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Fort McKavett
Post Office, TX 76841
Photo courtesy Postmaster Heather Treadwell, August 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Named in honor
of Capt. Henry McKavett, who was killed in the Mexican War battle
of Monterrey, the post had been known as Camp San Saba. Camp
followers formed a town a mile north of the post. It was supposed
to be named after a German merchant, but went by the unfortunate name
of "Scabtown."
Camp San Saba closed in 1859, and most of the civilians left when
the soldiers departed. The post and the community - having rid itself
of the name Scabtown was more than happy to assume the same name as
the fort.
The fort closed again in 1883 - but with the Indian threat gone, residents
stayed - unlike the previous closing.
By the mid-1890s the community had 80 citizens, a weekly paper - and
two hotels. In 1904 the school had twenty-eight students and two teachers.
By the 1920s, Fort McKavett's population was about 150 - falling to
136 during the years of the Great Depression and staying at that level
until the 1960s. From a reported 103 in the 70s, it declined to a
mere 45 by 1990.
Restoration of the fort began in 1968 when the old school and one
of the barracks was acquired and it was under the control of the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department. The restoration continued and by 1990
seventeen buildings had been restored. Now known as Fort
McKavett State Historic Site |
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| Photo
courtesy Shannan Yarbrough, February 2005 |
Fort McKavett
Chronicles
Skeletons
in Old Fort McKavett by Mike Cox
When an archaeologist found the skeleton buried beneath what once
was the floor of Officers Quarters Number 4 at old Fort McKavett
near Menard, he dug up a mystery...
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Fort McKavett,
Texas Forum
Regarding Fort
McKavett, Theodore Roosevelt’s son, Elliot Roosevelt, spent time
in the Fort McKavett area hunting and relaxing in the sunshine.
- Coe Linn, Austin, Texas, June 24, 2004
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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