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Matagorda
History in a Seashell
For such a sleepy place - Matagorda has a lot of History.
It was established
in 1827 when Stephen F.
Austin got permission from Mexico to build a town. Fifty-two families from
New York and New England became the first settlers. It was incorporated in 1830
and two years later it had over 1400 people.
During the Mexican invasion,
Matagorda was abandoned. When the people returned after San
Jacinto, they formed a county and made Matagorda the county seat in 1836.
The town continued to proper and soon got a newspaper as well as several schools.
The Civil War created a tense atmosphere as Matagorda was a port for
blockade runners. Although it was never invaded, the town was fired on by Federal
ships. After the war, the "Plantation economy" suffered from want of labor.
Hurricanes repeatedly swept the area, which perhaps explains the expanses
of open land today. Bay City became the Matagorda
County Seat in 1894 when they figured an inland courthouse might be safer.
A
hurricane in 1942 forced the county to build a levee. It was wise planning for
it minimized damage in 1961 when Hurricane Carla hit the area. By 1950 the population
had declined to 650 people. It has continued a slow decline to reach the (1990)
population of 605.
Matagorda
Centennial Marker
Matagorda
Historic Landmarks/Attractions -
Historic churches, homes, lodge,
cemetery, bridges... |
| Texas
Centennial Marker: City
of Matagorda
Projected site of a town in 1826. Founded in 1829 with Stephen
F. Austin, Elias R. Wightman, Hosea H. League and Ira Ingram as proprietors.
Third largest town in Texas in 1834. Incorporated January 28, 1839. County seat
of Matagorda County, 1837-1894. Badly wrecked by storms in 1854 and 1875. An early
cultural center of Texas as evidenced by schools, churches and press. |
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009
Click on image for photo of text close-up |
Matagorda
Historic Landmarks/Attractions |
Christ
Episcopal Church with markers
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy
Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Christ Episcopal Church historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
| Texas
Centennial Marker: Christ
Church
On a
site approximately 400 yards east stood Christ Church. First Episcopal church
in Texas. Organized January 27, 1839. The Rev. Caleb S. Ives, Rector. Building
consecrated February 25, 1844 by the Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk,, D.D., Bishop of
Louisiana. Diocese of Texas established January 1, 1849. Building destroyed by
hurricane September 11, 1854. Rebuilt on present site. The Rev. Mr. Ives and his
wife established and taught an early school in connection with the parish. |
Christ
Church Centennial Marker
On Cypress and Lewis
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Matagorda Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Matagorda Methodist Church Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine |
St.
Peter's Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
St.
Peter's Baptist Church Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
| | The
Dale-Rugley-Sisk Home
TE Photo | |
Historical
Marker Text:
Dale-Rugeley-Sisk
Home ca. 1830
Has
withstood many hurricanes. A cultural, social, political center. Home of: A. C.
Horton, 1st lieutenant-governor of Texas and governor 7 months; Rev. Caleb Ives,
1st rector of 1st Episcopal Church in Texas; W. L. Sartwell, partner in Ives-Sartwell-Academy;
a leading churchwoman, Mrs. S. M. Dale; F. L. Rugeley, son of a Confederate leader;
Robt. J. Sisk, pioneer in rice, oil and land development.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1964 |
Matagorda Lodge on Marice and Fisher, Matagorda
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, 2008
Click on image for photo of Matagorda Lodge Historical
Marker |
| Historical
Marker Text:
Matagorda Lodge No. 7, A.F. & A.M.
One of the oldest Masonic
lodges in Texas, this lodge traces its history to the Republic of Texas. A
group of masons met together on June 24, 1838, and petitioned the newly created
Grand Lodge of Texas for a charter to Seth Ingram as first master.
From
its beginning, the Matagorda Lodge was active and influential in the community's
development. The first services of Christ Episcopal Church were held in the Masonic
Hall. The masons operated a lending library for the town's citizens and supported
local public education projects.
In 1868, due to a succession of financial
difficulties and the strains of the Civil War, the Matagorda Lodge was deactivated.
The members maintained interest in the lodge, however, and it was finally rechartered
by the grand lodge in 1911 under its original number.
Many prominent Texans
have been affiliated with this lodge, including local and state government officials.
The lodge has counted among its members veterans of the war of 1812, the Texas
Revolution, Mexican War, Civil War, World
War I, World War II,
Korea, and Vietnam.
(1990) |
 |
Matagorda Bay Nature Park
A
1600-acre park and preserve at the mouth of the Colorado River on the Matagorda
Peninsula
(979) 863-2603
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine |
| | Shrimp
Boats at Matagorda
TE Photo |
| | Water
scene Near Matagorda
TE Photo |
| | Church
and Date Palm in Matagorda
TE Photo |
| | Awaiting
restoration - Typical Gulf Coast Architecture
TE photo |
Matagorda
ChroniclesRafting
Cotton from Bastrop to Matagorda
by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" column)
During the 1840s and continuing
through the Civil War, Central Texans saw the Colorado River as a transportation
artery connecting them with the Gulf of Mexico. |
Matagorda - "Where Texas History Began"
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2009 |
Matagorda
Texas ForumSubject:
Old Texas Swing Bridge
It has come to my attention that the old
Swing Bridge in Matagorda, TX is soon to be replaced by a more modern
bridge. Is anyone researching or doing a documentary on the renovation of
this historic bridge? Thanks. - Eryn Hall, July 16, 2005
Subject:
Matagorda History
Matagorda has historic significance, color, and is
a very nice town. An interesting fact is that a huge logjam existed on
the Colorado river near here for many years, and was cleared early last century,
creating a division in Matagorda bay with a new river delta. Now we have East,
and West Matagorda Bays. Cattle drives here are historic too. - Patrick Feagins,
January 02, 2002
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