Historical Markers and War Memorials in Dayton, Texas
Liberty is the county seat for Liberty County
Dayton is in Liberty County
Liberty County(91) ► ADJACENT TO LIBERTY COUNTY Chambers County(38) ► Hardin County(10) ► Harris County(511) ► Jefferson County(125) ► Montgomery County(68) ► Polk County(38) ► San Jacinto County(20) ►
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On North Church Street at Cook Street, on the left when traveling south on North Church Street.
From September 1937 until August 2004, this red brick building housed the city's government, volunteer fire department, police department and public library in various combinations. Prior to 1937, the City conducted its business in rented quarters . . . — — Map (db m206724) HM
On South Colbert Street, 0.1 miles north of Lacour Street, on the left when traveling south.
By 1883, Liberty County maintained 53 schools, including 19 African American schools. The average school term was three months for ages 8-14 but the only school for children in Dayton was located near the settlements of Stilson and Fouts.
In . . . — — Map (db m206767) HM
On Cook Street at North Church Street, on the right when traveling east on Cook Street.
In 1915, Dayton farmers' wives were having difficulty marketing left-over eggs after meeting their own needs. Especially in summer, the prices were too low and the quality less than desirable. Believing this to be an important problem, the county . . . — — Map (db m206721) HM
On Cook Street at North Church Street, on the right when traveling east on Cook Street.
We the citizens of Dayton dedicate this monument to the memory of these servicemen of World War II who gave their lives so that we may enjoy freedom we shall forever remember their ultimate sacrifice for us.
Douglas D. Barrow 1st Lt. . . . — — Map (db m208592) WM
On North Highway 146 (U.S. 90) at North Church Street, on the right when traveling west on North Highway 146.
Following the War Between the States, planters in the area stocked their lands with cattle and horses. Ranching was the primary business around Dayton until the turn of the twentieth century when rice farming and lumbering became the big industries . . . — — Map (db m206756) HM
On North Highway 146 (U.S. 90) at North Church Street, on the right when traveling west on North Highway 146.
During its settlement, Dayton was called West Liberty and was considered part of the original town of Liberty, founded in 1831 on a four-league Mexican land grant known as Villa de la Santissma Trinidad de la Libertad. By 1837 it was called Liberty. . . . — — Map (db m206761) HM
On North Highway 146 (U.S. 90) at North Church Street, on the right when traveling west on North Highway 146.
Isaiah Cates Day, for whom the town of Dayton is named, was born in Shelby Co. Tennessee on June 12, 1812. His family tradition says that he came to Texas in 1830 with Sam Houston, with whom he remained a life-long friend. Day married Alice D. . . . — — Map (db m206762) HM
On West Houston Street at Hill Street, on the right when traveling east on West Houston Street.
Dayton began as part of the City of Liberty. The children who lived here were either educated at home, across the river in the main part of Liberty, or not at all. In 1849, a board of trustees formed a committee to establish a school for these . . . — — Map (db m128338) HM
On Cook Street at North Church Street, on the left when traveling west on Cook Street.
Dayton suffered two devastating fires in the early decades of the 20th century. The first took place in 1913 on Railroad Avenue (Depot Street today). It burned or damaged many businesses that were constructed of lumber. A second fire in 1929 burned . . . — — Map (db m206765) HM
On North Highway 146 (U.S. 90) at North Church Street, on the right when traveling west on North Highway 146.
The early history of Dayton's African American Community is a story of struggle but also of endurance and perseverance. In the mid 19th century there were approximately 100 slaves in the Dayton area. After news arrived in Texas of the Emancipation . . . — — Map (db m206727) HM
On South Church Street at East Houston Street on South Church Street.
The First Baptist congregation in Dayton was formed in 1878, when ten worshipers gathered together to begin a church. A one-room schoolhouse located on what is now East Cook Street, was used for worship services until 1895.
The church's first . . . — — Map (db m195885) HM
On South Cleveland Street at West Houston Street, on the right when traveling south on South Cleveland Street.
Methodist worship services were conducted in West Liberty, later known as Dayton, as early as 1855. By 1900 the First Methodist Church had a full-time pastor, the Rev. G. T. Newberry, who conducted services in the Dayton schoolhouse on North Main . . . — — Map (db m128339) HM
On East Clayton Street (Farm to Market Road 1008) at Park Road, on the left on East Clayton Street.
According to local tradition, this cemetery derives its name from a group of French settlers who were killed and buried near the site sometime during the 18th century. Although no physical evidence of the French burials has been found, the name has . . . — — Map (db m195689) HM
Soldier in Capt. William Logan's company, 2nd Regiment, Volunteers, Texas War for Independence, 1836.
Born in Highland County, Ohio, came to Texas with his father, Aaron Cherry, 1818. Settled near a Coushatta Indian village. In 1838 by . . . — — Map (db m179185) HM
On North Main Street at Oakdale Street, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street.
Built in 1917 by Dayton newspaper owner, editor, publisher and Justice of the Peace Walter S. Neel on a 1.66 acre lot he purchased in 1914, this house is a typical American foursquare style home. Constructed in two months, the four bedroom house . . . — — Map (db m195679) HM
On South Colbert Street, 0.2 miles south of East Young Street, on the left when traveling south.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church was organized in 1871 at Goat Hill, three (3) miles northeast of Dayton under the leadership of Rev. Sip Baldwin. A new site was purchased; however, construction materials bogged down on the property of Isaac Combs who . . . — — Map (db m206770) HM
On South Cleveland Street at Ripkowski Drive, on the left when traveling south on South Cleveland Street.
The Twelve Cypress Trees Are Dedicated as Living Memorials to the 12 Sons of Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Who Showed Valor and Honor by Answering Their Country's Call to Military Service, Most During War Time and Survived, to Return Home . . . — — Map (db m206563) WM
Near State Highway 321 at County Road 300, on the right when traveling south.
Also known as Ryan's Graveyard, this historic burial ground served the rural community of Tarkington since at least the 1860s. Named for early pioneer settler Burton B. Tarkington, the farming and ranching community also known as Tarkington . . . — — Map (db m179186) HM
On North Church Street at Cook Street, on the left when traveling south on North Church Street.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, June 15, 1950, the City of Dayton experienced its first (and only as of 2019) fatality of a law enforcement officer. There was not yet a Dayton Police Department - that came in 1956. The law was handled by a . . . — — Map (db m206722) HM
Famous flight of Texians to escape Santa Anna's invading Mexican army. Tales of the Alamo butchery on March 6, 1836, and the continuing retreat of Gen. Sam Houston's army prompted colonists to abandon homes and property and seek refuge in east . . . — — Map (db m128333) HM
On South Cleveland Street at Ripkowski Drive, on the left when traveling south on South Cleveland Street.
As first generation Americans, Stash and Mattie Ripkowski were extremely hard working, religious people who raised their sixteen children to be passionately patriotic and rise to challenges at hand. The family moved to Dayton in 1932 and began . . . — — Map (db m206561) HM
