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GLEN
ROSE, TEXAS
Somervell County
Seat, North
Central Texas
US 67 and Hwy 144
17 miles S of Granbury
52 miles SW of Fort
Worth
Population
6809 (2000)
Text
and photos by Sam Fenstermacher
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Glen Rose
water tower before thunderstorm
Photo by James Feagin, Oct. 2002 |
Location
32.2350°N, 97.7555°W
Elevation 627 feet
Somervell
County History
Around 1860 Charles and Juana Barnard built a three story stone gristmill
along the Paluxy River. The town that eventually grew around the mill
was called Barnard's Mill. In 1871 T.C. Jordan, bought the
mill and surrounding land from Charles Barnard.Mrs. T.C. Jordan called
the area around Barnard's Mill Rose Glen as a reminder of her
native Scotland. Years later the town's people voted to rename the
town Glen Rose.
The county of Somervell was formed in 1875 from about 200 square miles
of land perviously part of Hood County. The county name honors
Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Somervell.
By 1876 the town population grew sufficiently that T.C. Jordan believed
the time was ripe to build a town square. Jordan promised to build
a county courthouse if some of the town's citizens would buy property
around the square. The first courthouse on the square was completed
around 1892 and burned down in 1893.
Second courthouse on the square, the present day structure,
was ordered built by the commissioners' court in 1893 and completed
late in the same year for a cost of $13,500. This courthouse employed
elements of the Romanesque Revival architectural style. The building
also featured a mansard roof treatment and ornamental iron crestings
which are characteristic of the General Grant style. The courthouse
was constructed of locally queried limestone.
In 1902 a tornado damaged the courthouse and many other buildings
on the town square. The courthouse roof and clock tower were severely
damaged. At that time, the small rural county didn't have the financial
resources to properly repair the roof or replace the clock tower.
A modest roof repair was made by local craftsmen which omitted the
clock and some of the ornate details of the original roof.
In 1986 the Somervell County Commissioners' Court voted to
restore the county courthouse. The work was completed by Ray J. Miller
Construction Company of Meridian under the direction of architects
Huckabee and Donham of Stephenville, Texas. Final cost of restoring
the building was $601,111.20.
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Courthouse
Square
The courthouse square, much like the courthouse building, is modest
in size. The two most notable buildings on the square are the First
National Bank Building and the Campbell Building.
The courthouse square has been a popular gathering place for Somervell
residents since the late 1880's. Back before cars and grocery stores,
farmers would bring stock animals and other goods to the square to
sell. That tradition is still alive and well today. Local farmers
continue to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, and other items to the
town square for sale. They set up on the west side of the square where
there are benches and plenty of shade provided by old pecan trees.
Both the farmers tasty offerings and the conversation are refreshingly
unique.
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First
National Bank Building in Glen Rose
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
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First National
Bank Building
Native limestone structure built in 1896 by A. P. Humphreys. First
served as a saloon. Upstairs hall hosted dances, socials, and stage
shows. Building's second purpose was as First National Bank building,
est. 1902. In 1917 the bank was the scene of a robbery and the shooting
of a bandit. Modern day home of the Somervell County Heritage
Center.
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Glen Rose
Nearby Historical Attractions
Barnard's Mill
Early Texas gristmill constructed in 1860 by Charles Barnard. The
original mill was a three story building constructed of stone and
built like a fort to withstand Indian attacks. For years, town social
events were held on the third floor. A cotton gin annex was added
in 1895. In the 1940's a one-story hospital wing was built and a second
story added to the existing cotton gin annex. These building served
as a hospital from 1943 to 1971. Today, the three story mill building
and cotton gin annex are the private residence of Richard H. Moore,
Jr. The hospital wing added in the 1940's today houses the Barnard's
Mill Art Museum. |
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Chalk
Mountain Masonic Lodge
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
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Chalk
Mountain
A ghost town 12 miles west of Glen Rose on Erath County Road 198.
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Dinosaur
Tracks
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
More Glen
Rose Attractions
Dinosaur
Valley State Park
113 million year old Dinosaur Tracks in the Paluxy River bed.
The Promise:
Musical drama of the life of Christ. Evening performances every
Friday & Saturday, June through October. 800-687-2661 www.thepromiseglenrose.com
Fossil Rim
Wildlife Center:
A 9.5 mile scenic wildlife drive to see exotic and endangered animals.
254-897-2960 www.fossilrim.org
Barnard's
Mill Art Museum:
Part of historic Barnard's Mill, the first permanent structure in
this area. Collection features works by Amy Miears Jackson, Robert
Summers, Jack Bryant, R. Kleinfelder, Morris Henry Hobbs, and many
others. Open Saturday and Sunday. Admission free. 817-897-2286
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Glen
Rose High School Tiger Stadium sign
Photo courtesy James Feagin, Oct. 2002 |
Copyright
© 2003 by Sam Fenstermacher All rights reserved
Bibliography:
Leach, Dorothy, The Story of The Somervell County Courthouse.
Somervell: Somervell Historical Commission, 1987.
Texas Historical Commission, Texas Historic Sites Atlas. http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/,
2003. |
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Glen
Rose City Hall
Photo Courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey
More Nearby Destinations
Stephenville
- 31 miles W on US 67
Granbury
- 17 miles N on Hwy 144
Meridian
- 23 miles S on Hwy 144
Hico
- 12 miles S on US 67, then 14 miles S on Hwy 220
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Glen Rose
water tower
Photo Courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey |
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