the creation of . . . — — Map (db m290730) HM
The Pilkington Slough Ranch, of the Collegeport Community, has been an area landmark for more than 100 years. The original owners of the bulk of this land were Daniel, Elias and Erastus Yeamans, three brothers who fought in the Texas War for . . . — — Map (db m169081) HM
In 1920, near Clemville, Texas, J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company put this pumping rig into operation on a new oil well at a location west of present El Dorado Road. In 1927 the well went dry, and the pumping rig was not used again.
In 1980 . . . — — Map (db m119460) HM
The rice industry in Matagorda County began in Nov. 1899 when A. P. Borden of Pierce first broke ground three miles outside Bay City. The following month, the Matagorda County Rice & Irrigation Company began preparations to plant 600 acres of . . . — — Map (db m292838) HM
In the years after his death, the estate of Abel Head Shanghai Pierce sold 15,000 acres to the Moore-Cortes Canal Company for rice farming. The town of Markham was established in 1903 when Walter C. Moore (1857-1943) and Henry W. Cortes . . . — — Map (db m292835) HM
When Markham was established in 1903, the early settlers shared a community church building across several denominations. In 1904, Markham Methodist Society was formed. They met for services in the community church building. Their first pastor was . . . — — Map (db m292840) HM
The Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church traces its history to November 1903, when a number of residents of Markham's "Tent City" later known as "Red Town," organized a congregation. Nine charter members were among those who worked on the canal, cattle . . . — — Map (db m292843) HM
Georgia native Albert Clinton Horton came to Texas in 1834 from Alabama, where he had served in the state legislature. He established a plantation along Caney Creek in present Wharton County. In 1835, he returned to Alabama to recruit volunteers . . . — — Map (db m158655) HM
Here in 1826, a Company of volunteers commanded by Captain Aylett C. Buckner almost exterminated a band of Karankawa Indians who had murdered several families on Lower Caney Erected by the State of Texas — — Map (db m239953) HM
First Episcopal Church in Texas Organized January 27, 1839 The Rev. Caleb S. Ives, Rector Building consecrated February 25, 1844 by the Rt. Rev. Leonides Polk, D. D., Bishop of Louisiana Diocese of Texas established January 1, 1849 . . . — — Map (db m239954) HM
This parish, the oldest Episcopal Church in Texas, traces its history to 1838. The year the Rev. Caleb S. Ives was appointed Missionary to the Republic of Texas. The first service was held on Christmas Day, and the Congregation was formally . . . — — Map (db m158772) HM
Projected site of a town in 1826 Founded in 1829 with Stephen F. Austin, Elias R. Wightman, Hosea H. League and Ira Ingram as proprietors Third largest town in Texas in 1834 Incorporated January 28, 1839 County Seat of Matagorda County, . . . — — Map (db m158766) HM
Built by Texas Gulf Sulphur Company Gulf, Texas, Located 5 miles East of this park. Soon after the school began, a much larger brick building was built. Students from Wadsworth and Matagorda came by bus to join the Gulf residents. The school . . . — — Map (db m158733) HM
Has withstood many hurricanes. A cultural, social, political center. Home of: A.C. Horton, 1st Lieutenant - Governor of Texas and Governor 7 months; Rev. Caleb Ives, 1st Rector of 1st Episcopal Church in Texas; W. L. Sartwell, partner in Ives - . . . — — Map (db m158794) HM
Dutch immigrant Albert Moses Levy came to the United States in 1818. After graduation from Medical School in 1882, he practiced medicine in Richmond, Virginia, until about 1835, when he left for New Orleans. In the service of the New Orleans . . . — — Map (db m158681) HM
Industry that moved goods to build, sustain distant settlements in 18th-19th century Texas. Teamsters defied Indians, Bandits, and Texas weather to supply outlying forts and inland towns, which suffered if imports from the Gulf Coast, U. S. or . . . — — Map (db m158738) HM
Benjamin Wightman (Aug. 31, 1755 - Aug. 1, 1830) Esther Randall Wightman (Dec. 4, 1758 - June 20, 1880) Parents of Elias R. Wightman, Grantee of the Matagorda Town League, from Republic of Mexico. Benjamin and Esther Wightman, natives of . . . — — Map (db m158617) HM
Samuel Rhoads Fisher (1794 - 1839), early Texas colonist. Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and Secretary of the Republic of Texas Navy, had this house built for his family in 1832. His widow, Ann, continued to reside here until . . . — — Map (db m158729) HM
The Market was built by Stewart Savage in the early 1900s. (It is known to have been built prior to 1915 because during that year a Mr. Ginetes was "laid out" in the building after going on a shooting spree and then taking his own life.) It was . . . — — Map (db m158755) HM
This mound, long thought to be a 19th century mass grave, was the subject of a study by the Center of Ecological Archaeology at Texas A&M University in the spring of 2001. Instead of a mass grave, it was found to contain six individual graves: a . . . — — Map (db m158606) HM
Hannah was a slave who lived in Matagorda in the 1800's. She was owned by the Hodges family. She was a devoted servant and excellent seamstress. She later worked for Lilly Bruce Culver. A memorial window in the present Methodist Church in Matagorda . . . — — Map (db m158685) HM
First Alcalde of Matagorda Municipality, 1834 Member of the Congress of the Republic and First Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1836 Pioneer Patron of Public Schools Born in Vermont August 18, 1788 Died September 22, 1837 . . . — — Map (db m158670) HM
Born to William Selkirk (1792-1830) and Matilda (Hallenbake) Selkirk (1794-1820), James Selkirk (1815-1862) was heir to his father's old 300 Spanish land grant in Matagorda. He possessed an astute business mind which fostered regional import and . . . — — Map (db m292796) HM
Well-respected attorney James Wilmer Dallam contributed much to modern Texas law. He was born in Maryland in Sep. 1818. After starting a practice in Matagorda, he travelled to Washington-on-the-Brazos and compiled five years' worth of legal . . . — — Map (db m292794) HM
Commander of the Texans at the capture of Goliad, October 9,
1835 Born in Mississippi Died April 18, 1866 Erected by the State of Texas 1936 — — Map (db m158674) HM
Intersection of Texas Highway 60 at Matagorda County Roads 259 & 260
Built in 1830
Listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
By the United States
Department of the Interior — — Map (db m158609) HM
One of earliest cemeteries in Texas. Founded soon after town was settled, about 1829, as part of Stephen F. Austin's colony. Marked graves numbered 650 in 1969, but interments exceed 1,000. Inscriptions on stones chronicle frontier hardships. . . . — — Map (db m158608) HM
One of the oldest Masonic Lodges in Texas. This lodge traces its history to the Republic of Texas. A group of Masons met together on June 24, 1838, and petitioned the newly created Grand Lodge of Texas for a charter to form a Lodge here. Matagorda . . . — — Map (db m158784) HM
One of the earliest Methodist churches in Texas. Founded Jan. 6, 1839, by the Rev. Jesse Hord, a circuit rider who recorded that he came through "black mud, a pouring down rain and a howling norther" to hold services in Matagorda. When he preached . . . — — Map (db m158724) HM
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