Historical Markers

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     Butterfield of Overland Stage Route

• Route of the Southern Overland Mail Line (Intersection US 277 and SH 70) One mile southeast to Fort Chadbourne, a station on the Butterfield Mail and Stage Line, which linked St. Louis and San Francisco. 1858-1861 the Fort was estabilshed in 1852, occupied until its surrender to State Forces in 1861, and garrisoned at times after the Civil War.

 

• Southern Overland Mail 1858-1861 (Butterfield Stage) Passed neat this site, providing for the first time combined passenger and mail service between Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Operating west form St. Louis and Memphis, John Butterfield's Company used 1350 hourses and mules and 90 Concord Coaches and wagons. Stage traveled at a run, despite lack of good roads, a signal given approaching a station would have fresh horses ready and food on the table for crew and passengers. Route had stations 12 to 113 miles apart and was sometimes changed to get water. Crew and passengers wore guns to reduce danger of Indian attacks. Mules (less coveted than horses) were used. West of Ft. Belknap, the trip on way took 25 days -seven spent crossing Texas, from Preston (now under Lake Texoma) to Jacksboro, Ft. Belknap, Ft. Chadbourne and El Paso. One way fare for the 2700 miles was $200. Passengers rarely stopped off because they might not find seats on a later stage. Merchants in Jacksboro and other towns used Butterfield's light freight service to make mail-order sales. Greatest contributinon of the Overland Stage was its carrying news. Coaches also brought mail from the west 1 to 10 days faster than it came by ship. Service was ended in 1861 by the Civil War.

 

• Fort Chadbourne, C.S.A. (Marker Location: 100 block of South Washington, Bronte) Located 8 miles north on Old Butterfield stageline. Upon secession, company of First Regiment Texas mounted rifles occupied this post to give protection against Indians. Stopover on way west for many union sympathizers and people wanting to avoid conflict of war. Permanent personnel left the fort in 1862 when the frontier defense line was pulled back more than 50 miles east. However scouting parties and patrols of confederate and state troops uded the Fort intermittently in agggressive warfare to keep Indians near their camps and away from settlements and to check on the invasion by union forces. Usually supplying their own mounts, guns and sustenance, these men guarded the frontier unitl war's end.

 

• Indian Rock Shelters (Bronte Intersection of Texas SH 70 and US 277, about 8 miles N of Bronte) Throughout this area during the last several centuries, Rock ledges gave protection to Lipan, Kickapoo, Comanche, and Kiowa Indians. In one typical shelter archeologists found evidence of 3 periods of occupation, plus numerous intricate petroglyphs (rock carvings). River shells, turkey and deer bones, flint knives, scrapers, and points lay about the area. One of several hearths (2' x 3' in size) consisted of small pieces of sandstone lining a natural rock trough. On the highest level was found green bottle glass from nearby Fort Chadbourne (1852-1867).

 

Churches

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• First Baptist Church of Bronte (Marker Location: 424 South Washington Street, Bronte) Organized by visiting minister W.G. Green and a congregation of three on June 19, 1887, the Baptist church in Bronte met in homes. In 1890 a brush arbor was built and the Rev. R.M. Cumbie was called as first pastor. Services were later held in the community school in winter and the brush arbor in summer. A Sunday school was organized in 1901 and the first church building was dedicated in 1907. A new building was completed in 1951. From its beginning, this church has been involved in missionary and community activities.

 

• First Methodist Church of Bronte (Marker Location: 324 South Washington Street, Bronte) Marker Text: This congregation traces its history to the summer of 1890, when a small group of worshipers led by the Rev. J.W. Montgomery gathered under a brush arbor on east Kickapoo Creek to organize a church. Later that year the Rev. G.F. Fair became the pastor of the church, which met in an old school house. A sanctuary was built in 1907 and served the congregaton until it was replaced by a new structure in 1951. Throughout its history this congregation, which became First United Methodist church in 1968, has been involved in missionary activities.