Texas Historical Marker #00088
Admiral Baptist Church. Organized in 1881 with nine charter members, this church first served pioneer settlers of the Admiral community. Services were conducted in a family log cabin, under brush arbors, or in local schoolhouses until members built a sanctuary here near the turn of the century. Known early as Shiloh Baptist, the congregation adopted the community name in 1905. The church disbanded in 1968, but the building and nearby cemetery remain as reminders of Admiral, a settlement that once included stores, doctors, a gin, school, and post office. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986. Supplemental Plate: The Historic Admiral Baptist Church building, located east of the cemetery, was destroyed in a fire set by vandals in 1993. #88
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05831
William Jeff Maltby. (December 7, 1829 - June 27, 1908) A native of Illinois, William Jeff Maltby gained fame as a frontiersman, veteran of the Mexican War and American Civil War and Texas Ranger. Maltby began his Texas exploits about 1850, building frontier forts for the U. S. Army. He retired to Callahan County in 1878 and developed a nursery that earned him national recognition as a fine horticulturist. Maltby co-authored a partial autobiography, published in 1906, called "Captain Jeff". Recorded - 1992. #5831
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00709
Captain Andrew Jackson Berry. Born in Indiana May 16, 1816. Died at Baird, Texas July 31, 1899. Veteran of San Jacinto. Officer in the Confederate Army. #709
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01694
First Callahan Jail. Built 1878, Belle Plaine. Baird citizens paid bill for removal here, 1883, after election contest. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965. #1694
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #03378
Military Telegraph Line. Established in 1874-1875 from Fort Griffin to Fort Concho, crossed here. (1936) #3378
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #13834
Ross Cemetery. Ross Cemetery Established 1881 Historic Texas Cemetery - 2006 #13834
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04737
Callahan City. Callahan County was created in 1858 and named for Texas Ranger James H. Callahan (1814-56). Permanent settlement of this area began after the Civil War (1861-65). Residents petitioned in 1877 for organization of county government. Callahan City, then a village with two stores and a post office, became temporary county seat when the first commissioners court met here on July 30, 1877. The nearby town of Belle Plaine won a spirited election for permanent county seat in December 1877. After the Callahan City post office moved there six months later, this community soon disappeared. (1977) #4737
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04729
Site of Belle Plain College. Early college of West Texas. Founded in 1881 by Methodist Church. Enrollment reached peak of 300 and students attended from throughout the region. College developed a superior course of study, with special strength in music. It had an orchestra and a brass band. A girl's dormitory was built soon after founding, and in 1885 a 3-story stone building was erected. School also had a military branch in town. Pupils wore blue and gray uniforms. After town lost both county seat and many citizens to Baird, 1883, college eventually closed. (1969). #4729
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00670
Camp Pecan, C.S.A.. This Civil War camp of the Texas frontier regiment was located 21 miles southeast. Established in 1862 as one of a line of posts a day's horseback ride apart. The number of men guarding the frontier were few. Trouble came from all directions with Indian threats and raids from the west and plundering renegades and deserters from the east. Food, supplies, clothing and horses were constantly scarce. But in spite of all obstacles, these Confederates managed to effectively hold the frontier line of settlement. A Memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy, erected by the State of Texas 1963. #670
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01827
First Presbyterian Church of Baird. Organized June 26, 1885, by six members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, under the Rev. F. E. Leach. Town of Baird was then five years old. In 1906, the Cumberland and "northern" branches of the church were united. The present building was erected in 1910. (1969) #1827
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00360
Belle Plain. First official county seat of Callahan County, 1877-1883. The first unofficial county seat was Callahan City where the commissioners court was organized, July 30, 1877, and several civil and probate cases filed by an invalid election, October 13th, and a valid election, December 9, 1877 Belle Plain was selected. On January 16, 1883, the county seat was located at Baird. #360
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00633
Callahan City Cemetery. Established prior to the organization of Callahan County in 1877. Burial place of many pioneers who came here during era of Indians and great early ranches. Served people of such bygone towns as Admiral, Callahan City, and other neighboring communities. (1967) #633
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01610
First Baptist Church of Baird. Organized in 1881 with nine charter members, this was the first Baptist Church founded in the new town of Baird. Elder G. P. Johnson led worship services until the Rev. L. S. Knight was called as the first full-time pastor. After meeting in the town schoolhouse for a few years, a church building was completed at this site in 1889, and the first parsonage was built in 1892. The congregation continued to grow and produced several ministers from its membership. Active in mission work, the church has been a vital part of community life in Baird. (1983) #1610
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #13799
Callahan County Courthouse. The county seat moved from Belle Plain to Baird in 1883, and a courthouse, designed by noted architect F.E. Ruffini, was built at this site. The county hired another noted architect, J. Riely Gordon, in 1900 for a larger courthouse; J.E. Flanders was the supervising architect. In 1928, the growing county hired Voelcker & Dixon Architects & Engineers of Wichita Falls, who designed this Classical Revival courthouse, completed the next year. Suggs and Dunlap contractors constructed the building, which features intricate detailing, including acanthus leaves, rosettes, medallions and cartouches. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2003 #13799
100 W. 4th St., Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00634
Callahan County. Formed from Bexar Territory, created February 1, 1858; recreated August 21, 1876; organized July 3, 1877. Named in Honor of James H. Callahan, 1812-1856 soldier in the Texas Revolution, captain of the Texas Rangers. County Seat, Callahan City, 1877; Belle Plain, 1877-1883; Baird, since two early military roads, the Chisholm Trail, and the first government telegraph line traversed this region. #634
?, Baird, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00361
Belle Plaine Cemetery. Residents of the short-lived community of Belle Plaine were burying their dead at this site as early as 1878. Although the presence of unmarked graves suggests earlier possible usage, the oldest marked grave, that of sixteen-year-old Virgil Hill, dates to that year. Belle Plaine residents informally established a community cemetery here on vacant land. The graveyard was located within a larger tract of land that was owned by the state until 1861 and later by several railroad companies. Its last private owner, the Texas & Pacific Railway Company, purchased the tract that included this graveyard in 1879 when it anticipated routing its railroad through Belle Plaine. However, in 1883 the route was changed to pass through nearby Baird. In response, the railway company deeded the cemetery property to Callahan County the following year. Though the community of Belle Plaine had declined by 1909, burials have continued to take place. Those interred here include area pioneers, their descendants, and veterans. The historic burial ground remains an important cultural resource in this area. (1992) #361
?, Baird, TX, United States