Near Farm to Market Road 908 at County Road 428, on the right when traveling west.
The crossing over the San Xavier (San Gabriel) River in Milam county has been used as a passageway for centuries. Evidence shows that the area has been inhabited by humans for at least 10,000 years. During the eighteenth century, the land was . . . — — Map (db m84807) HM
On West Cameron Avenue (U.S. 79) 0.1 miles east of Childress Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Beginning in the late 1920s, the use of petrified wood in construction became popular in Texas and throughout the American Southwest. This was due in part to the design of National Park Service Buildings in the West which utilized natural materials . . . — — Map (db m210587) HM
On Green Street at East Bell Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Green Street.
The community of Rockdale sprang up around a railroad camp in 1873. The Rev. B.B. Baxter arrived in 1874 and established a Baptist church with 18 charter members. The Rev. Mr. Baxter conducted services in a room above a dry goods store shared with . . . — — Map (db m210599) HM
On West Bell Avenue at Burleson Street, on the left when traveling west on West Bell Avenue.
Organized in 1887, this church was first served by the Rev. A.J. Bush, Sr. (1846-1920), a Civil War veteran who was instrumental in establishing Christian churches in many areas of the state. Previous buildings on this site were replaced in 1958 by . . . — — Map (db m210588) HM
On Ackerman Street at East Cameron Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Ackerman Street.
The son of Andrew and Laura Perry, George Sessions Perry was born May 5, 1910, in Rockdale. In 1933, he married Claire Hodges of Beaumont. Four years later, he published the first in a long line of fiction and non-fiction stories and novels, many of . . . — — Map (db m210601) HM
On East 4th Street at Martin Luther King Drive, on the right when traveling east on East 4th Street.
From 1872 until the late 1960s, the East Ward supported a vibrant African American business community with upwards of 50 churches and thriving businesses that served both the neighborhood and the surrounding area.
Captions . . . — — Map (db m211847) HM
On Main Street (County Route 908) at West Milam Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
Three rail lines largely contributed to Rockdale's early commercial development, and of the three, the International & Great Northern (I&GN) made the biggest impact. This former I&GN passenger depot opened in 1906. It survived various changes to the . . . — — Map (db m74421) HM
On East White Avenue at Mulberry Street, on the right when traveling west on East White Avenue.
The International & Great Northern Railroad reached the new town of Rockdale in January 1874. Among the early residents were brothers Benjamin and Joseph Lowenstein, who opened a mercantile from a tent before the railroad arrived. They and their . . . — — Map (db m74398) HM
On U.S. 79, 0.2 miles west of Farm to Market Road 335, on the right when traveling west.
Jose Leal received six leagues of land in this area in 1833. In 1867, coal was discovered, and the railroad reached Rockdale in 1874. Not until 1890 did the first coal mine, owned by Herman Vogel, begin operation. Others opened, and more settlers . . . — — Map (db m74393) HM
On East Davilla Avenue at Green Street, on the left when traveling east on East Davilla Avenue.
In January 1909, Mary Ann (Coffield) Perry organized the Matinee Musical Club on the front porch of her home at this site. Pearl Cauthon served as the first president of the club, which met regularly to study and perform music. Yearbooks document . . . — — Map (db m74412) HM
On Farm to Market Road 1712 at County Road 232A, on the right when traveling south on Highway 1712.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, organized in 1872 (4.5 mi. W), and Fellowship Baptist Church, formed about 1877 in Minerva (2 mi. N), merged in 1895 to form Mount Zion Baptist Church. The Rev. N. J. Dyer served as first pastor. Services were held in . . . — — Map (db m150955) HM
On East 1st Street at Oak Street, on the right when traveling east on East 1st Street.
Originally known as Rockdale Cemetery, Old City Cemetery was established the same year that Rockdale was founded in 1874. Many of Rockdale's early residents and businessmen who helped shape the city are buried in the Old City Cemetery. The . . . — — Map (db m210605) HM
On Main Street at West Milam Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
Rockdale owes its founding to the International & Great Northern rail line, along which the town was laid out in 1873-74. The railroad gave area farmers access to markets for their crops, and Rockdale became a shipping point for farmers and other . . . — — Map (db m74406) HM
On Farm to Market Road 908, 0.5 miles east of County Road 432, on the right when traveling west.
Established by Franciscan missionaries in 1749 with the hope of civilizing and christianizing the Coco, Mayeye, Orcoquiza, Karankawa, and other tribes of Indians. The martyrdom of Padre José Ganzabal and the circumstances connected therewith caused . . . — — Map (db m84661) HM
On South Main Street at West Milam Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street.
The Mundine Hotel stood on this site from its construction in 1880 until its destruction by fire in 1888. Completed six years after Rockdale incorporated along the International & Great Northern rail line, the hotel was built near the depot to . . . — — Map (db m210603) HM
On County Road 432, 0.2 miles south of Farm to Market Road 908, on the left when traveling south.
Established by Franciscan missionaries in 1749 with the hope of civilizing and christianizing the Coco, Mayeye, Orcoquiza, Karankawa, and other tribes of Indians. The martyrdom of Padre José Ganzabal and the circumstances connected therewith caused . . . — — Map (db m84618) HM
On County Road 429, 0.3 miles south of Farm to Market Road 908, on the left when traveling south.
Established by Franciscan missionaries in 1749 with the hope of civilizing and christianizing the Coco, Mayeye, Orcoquiza, Karankawa, and other tribes of Indians. The martyrdom of Padre José Ganzabal and the circumstances connected therewith caused . . . — — Map (db m84617) HM
On East 3rd Street at Plum Street, on the right when traveling east on East 3rd Street.
Members established this church in 1872, under the guidance of the Rev. Riley Williams. Though buildings have changed, the congregation still gathers on the same land they met on that year. Members have emphasized outreach through both local . . . — — Map (db m210611) HM
On North Main Street (County Route 908) at East Davilla Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street.
In 1947, E.L. Bryan and the Foy Arrington family bought a surplus quonset hut, one of the thousands of the all-purpose metal buildings made during World War II. The hut was moved to Rockdale to become the core of the second movie theater in town. . . . — — Map (db m74395) HM
