Texas Historical Marker #12888
Bedford Reunion. Bedford Reunion Settlers from Bedford County, Tennessee, came to this area in the 1870s. Weldon Wiles Bobo opened a store and grist mill, and several families established New Hope Church in 1874, also using the building as a school. The post office opened in 1877, and, in 1882, residents established Bedford College, a private college that also served as a public community school. A prestigious institution, with graduates becoming leaders in many fields, the college held its first term at New Hope Church. Many church founders were also college trustees, including Bobo, Milton Moore, Benjamin J. Valentine and Richard T. Valentine. The school burned in 1894 and never reopened. In 1912, though, approximately 500 people met on the grounds of New Hope Church, which by then was known also as Bedford Church of Christ. There they held the first Bedford reunion, filling the day with sermons, music, food and reminiscing. M.H. Moore and Lee M. Hammond organized the first gathering, and the reunion became an annual event, with crowds in the thousands. Participants built a tabernacle in 1915 and used it until 1958, when a new church building was erected. With dwindling attendance, though, the last reunion was in 1969. During the 58 years of Bedford reunions, which became more about community history than about Bedford College, educators, ministers and public officials, including two congressmen, delivered speeches to the crowds. Area newspapers covered reunion highlights, and through these stories and the memories of those who attended the later reunions, Bedford's early history is remembered. (2002) #12888
2401 Bedford Rd, Bedford, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12333
Site of Oak Grove Methodist Church. Named for its wooded site at the time of its founding in early 1886, Oak Grove Methodist Church was organized with 30 members and was one of five churches on the Keller Circuit. A building acquired from another church was moved onto the property in 1887. Members built a brush arbor for summer meetings and revivals, which were attended by community members of all faiths. Some Oak Grove members formed Colleyville Methodist Church in 1924. Most Colleyville members continued to attend Oak Grove services for many years. In 1925 the early house of worship was replaced. Oak Grove had 99 members in 1935. As population centers changed, Oak Grove's membership declined. By 1949 the church had only twelve members, and it was dissolved early that year. Its last building was moved to Colleyville and used by that congregation from 1950 to 1961. (2000) #12333
1225 Oak Grove Lane, Bedford, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05017
Spring Garden School. The concern of area settlers to provide a school for their children resulted in the opening of the Spring Garden School in the fall of 1865. Samuel Witten, Levin Moody, Milton Moore, and Caleb Smith joined forces to build a schoolhouse on land (1/2 mi. N) donated by Witten. Named Spring Garden after Witten's home in Missouri, the School was noted for its excellent teachers. The growth of Bedford and an 1872 fire that destroyed the schoolhouse contributed to the closing of Spring Garden School about 1878. Its history is a reminder of the importance of Texas' pioneer schools. #5017
2400 Cummings Rd., Bedford, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05016
Spring Garden Community. The first permanet settler to this area was Samuel Cecil Holiday Witten of Spring Garden, Missouri, who came here in 1854. In 1865, with Milton Moore, he built a schoolhouse here which was named for his Missouri home. The building also served as a Chapel and Meeting Hall. Once the site of churches, a Grange, and a Justice of the Peace Court, Spring Garden declined in the 1870s because fire and the nearby development of Bedford. Only the pioneer burial ground at this site marks the location of the early settlement. #5016
Cheek Sparger Rd. in Spring Garden Cemetery, Bedford, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04728
Site of Bedford School. The first Bedford area school met in a log building during the early 1860s. After the Civil War classes were held in a frame structure at Spring Garden, north of this site. After it burned in the early 1880s, Milton Moore (1828-1914) deeded land here for construction of Bedford College, an elementary and high school academy. In 1893 it was also destroyed by fire and local citizens raised funds for a new elementary school nearby. It was replaced in 1908 by a 2-story brick schoolhouse. The school consolidated with the Hurst-Euless district in 1958 and the building was used until 1969. (1980) #4728
1801 School Rd., Bedford, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00350
Bedford Church of Christ. Founded about 1874 by members of Spring Garden Church of Christ, this congregation was originally called New Hope Church of Christ. The first meetinghouse was built here on Milton Moore's farm near a small cemetery about 1874. The church has worshiped continually at this site since its beginning. Moore deeded this five acres to the congregation in 1877. During its early years the church also served as the local school. By 1900 the name Bedford Church of Christ began to be used. In 1958 the congregation gave the original buildings to a neighboring church and built a new brick auditorium. (1983) #350
2401 Bedford Rd., Bedford, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00349
Bedford Cemetery. Pioneers probably began using this graveyard during the 1860s. Earliest marked grave is that of Elizabeth White Bobo (1866-1871), whose parents came here in 1870 from Bedford County, Tenn. In 1877 Milton Moore deeded a five-acre tract, including this cemetery, to New Hope Church of Christ, now Bedford Church of Christ. The Bedford Church Old Settlers Reunion met here annually for over 50 years. W. L. Hurst (1833-1922), for whom nearby Hurst is named, is interred here. In 1975 the Bedford Cemetery Association acquired the site. Many Bedford pioneers are buried here in unmarked graves. (1979) #349
2400 Bedford Rd., Bedford, TX, United States