Highway Markers
By Glynda Pflug
History can be found along roadsides in Moore County. Markers tell the story of important events in the growth of the county. The first, found on the courthouse square, was placed in 1966. It reads:
Moore County Courthouse
Land for this courthouse square was donated by Louis Dumas, who laid out the townsite in 1891. One year later, Moore County was formally organized as a government, and in 1893 the county's first courthouse was built. The original courthouse was replaced by the current structure, built by C. S. Lambie and Company at a cost of $155,000. The brick building was occupied by county officials during the first week of August 1931. Both courthouses have held all county records and have served as focal point for the community and for the entire county.
Land for this courthouse square was donated by Louis Dumas, who laid out the townsite in 1891. One year later, Moore County was formally organized as a government, and in 1893 the county's first courthouse was built. The original courthouse was replaced by the current structure, built by C. S. Lambie and Company at a cost of $155,000. The brick building was occupied by county officials during the first week of August 1931. Both courthouses have held all county records and have served as focal point for the community and for the entire county.
Another marker on the courthouse square was placed in observance of the Texas Sesquincentennial in 1986. It reads:
City of Dumas
In 1891, Louis Dumas and J. R. Wheat formed the Panhandle Townsite Company to develop and promote a community they named Dumas. A post office was established the same year, and in 1892, Dumas was elected the seat of Moore County government. A mercantile store opened in 1894, and the First State Bank was organized in 1908. The dry, arid land surrounding Dumas attracted few newcomers, and the population remained sparse until oil was discovered in 1927. The town's history is a good reflection of life in the Texas Panhandle.
In 1891, Louis Dumas and J. R. Wheat formed the Panhandle Townsite Company to develop and promote a community they named Dumas. A post office was established the same year, and in 1892, Dumas was elected the seat of Moore County government. A mercantile store opened in 1894, and the First State Bank was organized in 1908. The dry, arid land surrounding Dumas attracted few newcomers, and the population remained sparse until oil was discovered in 1927. The town's history is a good reflection of life in the Texas Panhandle.
In 1976, a marker was placed 24.8 miles southeast of Dumas on FM 1913 at the intersection of Plum Creek Road to mark the campsite of an early 1800's explorer, Lt. James W. Abert. The marker reads:
Exploration Route of
Lt. James W. Abert
(Campsite: 5 mi. SW and
3 mi. NE of Marker)
The United States government had the Canadian River explored in 1845, just before Texas joined the Union. Topographical engineer James W. Abert (1820-1897), a West Point graduate, had charge of a 33-man party, and spent two or more days in the vicinity of this marker. Near here he was visited by Kiowa Indians, who said that they were at war with Texans. Abert was made welcome after he proved to be an American. His map of the river and notes on geography and the Indians proved valuable to Texas and the nation.
Lt. James W. Abert
(Campsite: 5 mi. SW and
3 mi. NE of Marker)
The United States government had the Canadian River explored in 1845, just before Texas joined the Union. Topographical engineer James W. Abert (1820-1897), a West Point graduate, had charge of a 33-man party, and spent two or more days in the vicinity of this marker. Near here he was visited by Kiowa Indians, who said that they were at war with Texans. Abert was made welcome after he proved to be an American. His map of the river and notes on geography and the Indians proved valuable to Texas and the nation.
Going south from Dumas on Highway 287, the first marker is on the south city limits. It tells of the geological riches of Moore County. The marker was placed in 1970 and reads:
Geological Riches of Moore County
Have proved beneficial from earliest times when prehistoric man developed first industry in Texas by mining flint deposits along the Canadian River. Items made from these quarries have been found over a large portion of the western United States. Slabs of dolomite from area were used to build sturdy, warm homes; interiors were coated with mixture of sand, clay and caliche -- an advance uncommon in prehistoric North America. Modern man has established 31 industries based on oil and gas, to take advantage of geological riches untapped by ancient man.
Have proved beneficial from earliest times when prehistoric man developed first industry in Texas by mining flint deposits along the Canadian River. Items made from these quarries have been found over a large portion of the western United States. Slabs of dolomite from area were used to build sturdy, warm homes; interiors were coated with mixture of sand, clay and caliche -- an advance uncommon in prehistoric North America. Modern man has established 31 industries based on oil and gas, to take advantage of geological riches untapped by ancient man.
The second marker on the south edge of Dumas was placed in 1969 and tells of the historic drift fence.
Site of Historice Drift Fence
Until the mid-1880's, no range fences existed in the Texas Panhandle. Thus when winter blizzards came, cattle drifted from Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas to the Texas ranches of ("T Box T" -- Dominion Cattle Co. Ltd.) "K "Seven" K -- York, Parker & Draper, CCF ("Bar C's" -- Creswell Land & Cattle Co.), "Turkey Tract" -- Hansford Land & Cattle Co., LX (Bates & Beal), LIT (Littlefield) and LE (Lee & Reynolds). The influx caused these ranches in the Canadian River breaks to be overgrazed, for by spring roundup there were as many northern as local cattle in the herds. To prevent the costly and time-consuming job of separating the cattle, each Texas rancher agreed to construct a fence along his northern boundary line. The resulting fence was 200 miles long and ran from the northeast corner of the Panhandle southwest to near the site where Dumas was later founded, then west about 35 miles into New Mexico. It was a 4-strand, 4-bars fence with post 30 feet apart and a gate every 3 miles. The materials amounted to about 65 carloads of wire and posts hauled from Dodge City. In 1890, however, to comply with an 1889 state law prohibiting any fence from crossing or enclosing public property, most of the fence was removed.
Until the mid-1880's, no range fences existed in the Texas Panhandle. Thus when winter blizzards came, cattle drifted from Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas to the Texas ranches of ("T Box T" -- Dominion Cattle Co. Ltd.) "K "Seven" K -- York, Parker & Draper, CCF ("Bar C's" -- Creswell Land & Cattle Co.), "Turkey Tract" -- Hansford Land & Cattle Co., LX (Bates & Beal), LIT (Littlefield) and LE (Lee & Reynolds). The influx caused these ranches in the Canadian River breaks to be overgrazed, for by spring roundup there were as many northern as local cattle in the herds. To prevent the costly and time-consuming job of separating the cattle, each Texas rancher agreed to construct a fence along his northern boundary line. The resulting fence was 200 miles long and ran from the northeast corner of the Panhandle southwest to near the site where Dumas was later founded, then west about 35 miles into New Mexico. It was a 4-strand, 4-bars fence with post 30 feet apart and a gate every 3 miles. The materials amounted to about 65 carloads of wire and posts hauled from Dodge City. In 1890, however, to comply with an 1889 state law prohibiting any fence from crossing or enclosing public property, most of the fence was removed.
Six miles south of Dumas on US 287 a marker was placed in 1969 to tell the story of the beginning of Moore County.
Moore County
Created in 1876 from Bexar Land District. Named in honor of Edwin W. Moore (1810-1865), Commodore of the Navy, Republic of Texas.
County was organized July 5, 1892, with Dumas (named for promoter of the townsite) as county seat. Stagecoach and freighters furnished transportation in early days.
The county was thinly settled; ranching was the main industry prior to discoveries of oil and gas in 1926. A zinc smelter was built in 1936. Economy is now based on petrochemicals, helium, oil, gas, cattle feeding, ranching, grains, soybeans, sugar beets, and castor beans.
Created in 1876 from Bexar Land District. Named in honor of Edwin W. Moore (1810-1865), Commodore of the Navy, Republic of Texas.
County was organized July 5, 1892, with Dumas (named for promoter of the townsite) as county seat. Stagecoach and freighters furnished transportation in early days.
The county was thinly settled; ranching was the main industry prior to discoveries of oil and gas in 1926. A zinc smelter was built in 1936. Economy is now based on petrochemicals, helium, oil, gas, cattle feeding, ranching, grains, soybeans, sugar beets, and castor beans.
The famous Tascosa-Dodge City trail crossed Moore County and is marked with two plaques. One is six and one-half miles south of HWY 87-287. The other marker is 12 miles east of Dumas on state highway 152.
The south marker reads:
The south marker reads:
Route of Tascosa-Dodge City Trail
Founded in 1877 for cattle drives and freight hauls from Tascosa (38 miles SW) to market in Dodge City, Kansas.
A mail route, the first stagecoach stop out of Tascosa was 3 miles SW of here. Tascosa had a post office, 1878; was county seat, Oldham County, 1880; declined after 1887.
Founded in 1877 for cattle drives and freight hauls from Tascosa (38 miles SW) to market in Dodge City, Kansas.
A mail route, the first stagecoach stop out of Tascosa was 3 miles SW of here. Tascosa had a post office, 1878; was county seat, Oldham County, 1880; declined after 1887.
The marker on SH 152 east reads:
Route of Tascosa-Dodge City Trail
As ranchers and merchants settled in this part of Texas during the 1870's, the need for a direct supply line became evident. This trail was established in 1877 for cattle drives and freight hauls from Tascosa (38 miles SW) to markets in Dodge City, Kansas. It also served as a stagecoach and mail route. The town of Tascosa received a post office in 1878 and was the Oldham County seat from 1890 until 1915. The coming of the railroad in 1887 led to the decline of the town and to the abandonment of the Tascosa-Dodge City Trail.
As ranchers and merchants settled in this part of Texas during the 1870's, the need for a direct supply line became evident. This trail was established in 1877 for cattle drives and freight hauls from Tascosa (38 miles SW) to markets in Dodge City, Kansas. It also served as a stagecoach and mail route. The town of Tascosa received a post office in 1878 and was the Oldham County seat from 1890 until 1915. The coming of the railroad in 1887 led to the decline of the town and to the abandonment of the Tascosa-Dodge City Trail.
The newest marker was placed in the fall of 2010 and is 19 miles south of Dumas. It reads:
In 1927, three companies combined to construct a natural gas plant and pipeline to produce gas for Denver, Colorado. Small houses and a hotel were constructed fro married and single workers. A one room school was soon constructed for the workers' children on land donated by Miles Bivins, and the small community came to be known as Bivins. In later years the camp and the school expanded. In preparation for World War II, a helium plant to be operated by the Bureau of Mines was constructed near Bivins; it began production in 1943, after U. S. entry into the war. In order to provide services to the workers at the new Exell helium plant, seventy-five homes, garages, a recreation hall and a playground were also constructed at the site. During the late 1940's a post office was established in the community and when the postal service rejected the name "Bivins," the name "Masterson" was submitted after a prominent area rancher. A Baptist church was organized and attended by members of all denominations and community activities such as 4-H, Boy and Girl Scouts and home demonstration clubs flourished. In 1963, residents of the original Bivins site were notified that their homes were to be sold and they must move, and residents at the Exell site also began to move away, leaving both camps practically abandoned by 1970. The local school closed in 1978 and the post office closed in 1984. While the Exell Helium plant closed in the late 1990s, the Bivins plant continues to produce natural gas for Colorado.
Unfortunately, many historical markers across Texas are victims of vandals and are destroyed or removed. During the years, many of the Texas signs have not been replaced and pieces of history are lost. The original signs were placed by request of local county historical commissions. The requests were made to the Texas State Historical Commission and, if approved, were funded by the state.