This marker is in front of the Burleson Visitors Center and Museum, which unfortunately was well…read morepast closing time when I stopped in at 7pm. This was part of the electric railway that ran through this area from 1912 until 1931 and this was the depot for Burleson. The marker reads, "At the turn of the 20th century, the Northern Texas Traction Co. found success with an interurban railway that operated between Fort Worth and Dallas. In 1911, a group began planning a new interurban that would run from Fort Worth to Cleburne by way of Everman, Burleson and Joshua. By that time, Burleson had approximately 700 residents and an active business district, and the city incorporated in 1912. The Fort Worth Southern Traction Co. came to town that year seeking employees and arranged with businessman and community leader Albert H. Loyless to be their local representative. He moved his Loyless-Robbins Pharmacy from a two-story wooden building across the street to a new brick building at this site. The traction company constructed an electrical plant and freight dock behind the building, and the pharmacy, complete with soda fountain and interurban ticket counter, occupied the front of the orange-brick structure. The first public run of the electrical train line came through Burleson on September 1, 1912. From that date until 1931, the train carried people in and out of town, brought goods to them from other cities, and helped make the pharmacy a community center. In 1935, a few years after the interurban ceased its service and motor coaches and automobiles took its place, Loyless, accepting the position of Burleson postmaster, moved his business next door to the post office. Robert Deering bought the former pharmacy building and from it published his newspaper, the Burleson News (later Burleson Dispatcher). The city later purchased the building for use as a visitors center. (2006)." I've bookmarked the Visitor's Center for a return when they're open. [Review 16044 overall - 229 in Texas - 1549 of 2021.]

You've probably heard of the infamous Hell's Half Acre in the disorderly Fort Worth, Texas. Among…read morethe various Hell's Half Acres that dotted the frontier, none was more infamous or more rambunctious than Fort Worth's. The Fort Worth version started during the city's heyday as a drover's stop on the cattle trails to Kansas in the early 1870s. Anymore, Fort Worth's Acre is nothing more than a dot in the map, marked by a landmark off Houston Street (pronounced properly, like Hyü-sten). Still, it's always good to know about history.

Alvarado is the oldest city in Johnson County but it is not the county seat. That's Cleburne. This…read moreis a small town that is mostly agriculture though the large Sabre Structures building is here. This marker is located in Alvarado square. It is slightly weather worn and reads, "Early settler David Mitchell established a trading post near here in the late 1840s, about the time colonists of W. S. Peters' empresario grant began to settle the area. Colonist William Balch, who settled on an area land grant in 1852, was later to become known as the "Father of Alvarado" for his efforts in having the townsite surveyed in 1854, establishing the first general merchandise stores on the square, and for donating land for a cemetery, school, and union church. The town, named for Alvarado, Mexico, soon boasted a post office, homes, businesses, and churches. A community school established about 1855 became The Alvarado Masonic Institute in 1875. "Rail lines extended through Alvarado by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1881 and by the Chicago, Texas, and Mexican Central Railroad in 1884 spurred a local economic boom. By 1885 Alvarado had several churches, two schools, two gins, an opera house, a bank, a newspaper, and a population of about 2,000. The Masonic Institute became the Alvarado Normal Institute in 1899 and Alvarado High School in 1908-09. "A large jail/town hall erected at this site in the mid-1880s was removed in the 1920s and replaced with a garden arrangement; a gazebo was added later. (1994)" I did not spend much time in Alvarado but it seems like a nice enough place. [Review 16124 overall - 303 in Texas - 1629 of 2021.]

This simple marker is located in Alvarado's main square and reminds us of the history of the Old…read moreWest and what it must have been like back in the days. The marker reads, "Near this site in 1869, Alvarado citizens ended the lives of outlaws Benjamin Bickerstaff and Josiah Thompson. A former Confederate veteran and prisoner of war, Bickerstaff was wanted for the murder of an African American man in Louisiana shortly after the Civil War. He later joined Alvarado business owner Josiah Thompson, also a Confederate veteran, and the two are believed to have participated in numerous robberies and murders in this area, including incidents in Alvarado. When they rode together into town on April 5, 1869, organized citizens shot them numerous times. They were buried in Balch (Old Alvarado) Cemetery. (2006)" Online, there is more information and Bickerstaff is not remembered kindly. Benjamin Bickerstaff was a desperado who preyed on blacks, Unionists, and others in northeastern Texas during the Reconstruction era until armed citizens killed him in the town of Alvarado in 1869. The Civil War in Texas did not really end in 1865 but continued long afterward. [Review 16059 overall - 241 in Texas - 1564 of 2021.]

This faded marker stands in front of the Carnegie Library and points out the very earliest history…read moreof the settlement here. The marker reads, "Had wood, water. Was used after 1854 start of Camp Henderson (named for land owner-townsite donor) for decisive public meetings. In 1867 Camp Henderson became county seat. Then men at 4th of July picnic here named town "Cleburne", for Civil War commander of many local veterans." Cleburne is the seat of Johnson County and it was formally incorporated in 1871. The city was primarily an agricultural center and county seat until the Santa Fe Railroad opened a major facility there in 1898. It was was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for German soldiers during World War 2. [Review 16097 overall - 277 in Texas - 1602 of 2021.]

This quaint neighborhood is located not quite two blocks from where I live and is across the street…read morefrom Hope Works Fellowship Church. Since it is a residential area, I am very respectful of venturing too deep into the grounds. There is a historical marker immediately upon entering, and the information gleaned is beneficial. The homes are beautiful and seem to be well maintained. If you're ever in the area, feel free to take a leisurely stroll through Chase Court.

Forgetting it was the weekend, I kept wondering why the courthouse was closed. Anyway, there were…read moreplenty of historical plaques, markers, and other signs to read and enjoy. After walking around the courthouse taking pictures and enjoying the sites and sounds, I soaked in the neighboring stores along the square/plaza. Tons of stuff to enjoy and occupy my time. Don't miss out on what Cleburne has to offer.

Johnson County is named for Middleton T. Johnson (1810-1866), native of South Carolina for 7 terms…read morean Alabama legislator, and a leading Texan after 1840. He served in the 9th Texas Legislature, Texas Rangers, Mexican War, and Civil War. The county was created and organized 1854, from land earlier in counties of Ellis, Hill and Navarro. I spent a week in Cleburne, which the county seat of Johnson County and visited downtown a couple of times. The courthouse here is visible from a good few miles away and this historical marker is located outside the courthouse, which is where I saw it and photographed it. This marker stands in front of the impressive and historic courthouse in downtown Cleburne. It reads, "Organized in 1854, Johnson County located its seat of government in Wardville and Buchanan before moving in 1867 to Camp Henderson, which later became Cleburne. The Buchanan Courthouse was moved to the new county seat and used until 1869, when the county constructed a new two-story brick building. By 1880, that facility had become too small, and three years later a magnificent second empire courthouse, designed by W.C. Dodson, took its place." "Fire destroyed Dodson's 1883 building on April 15, 1912, and the commissioners court chose German-born Otto Lane (1864-1947) and Welshman Frank Witchell (1879-1958) to design their new house of justice. While many firms of the time were designing Beaux Arts or Late Victorian structures, Land and Witchell were fond of the increasingly popular Prairie School style as inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. Johnson County courthouse drawings are attributed to architect Charles E. Barglebraugh, the project architect for Lang and Witchell who trained under Wright." "Completed in 1913, the courthouse is very similar to Land and Witchell's Cooke County courthouse in Gainesville, Texas. Designed on a basic Beaux Arts plan but modernized with Prairie style elements and Sullivanesque details, the Johnson County courthouse features a prominent clock tower and an impressive six-story interior atrium topped by a stained art glass dome." "At the dawn of the 21st Century, the Johnson County courthouse remains in service as the center of county government." The outside of the building is lovely and I was told by Jim (in the Published Page Bookshop across the street https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-published-page-bookshop-cleburne?hrid=dKj6y-Vzj7e_3CwS0OUZ7Awhich you absolutely need to go visit) that the inside is amazing. But it was securely locked up at 6pm when I was here. YELP: I'VE BEEN HERE. I'VE SEEN THIS MARKER. I HAVE A PERSONAL CONSUMER EXPERIENCE. [Review 16047 overall - 233 in Texas - 1552 of 2021.]

The featured attraction in downtown Waxahachie. Quite the accomplishment when built in 19th…read morecentury. In town on Sat so place was closed but be sure to walk around up close to see the faces carved into walls. See photos.

Re: ELLIS County Red Oak Police Department…read more Yesterday, I called the non-emergency hotline to report what I believed was an abandoned car that had been parked in front of my house for three days. An officer came out and informed me that the vehicle belonged to a neighbor. He also stated that they didn't have to move it because it was parked the required distance from the road. When I asked whose car it was, he said he couldn't share that information--which I understand. I had assumed the car was abandoned because it was blocking my driveway and no one had returned to move it in 3 days. While I realize the road is public property, I felt the officer could have at least encouraged the neighbor to be more considerate and move their car as a courtesy. Our road is narrow, and it's difficult to get out of my driveway when cars are parked that way. Since the officer made it clear they didn't have to move the car, I decided to speak with the neighbor myself since this is not acceptable. Fortunately, we were able to resolve the issue directly to have the car moved. Situations like this are exactly why people end up taking matters into their own hands. The interaction with me and my neighbor could have resulted in a situation that could have become volatile. However, this experience left me feeling that calling the police was useless and unhelpful--I don't plan on calling them again. It seems they have quite a few racist complaints but you have to dig for them because they do not allow complaints on google or etc.