Thicket

We are taking the van in today to have the vista window replaced.  Roadtrek was very prompt in shipping the window and the latches I requested and I am so happy they did.

We really enjoyed our time in San Marcos Texas and truly enjoyed our stay at Pecan RV Park.  The river that ran along side the park was beautiful.  We visited the cemetery and did some sightseeing while staying here.  I will be posting pictures tomorrow.

I am such a fan of Jim Harrison and one of the places he writes about is a thicket.  A thicket is a place where you can go alone to see but not be seen.  It is a place of comfort, security, a place where you can think or dream.  Tomorrow after the van is fixed, mom and I will be heading to a “thicket.”  We plan to spend a couple days there before heading to another one.  We will not have amenities, just water and electric, and if my phone works I will be able to get on the net. 

The pictures I am posting is the last of the photographs I took while in Lampasas Texas.  It is of Oakhill Cemetery - home to Walter Acker and  James S. Gillett, two residents of Lampasas.   It was a historic cemetery and mom and I spent half a day there just exploring.  It was filled with deer and it was a lot of fun to watch them.  It wasn’t fun the times they were watching us and jumped out of there hiding place and scare the bejesus out of me. 

Walter P. Acker
Walter Acker joined the Confederate Army in Paulding, Mississippi at age 16. He arrived in Lampasas in 1875 as an attorney in 1878, State Representative in 1883, and Mayor in 1901. In 1910 Acker moved to Harris County and served three terms in the State Legislature from that district. In 1930 he was honored as the last Confederate Veteran to serve in the Texas Legislature. He died at the Confederate Home in Austin.

James S Gillett
Lawyer and frontier fighter. Born in Kentucky. Attained rank of Major in Mexican War, 1846-49. He was elected to the 3^rd Texas Legislature, serving 1849-50. Appointed by Gov. P.H. Bell, he was Adjutant General of Texas, Nov. 24 1851, to Feb. 4 1856. He was again in the Texas Rangers in 1859 – 60 and served under Confederacy in Civil War, 1861 – 65. He married Elizabeth Harper. One of their children was famed Texas Ranger James B. Gillett.

Click here to view more pictures of Oakhill Cemetery.

Lampasas Texas Murals

Today I felt a lot better and decided to walk a local cemetery, it has been a week since I hurt my back….  Well I took a tumble down a small hill and scraped my leg.  It was witnessed by three deer and a squirrel and I swear the squirrel was laughing.  The deer looked worried but deer usually always look worried.  I am going to start staying home on Sundays
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While driving through town mom and I noticed several murals, so we stopped and took a few pictures.

Enjoy the pictures and to view more click here.

Hanna Springs, Lampasas Texas

"Hopping John" Burleson received a headright Grant for 1280 acres of land, including this site, in 1838. He first viewed the bubbling springs in 1847. "Hopping John" transferred the property to his cousin, John Burleson, in 1854. Later that year, John Burleson transferred the deed to his two daughters. One daughter, Elizabeth Scott, and her husband George erected a hotel near the springs, which became known as Scott's White Sulphur Springs. The Scotts laid out the town of Lampasas in the summer of 1855. The springs became a popular recreation site, touted for the healing properties of the many minerals contained in the water. In 1863 the Scotts sold their property to William H. Storm and Thomas J. Moore; Storm sold the springs property to John L. Hanna and his sister Isabella Hanna in 1867. John Hanna's management heightened the popularity of the springs, and the hotel and springs became known as Hanna Springs. Health seekers flocked to Hanna's resort for years. When John Hanna died in Illinois in 1878, his property was sold by his heirs. The Hanna Pavilion, later called Hanna Opera House, was built soon after John Hanna's death. It wa large enough to host the State Democratic Convention in 1892. Will Campbell bought the property in 1904. Mrs. Campbell had the pavilion torn down and erected a smaller bath house in 1907. The property was known as Crystal Springs in the 1920s, after which its popularity waned. By the 1940s the public was no longer using the springs and the park became overgrown with brush. The property was donated to the city for public use in 1994.

There is a sculpture garden in Hanna Springs Park which is a project of Lampasas Association for the Arts that seeks to develop art and culture in the community. The garden displays sculptures by artists from across the country.

Click here for more pictures of Hanna Springs!

Lampasas Texas

For his services in the Texas Revolution, John Burleson received 1,280 acres of land and established a permanent settlement in the 1850s. The city was first named Burleson; however, the name was gradually changed to Lampasas Springs because of the existence of seven mineral springs. When the county was created in 1856, the law specified “The county seat shall be same name as the county.” The city of Lampasas was officially incorporated in 1883.

Lampasas’ courthouse square had adequate parking and took a lot of pride in what I consider the heart of the city.  There were historical markers scattered around that told the history of Lampasas.  Mom and I ate at two of the restaurants and our favorite was Eve’s that served wonderful German food. We also stopped at the Museum to learn more about history as well as the springs.

Some of the history of Lampasas is of the Horrell and Higgins families.  They were among the early settlers of Lampasas County.  Tom, Mart, Merritt, and Sam Horrell were accused of many crimes, including cattle rustling and murder.  Pink Higgins was a cattleman and trail driver who, in 1876, began accusing the Horrell Brothers of stealing his cattle.  On January 22, 1877, Pink Higgins shot and killed Merritt Horrell in the Gem Saloon.  This was the beginning of a six month battle between the Horrell Brothers and Pink Higgins, Bob Mitchell, Bill Wren, and their followers. To read more about the Horrell and Higgins families, click here.

Lampasas County Courthouse  After the Texas Legislature created Lampasas County in 1856, official business of the county was conducted from a variety of spaces and buildings.  Land for the courthouse square was set aside when the town of Lampasas was platted in the 1850’s.  In 1882, the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad extended their tracks to the county seat, bringing significant growth and prosperity to the area.

In 1883, the commissioners court, with county Judge W.P. Beall presiding, hired Waco architect Wesley Clark Dodson to design the new courthouse.  The building contractor and the stone contractors executed Dodson’s plan, completing the building in 1884.  Reflecting influences of the second empire and Italianate styles of architecture, the Lampasas County Courthouse features a central clock tower, arched windows and a mansard roof.  In 1884, the commissioners court authorized the city to place a Seth Thomas Clock in the tower. 

Keystone Hotel, 1870, Famous early day stagecoach inn of J.L.N. Gracy.  Windows have keystone arches.  Native rock was hauled to the site by oxen.  In the rear was a grave of a boy who was killed by Indians.

The Courthouse	The Keystone Hotel

Some of the pictures were taken with my cell phone.  To view more click here.