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Texas Historical Marker #09701
Brandt Badger House. Brandt Badger (1839-1920), a veteran of the Confederate Army, moved to Burnet from Gonzales in 1885, and in 1887, helped found Marble Falls. He built this house in 1888 of granite from nearby "Granite Mountain". The stones were cut from quarry rubble remaining after the "shaping" of the blocks for the State Capitol building. The structure has 8 rooms and 6 fireplaces. Badger lived in the house until his death, and it was owned by the family until 1943. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1974 #9701
404 S. Avenue M, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09709
Crownover Chapel. Backbone Valley's first public building, started 1859 on 7-acre tract donated that year by heirs of settler Jefferson Barton. Finished 1870, chapel was named for the Rev. Arter Crownover (1810-76), whose preaching of Methodist faith opened its use. Building soon also housed a school. The nearby cemetery was in use by 1872. A school room was added but later removed. Chapel now bears original appearance, and is used as church and community center. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1972 #9709
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09713
Fuchs Cemetery. Land here granted by the Republic of Texas to Ferdinand Lueders, Battle of San Jacinto veteran, was transferred in 1844 to the Rev. Adolph Fuchs (1805-1885) of Germany. Fuchs, a noted musician and composer, immigrated to Texas with his wife and 7 children on January 10, 1845, and settled here in 1853. the first recorded burial was that of Ino Fuchs Varnhagen in 1869. The extended Fuchs family played prominent roles in the early development of many area communities. The land remained in the family until 1963. Adolph and Louise Fuchs and many of their descendants are buried here. #9713
839 Oak Lane, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09733
Site of Mormon Settlement. A settlement made in 1851 by 20 Mormon families under the leadership of Lyman Wight (1796-1858). Here they built homes, lumber mills, and shops for the manufacture of furniture. Abandoned in 1853. #9733
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09729
Marble Falls Depot. The town of Marble Falls was laid out in 1887. Texas Mining & Improvement Co. deeded land for a depot to Austin & Northwestern Railroad. This building was erected in 1893 and then Southern Pacific Railroad bought the line and property. Area residents gathered at the depot to visit and watch for the train. Excursions were offered and passenger service provided. Hogs, horses, cattle, cedar posts, cotton, pecans, and hides were shipped to market from here. In 1937 passenger service was discontinued and the depot was closed in 1968. It was moved to this site in 1976. #9729
Ave H, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09752
Henry Thomas Lodge, A.F. & A.M.. In settlement started by Noah Smithwick, when he built water mill here in 1855. In 1861 he moved to California, but the mill continued in operation. A. M. Cox erected this building in 1874. Minister Henry Thomas moved the Lodge (chartered June 15, 1865) from Turkey Bend, Texas to this place in 1876. A store occupied the lower floor. Lodge obtained upper story at death of Mr. Cox, by his will. F. P. Lewis gave lower story in 1952. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967 #9752
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09754
The Tobey Community Cemetery. The Nat Tobey family moved from Indiana to northeast Burnet County in the 1850s. Sons Avery and Samuel bought land here in Backbone Valley in 1868. At the death of N. W. Tobey, aged 12, this cemetery was opened in 1872. A church and school stood nearby, serving people of the ranches and farms of the valley. Within a century, over 200 graves were placed in this burial ground. In 1964 Tobey Cemetery Association was formed to care for the one remaining community landmark, since church and school were phased out in the 20th century. #9754
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09751
Struve House. Amand Von Struve (1838-1902) came to Texas in 1848 with his father, a former Imperial Russian officer. Buying land here, 1858 and later, he amassed over 8,000 acres, with herds of horses, cattle, and sheep. To wooden dwelling, he added (1869) this stone spring house-kitchen, to protect food and water from Indians and animals. He married (1871) Christiana Fissler Ebeling. Had 8 children. Their main dwelling was razed in 1940s. Stone annex was restored for preservation, 1950s. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1973 #9751
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11774
Smithwick Cemetery. The history of this community cemetery dates to 1854 when 18-year-old Rebecca Chambers died and was buried here. Rebecca, who reportedly was ill while traveling past here with the family of her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and E. G. Evans, asked to be buried on this flower-covered hillside. While the land was vacant public domain several other burials took place. There are about 65 early graves marked only by rocks. The cemetery site became part of the 160-acre survey of A. J. Stanford and was patented in 1857. The burial grounds were used by early settlers of Hickory Creek, Elm Grove, and Smithwick's Mill. The Smithwick Cemetery Association was formed in 1930. Additional land was added to the site over the years, a caretaker was hired, and improvements were made to the site, including a tabernacle and fencing. The association continues to maintain the site. Among the 600 burials here are 5 unknown graves reinterred from the South San Gabriel River area in 1974 by the U. S. Corps of Engineers, and veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. (1997) Incise on back: Researched by: Doris M. Henry #11774
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09730
Marble Falls Factory Site. The potential of water power on the Colorado River led town developer Gen. Adam R. Johnson and Farmers Alliance members to build a cotton mill on this site in the 1890s. The two-story stone factory, 300 ft. long and 100 ft. wide, was erected for the Marble Falls Cotton and Woolen Co., formed in 1892. New machinery run by hydroelectric power was installed by the Marble Falls Textile Mills Co. In the 1920s, woolen goods, surgical gauze, and air conditioners were made here before the factory was gutted by fire in 1964 and razed in 1971. #9730
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09745
The Roper Hotel. George C. and Elizabeth Roper constructed this double-galleried hotel building about 1888. In the growing town of Marble falls, The Roper Hotel became a popular stop for visiting businessmen and dignitaries. It was purchased by W. F. Smith in 1926 and later operated as The Central Hotel and The Francis House. His son R. O. Smith, who became manager in the 1930s, later served as mayor of Marble falls. The hotel remained in the Smith family until 1963. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981 #9745
707 Third St., Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09706
Christian-Matern House. Juliet Johnson, daughter of the founder of Marble Falls, married George Christian in 1887. He was one of ten owners of the Texas Mining & Improvement Company that developed the town. The first town lots were sold in 1887, and in 1892 this house was built for the Christians. Ivo B. and Mina Matern bought the house in 1908 and owned it for 51 years. Ivo Matern, a merchant and rancher, also served as mayor of Marble Falls in 1937. A fine late Victorian-era house, it exhibits Queen Anne style influences including decorative woodwork and protruding bay windows. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1996 #9706
603 Seventh St., Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11772
Dead Man's Hole. Entomologist Ferdinand Lueders made the earliest recorded discovery of this cave in 1821. Notorious in the Civil War era, the hole is believed to have been the dumping ground for up to 17 bodies, including those of pro-Union Judge John R. Scott and settler Adolph Hoppe, several reconstruction-era county government officials, and Ben McKeever, who had a conflict with local freedmen. An oak tree which once stood over the cave was said to have rope marks caused by hangings. Powerful gases prevented thorough exploration of the site until 1951. The hole was platted in 1968 by the Texas Speleological Society and was found to be 155 feet deep and 50 feet long. (1998) #11772
CR 401N, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09717
Granite Mountain. This 866-foot dome of solid pink granite, covering 180 acres, contains the largest quarry of its kind in the United States. This mountain, like all granite formations, was once melted rock similar to lava. As the molten rock cooled thousands of feet below the earth's surface, it hardened into large crystals of quartz, feldspar and several dark-colored minerals. Wherever strength, durability and beauty of finish are required, granite is a favored building stone. The mountain was part of a grant made to Texas colonist William Slaughter. The site became famous commercially when a dispute arose in the 1880s over the type of stone to be used in the Capitol in Austin. The issue was settled in 1885 when Governor John Ireland resisted demands to use non-native limestone. Following this decision, a special track was built to haul the granite to the rail line in Burnet. The stone was generously donated to the state by quarry owners G. W. Lacy, N. L. Norton, and W. H. Westfall. Today granite from the quarry here is shipped to all parts of Texas, the U.S. and foreign countries for use in monuments, shafts, jetties, and buildings. It has been used in the Galveston sea wall and in new state office buildings near the Capitol in Austin. #9717
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States
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Texas Historical Marker #09732
Michel's Drug Store. Ernst Gustav Michel (1865-1930), a native of Germany, and his wife, Lillie Agnes, opened a drugstore at this site in 1891. After fire destroyed the first store in 1905, Michel built a 3-story edifice here. The first floor housed the drugstore and soda fountain. The second floor was an opera house with seating for 300 people. The top floor had the family's living quarters. That structure burned in a fire that destroyed an entire city block in 1927. All four Michel children who lived to adulthood studied pharmacy. The Michel family has operated a drugstore at this location since 1891. #9732
216 Main, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09710
Otto Ebeling House. Banker Otto Ebeling (1863-1935) built this Victorian residence for his wife, Emille (Giesecke), and their four children shortly after moving to Marble Falls in 1891. Ebeling sold the property in 1913 when he moved to Austin. Over the years the structure has served as a nursing home, a photographic studio, and a residence. The Otto Ebeling house reflects Eastlake styling and features distinctive bay windows with decorative stained glass borders. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1983 #9710
601 Avenue F, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09718
Hoag-Faubion-Fuchs House. William H. Hoag, an electrical engineer from New York City, and his wife Beatrice built this house in 1910. The Hoags sold the house to local farmer and rancher Sam Faubion in 1914. Faubion rented the home to rancher, farmer, piano tuner, and Burnet County Commissioner Albano J. Fuchs and his wife Georgia. Faubion's son, Jonathan, inherited the house in 1940 and it remained in the Faubion family until 1946. A local landmark, the house is an early example of the arts & crafts bungalow style. It features an uncommon porch configuration and six bays with columns on a solid balustrade. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1995 #9718
902 Avenue F, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09731
Marble Falls School Building. Adam R. Johnson donated land at this site for construction of the present two-story granite building. Completed in 1891, it originally housed the Marble Falls Alliance University. Near Backbone Creek, east of this main building, a wooden boarding house was built for the students. The property was sold later in 1891 at a sheriff's sale, but continued to be leased for use as a tuition school. In 1908 the local voters chose to buy the structure, and it has been used for classes by the Marble Falls School District since that date. #9731
2005 Broadway, Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09740
1910 Post Office Building. Established in 1884, the original Marble Falls Post Office was built south of the Colorado River. William P. Cochran, appointed postmaster in 1901, built this structure in 1910 and leased it to the U. S. Government for use as a post office. It continued to serve as a postal facility until about 1950. Constructed of poured concrete, the building features a central double door with three-pane transom, a simply detailed cornice, and a stone parapet. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1989 #9740
115 Main St., Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09743
Governor O. M. Roberts' House. President of the 1861 Secession Convention and a Confederate officer, Oran M. Robert (1815-1898) served as governor of Texas from 1879 to 1883. After leaving office, he became a law professor at the University of Texas. He built this cottage at Third and Main Street and settled there after his retirement in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Faubian bought the house in 1901 and moved it to this site. They altered the front porch and roofline, adding Victorian touches. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978 #9743
819 Seventh St., Marble Falls, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #09714
Conrad Fuchs House. Conrad L. Fuchs, born in Germany in 1834, came to Texas in 1845 with his parents, Pastor and Mrs. Adolf Fuchs, who settled in Austin County. The Fuchs family moved into this area of Burnet County in 1853. In 1861, Conrad Fuchs married Anna E. Perlitz at Black Jack Springs, in Fayette County, and soon returned to move into a log cabin on this property, which was granted to him by the State of Texas on May 15, 1862. When Fuchs decided to join the Confederate Army, he took his wife back to Fayette County, and enlisted in an artillery unit. After the Civil War, he returned here and built a steam grist and saw mill on nearby Tiger Creek. On Sept. 2, 1872, the "Tiger Mill" Post Office was opened, and Conrad Fuchs named postmaster. Located on the Burnet-Willow City Road, Tiger Mill became the community center for the early settlers in this area. In the late 1870s or early 1880s, Conrad Fuchs built this house to accommodate the post office and his growing family of 6 children. It was constructed of field stone in the pioneer German style, with a large central hall, shingled roof, and plastered interior. Mrs. Fuchs held school for area children in the home. After Conrad Fuchs' death, Feb. 16, 1898, Mrs. Fuchs sold the property. The house was restored in 1972-73. #9714
?, Marble Falls, TX, United States