Historical Markers
See also Points of Interest on the Chamber of Commerce Page includes photos of some of the historical landmarks in the county.
Black, Colonel, Ranch House - Ft. Mckavett
From FT. McKavett take FM 864 to FT. McKavett Cemetery Road for 1.3 miles.
Colonel Black Ranch House* Headquarters - Ranch House Camilla Black Ranch Schleicher County, Texas. Built by Col. Wm. L. Black - 1884. Heavy lumber from First Hospital building in Fort McKavett. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - ***1963***
Courthouse and Jail, Old - El Dorado
On Courthouse grounds at US 190 & 277 intersection , El Dorado
Doty, Christopher Columbus - Eldorado
On US 277, about 15 miles N of Eldorado
Christopher Columbus Doty ** (April 16, 1857 - October 26, 1944) First permanent citizen of Schleicher County. Came to Texas from Missouri, 1879. Soon bought Headquarters at Ten-Mile Water Hole (1/2 mi. East). Drilled first water well in county 1882 and erected first windmill south of Concho River, thus established Areas agricultural industry. The organization of the county in 1901 included his property and he was elected the first tax assessor-collector. Later was Justice of the Peace, a rancher, active Methodist and a Mason. He married Alice Pancost on June 3,1887 and they had one daughter, Annie Marie.*** (1968)***
Earnest, J.D., Site of Ranch Stage Stand - Eldorado
ON US 277,10 MILES S OF ELDORADO
Site of J. D. Earnest Ranch Stage Stand ** During the ownership of rancher J. D. Earnest, this site was used as a rest stop on the Stage Line between San Angelo and Sonora. Owned and managed by Theodore Jackson Savell (1872-1954), the operation began providing mail and passenger service to the area in 1894. Each weekday two stages pulled by four horses made the 75-mile run. On rare rainy occasions the stagecoach went up muddy hills. The Savell Line remained in operation until 1909, when mail was first delivered to the county by automobile .*** (1980)***
First Baptist Church of Eldorado - Eldorado
109 W. GILLIS, ELDORADO
This congregation was organized by 15 charter members on sept,1,1901, and originally called the Eldorado missionary Baptist church. The day following its organization seven people, baptized in the south Concho river by the Rev. Ben Wilson, were added to the congregation. the First church structure was built at this site in 1906 on property donated by W. B. Silliman. A new sanctuary, built in 1928 to replace the 1906 structure, was remodeled in the 1960s. This church helped organize local minority Baptist churches and supports community-wide outreach and foreign missionary activities.
First National Bank Building - Eldorado
109 SW MAIN ST. ELDORADO
First National Bank Building** Local investors raised $30,000 in 1906 to form the First National Bank of Eldorado, Texas . Contractors Drew and Harvey used native limeston to construct this bank building in 1907. Its Renaissance revival style features segmented arches and exaggerated details capped by 3-part Parapet. WTH merged with the Eldorado State Bank in 1913 and remained here until 1942. This site subsequently became a popular pool and domino hall. ** RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - ***993***
Fury, Mark - Eldorado
ON US 277, ABOUT 16 MILES N OF ELDORADO
Site of * Mark Fury Ranch Stage Stand* Originally part of the Mark Fury Ranch, this site was used as a stagecoach stop from 1894 to 1909. Theodore Jackson Savell (1872-1954) owned and operated the line between San Angelo and Sonora. Six mornings each week a horn was blown to announce the arrival of the stage. In Emergencies on the road, help was prompt because the line served as a thread of the life for the remote area. The Savell Stage were instrumental in the early development of the region, providing passenger, mail, and express services. *** (1980)***
Schleicher county - Eldorado
ON US 277 ABOUT 2 1/2 MILES N. OF ELDORADO (IN PICNIC AREA)
SCHLEICHER COUNTY FORMED FROM CROCKETT COUNTY CREATED APRIL 1,1887 ORGANIZED JULY 9,1901 NAMED IN HONOR OF GUSTAV SCHLEICHER 1823-1879 PIONEER GERMAN SETTLER MEMBER OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATE CONGRESS COUNTY SEAT, ELDORADO FIRST BALE OF COTTON ,1904 {4 MI. N ELDORADO, US HWY 277}
Schleicher County Courthouse - Eldorado
AT THE INTERSECTION OF US 190 AND US 277 ELDORADO
SCHLEICHER COUNTY COURTHOUSE** CONSTRUCTED IN 1923-24, THIS COURTHOUSE REPLACED AN EARLIER BUILDING N THIS SITE WHICH BURNED IN 1917. DESIGNED BY NOTED ARCHITECT HENRY T. PHELPS OF SAN ANTONIO, THE 3-STORY CLASSICAL REVIVAL STRUCTURE FEATURES FOUR HALF-ROUND GIANT ORDER DORIC COLUMNS WHICH SUPPORT A LARGE ENTABLATURE. NATIVE STONE FOR THE BUILDING WAS OBTAINED FROM NEARBY QUARRIES. THE COURTHOUSE HAS BEEN THE SITE OF NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS OVER THE YEARS.** RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK-1991***
Schleicher County Historical Society Museum - Eldorado
100 E Murchison St/ P O Box 1053 Eldorado, Texas 76936
915- 853-2411
Types of Exhibits/Collections: Military, Archeology, Historical, Local/Pioneer History, Archives
Type of Exhibits/Other: Children shooting marbles, collection on Texas' oldest Woolen Mill, True Crime-The Calcote Murders
Schleicher, Captain Gustav - EldoradoON COURTHOUSE GROUNDS AT THE INTERSECTION OF US 190 AND US 277, ELDORADO
CAPTAIN GUSTAV SCHLEICHER** CHIEF PURCHASING AGENT ARMY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT FOR SOUTHERN ARMIES WEST MISSISSIPPI. BOUGHT DESPERATELY NEEDED ENTRENCHING TOOL, IRON, STEEL, LEAD AND TURPENTINE. IMPORTED MUCH MATERIAL FROM EUROPE THROUGH MEXICO BY THE EXCHANGE OF COTTON," LIFE BLOOD OF CONFEDERACY". ESTABLISHED TWO ENGINEER DEPOTS IN TEXAS, DESIGNED FORTIFICATIONS AND PONTON TRAINS. REPAIRED TOOLS FROM SURRENDERED U.S. FRONTIER FORTS. A MEMORIAL TO TEXAS WHO SERVED THE CONFEDERACY ERECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS 1963
Verand, Site of - EldoradoON US 277, ABOUT 5 MILES N OF ELDORADO
THE FIRST TOWN IN SCHLEICHER COUNTY, VERAND WAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT 1890 NEAR THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE VERMONT RANCH. ALTHOUGH SHORT-LIVED, THE TOWN ,PLATTED IN 86 LOTS, INCLUDED A STAGECOACH STATION, POST OFFICE, STORE, AND HOTEL, AS WELL AS HOMES FOR FAMILIES. THE CITIZENS OF VERAND ULTIMATELY HAD DIFFICULTY OBTAINING CLEAR TITLE TO Their LAND SO IN 1895, IN ANSWER TO AN OFFER OF FREE LAND BY ELDORADO FOUNDER W.B. SILLIMAN, THEY MOVED FIVE MILES SOUTH TO THE NEW TOWN. THE SITE OF VERAND SOON RETURNED TO ITS NATURAL STATE.*** (1968-1996)***
West Texas Woolen Mills - Eldorado409 SW Main St., Eldorado
WEST TEXAS WOOLEN MILLS* INTRODUCED TO THIS AREA IN 1883, SHEEP EXISTED IN LARGE NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION BT THE 1930s. PROMINENT LOCAL BANKER JOSEPH B. CHRISTIAN AND HIS SON, TEXTILE ENGINEER JOE MULLER CHRISTIAN, ERECTED THIS NATIVE STONE BUILDING TO HOUSE THE WEST TEXAS WOOLEN MILLS. TEXAS GOVERNOR W. LEE O'DANIEL ATTENDED THE GRAND OPENING IN 1941. IN 1942 THE PLANT WAS AWARDED A MAJOR WORLD WAR II CONTRACT TO MANUFACTURE ARMY BLANKETS. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION TO POSTWAR PRODUCTION, THE MILL BECAME A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE Areas ECONOMY. THE CHRISTIANS SOLD THE LANDMARK MILL IN 1963*** RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK-1995***
