Scurry County · 1936
Formed from Young and Bexar territories; created August 21, 1876; organized June 28, 1884; named in honor of General William R. Scurry 1821-1864; member of the last Texas Congress; a distinguished officer in the…
View on map ↗Scurry County, Texas
Historical Markers in Snyder, Texas
Snyder is home to 48 official Texas Historical Commission markers — each one telling a piece of the city’s story. Browse the markers below, then find them on the map and discover more nearby with RoadHistorical.
County Named for Texas Confederate William R. Scurry 1821-1864 · 1963
Member Secession Convention. As Lt. Colonel 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment, ably commanded forces at Val Verde and Glorieta Canyon battles in Arizona-New Mexico Campaign 1861-62. Promoted Brigadier General. Commanded…
View on map ↗E. W. Clark House, 1908 · 1964
Rancher's town home. Social center. Built to endure, with solid brass hardware, beveled glass doors, embossed leather wainscoting. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1964.
View on map ↗F. J. Grayum Home · 1964
In 1909 early day druggist F. J. Grayum built this classical revival style home with Ionic-pillared porches and balconies on the front and east side. The double masonry walls and two-inch thick floors show quality…
View on map ↗Johnson House, 1910 · 1964
Built by W. A. Johnson, with cement blocks made on premises of his own sand and gravel. Interior oak woodwork by English carpenter. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1964
View on map ↗Stanfield House, 1910 · 1964
Occupied over 50 years by Mrs. W.B. Stanfield, who with her husband, a rancher, built the home along plans she suggested to a drifting architect from Ft. Worth. Fine features include oak woodwork, pine floors, leaded…
View on map ↗Dodson House · 1965
Built 1883 by a Confederate veteran and pioneer doctor, J. C. Cornelius. Materials came by mule train from railroad at Colorado City. Handmade cabinets, front entrance hall, the 2 fireplaces remain as originally built.…
View on map ↗City of Snyder · 1966
Originally established as a trading post on Deep Creek for buffalo hunters and called "Hide Town," because of many hide tents and dugouts, the city of Snyder takes it name from W. H. (Pete) Snyder, a Dutch trader who…
View on map ↗Dermott · 1966
Named for S. P. McDermott, who had crossroads store and was an early postmaster. Began as a community called Dark, 1-1/2 miles northeast. (School in area was named Bookout). Town moved 1909 to the Roscoe, Snyder &…
View on map ↗J. J. Moore No. 1 Oil Well · 1966
(1.4 miles south) First producing oil well in Scurry County; opened a major West Texas petroleum area. Drilled February to October 1923 by E. I. (Tommy) Thompson, W. W. Lechner and E. E. (Buddy) Fogelson of Loutex…
View on map ↗R. L. McMullan Home · 1966
Two-room house built in 1885 by Dr. A. O. Scarborough. Moved to present site in 1889; enlarged. Snyder's first telephone installed in house; first greenhouse (half-dugout with glass) built in yard. Bought by R. L.…
View on map ↗Witness Tree · 1966
Across the street, 100 feet north of this site, is the stump of a hackberry used in early land surveys as a "witness" tree. By Texas custom (based on Spanish law), at least 2 objects were used to witness land…
View on map ↗Witness Tree · 1966
Used in early land surveys to indicate boundaries. Historical marker is on library grounds across street. (1966)
View on map ↗County's First Law Men · 1967
First sheriff elected when the county was organized, 1884, was W. W. "Uncle Billy" Nelson. He authorized the first "Calaboose" (jail)--a frame structure only 8x10x8 feet. Uncle Billy resigned; however, after 6 months;…
View on map ↗First Christian Church · 1967
Organized in 1898 with eight charter member families: Messrs. and Mmes. W. T. Baze, A. D. Dodson, F. M. German, W. B. Stanfield, I. W. Wasson, A. C. Wilmeth; Mlles. Clare Dodson, Lola Morris; and Mrs. Nannie German.…
View on map ↗First Methodist Church · 1967
Organized July, 1883 at brush arbor revival on Ennis Creek, 10 miles N.E. of Snyder. First one-room church built on land donated by T. N. Nunn family in 1889. Used until 1910 when congregation could no longer be…
View on map ↗First State Bank Building · 1967
Erected 1907-08 on site where trail of U.S. Cavalry Gen. Ranald MacKenzie ran parallel to Deep Creek. Built for First State Bank & Trust Co., early day cattlemen and ranchers bank; closed during 1931 Depression year.…
View on map ↗Greene Springs and Site of Archeological Discoveries · 1967
Located at a place occupied by man for centuries, these springs compose the first, live (running) water that flows into the South Fork of the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. The waters, which collect in large potholes…
View on map ↗Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright Mooar · 1967
(Aug. 10, 1851-May 1, 1940) Champion hunter of buffalo--largest game animal in North America. Born in Vermont; came west at 19. Began hunting in 1870 to supply hides for market. In partnership with his brother, John W.…
View on map ↗O. P. "Pack" Wolf · 1967
(1857-1927) Born in Burnet County. Served as city marshal of Snyder, 1906-1926. Brought organized law to railroad and land boom era. Also served as Special Texas Ranger. Donor of Wolf Park. Never backed down from fight;…
View on map ↗Old Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Railroad Engine No. 5 · 1967
A Baldwin locomotive of the Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific--the railroad that reached here in 1908 with passenger and freight service, and contributed greatly to growth of city and area. This engine (a coal burner converted…
View on map ↗Old Town of Camp Springs · 1967
Named for W. H. Camp, an early settler who built a dugout in 1878 at springs, one-half mile northwest of here. Petrified trees--one 300 feet tall--and bones of prehistoric animals have been found in area. Tools,…
View on map ↗Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Railroad Company · 1967
Established through efforts of Gen. F. W. James, Abilene banker and developer. Winfield S. James, a son, directed construction. While the James' were founders, H.O. Wooten, originally a Vice President and for decades…
View on map ↗Scurry County Courthouse Site and Building · 1967
Seat of justice for Scurry County, created 1876 and organized 1884. Local landholders--R. H. Allen, Fred Barnard, R. H. Looney, C. C. McGinnis, C. H. McGinnis, T. N. Nunn, W. H. Snyder and H. A. Travekes--donated lots…
View on map ↗Scurry County's Canyon Reef Oil Field · 1967
Attracted international attention by size and engineering achievements. During 1948 four widely dispersed wells penetrated the Canyon Reef Formation at depth of 6,500 feet. Soon more than 2,000 wells defined gigantic…
View on map ↗Von Roeder Cotton Breeding Farms · 1967
Pioneer cotton breeders; aides to world fiber market, economy. Clemens Von Roeder, born 1888 in Austin County. As farmer began use of mutations, 1923, produced a long staple, big boll cotton; later added strains to…
View on map ↗Site of Store of William Henry (Pete) Snyder · 1968
Adventurer, Civil War veteran, whose career included mining Colorado gold, building railroads in Kansas, hauling freight and buffalo hides in Texas; opened Snyder's first trading post, 1878. Built of lumber hauled from…
View on map ↗Site of The MacKenzie Trail · 1968
Following the Civil War, the Texas frontier pushed westward, giving rise to renewed hostilities as the white man once again invaded Indian lands. Foremost in the campaign to calm the frontier was Col. Ranald S.…
View on map ↗T. J. Faught · 1968
(April 22, 1847-August 2, 1912) Settled in 1879 as a rancher in northeast Scurry County. In 1884, six months after county organization, the first sheriff resigned in disgust. Faught was appointed, serving remainder of…
View on map ↗The Prairie Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) · 1968
Small burrowing rodent once symbolic of Old West. Estimates once placed Texas population in billions. Prairie dogs were so named because of their quick sharp barking and wagging tails. A vegetarian mammal related to the…
View on map ↗Town of Knapp · 1968
Pioneers settling Bull Creek, 1888, where herds of bull buffalo grazed, called their community Bison. They founded the Baptist Church on the creek bank, the school in a nearby pasture. Bison was located on fringe of the…
View on map ↗Channel of Deep Creek · 1969
Once a spring-fed tributary of the Colorado River; heads and ends within Scurry County. In 1870s it supplied buffalo hunters living in hide-covered half dugouts. "Pete" Snyder's trading post, which eventually grew into…
View on map ↗First Baptist Church of Snyder · 1969
Founded in May, 1883, one year before Scurry County was organized, this pioneer institution helped pave the way for modern Baptist worship in the area. It was originally named Bledsoe Baptist Church, in honor of John S.…
View on map ↗First Presbyterian Church · 1969
Organized June 13, 1892, as the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, by The Rev. W. W. Werner, with seven charter members. In 1906 original church body joined the Abilene Presbytery, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.…
View on map ↗Old Snyder Graveyard · 1969
Formerly state land until common usage established it as a cemetery in 1880's. Legend says first burial was an Indian. Early-day transients were often buried in unmarked graves. Tract closed to further burials, 1902.…
View on map ↗Site of Sanitarium of Alonzo Orrin Scarborough (1860-1952) Pioneer Doctor · 1969
(1860-1952) Born in DeWitt County. Moved to Snyder in 1881 and worked on ranch as a horse trainer. Soon began "reading" medicine and started practice here in 1886. Received M.D. degree from the Kentucky School of…
View on map ↗Site of O.K. Wagon Yard · 1971
(Formerly on Jackass Avenue) Stopping place for travelers in early 1900s. Rented rooms and horse stalls for two bits (25 c) each. Provided blacksmithing and harness repair and kept a horse, Jersey Bull, and a "Missouri…
View on map ↗The Press in Snyder · 1971
The "Scurry County Citizen", published by A. C. Wilmeth before 1887, was first of 8 different nameplates (under 39 owners) to print in Snyder. "Coming West", founded by Dick Lively, began publication in 1887, followed…
View on map ↗The Block 97 Controversy · 1972
Notorious county land dispute arising from state practice of paying railroads in public land for trackage laid. Began in 1873 when Houston & Texas Central claimed, in error, some 300,000 acres of Block 97 which were in…
View on map ↗Scurry County's Billionth Barrel of Oil · 1975
Petroleum discoveries in this county began in 1923, with recovery of oil in the San Andres Formation--eventually penetrated by over 2,000 shallow wells. In late 1948, rigs drilling deeper than 6,000 feet tapped the…
View on map ↗Santa Fe Railway in Scurry County · 1976
In 1909, when rail service was vital to economic growth, Scurry County had one line (The Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific) but lacked connections to distant markets. Local residents backed C. W. Post of Garza County who gave…
View on map ↗Snyder National Bank · 1979
In 1890 F. J. Grayum began the Snyder Bank, a private institution, in his drugstore on the south side of the square. Although Snyder had no railroad and goods were shipped on wagons from Colorado City (25 mi. S), W. A.…
View on map ↗Scurry County Jail of 1912 · 1982
In 1911 the commissioners court of Scurry County presented plans for a new jail, since the two previous jail houses (built in 1884 and 1886) had proven insufficient for the county's needs. Land at this site was…
View on map ↗Company G · 1984
Composed of National Guardsmen from Scurry County, Company G originally organized and fought in France during World War I. Reorganized in 1924 and mobilized in 1940, Company G was part of the 142nd Infantry of the…
View on map ↗Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright Mooar · 1995
J. Wright Mooar was a champion hunter of buffalo, largest game animal in North America. A native of Vermont. He came west at age 19 and in 1870 began hunting to supply hides for market. In partnership with his brother,…
View on map ↗Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright Mooar · 1997
J. Wright Mooar and his brother John W. Mooar established the first buffalo hunting camp in the Texas Panhandle in 1873. Wright killed a rare albino buffalo (one of two known killed in Texas) in Scurry county on October…
View on map ↗Snyder Cemetery · 2001
Established 1891. Historic Texas Cemetery-2001
View on map ↗Towle House · 2011
Dr. H. G. and Mary (Ruddick) Towle married in Colorado City in 1905, moving to Snyder to open a jewelry and optical store. The Towles bought this lot in 1908 and had this two-story brick house with full basement built…
View on map ↗Discover Snyder’s history on the road
RoadHistorical maps all 15,000+ Texas historical markers and alerts you as you pass them. Free to download.
Keep exploring