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Category Archives: Texas Towns

FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS: GALVESTON

FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS:  GALVESTON, TEXAS Galveston was named after Bernardo de Gavez y Madrid, an 18th Century Spanish military/political leader.  Galveston’s first settlements were built in 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury, on Galveston Island, to help Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain.  When Aury returned, in 1817, from unsuccessful raids against Spain, he […]

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FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS: Mission Espiritu Santo, Goliad Texas

In 1722, a Roman Catholic mission was established, by Spain, with the mission to convert the Karankawa Indians to Christianity. Mission Nuestra Señora del Espiritu Santo de Zunlga. The Spanish had begun colonizing the area that is now considered South Texas in the late 1600’s after the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico. Missions were built […]

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FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS: ROADS

ROAD: a thoroughfare, route, or way by land between two places that has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by foot or some form of conveyance , including a motor vehicle, cart, bicycle, or horse. The first roads (pathways) originated from man following animal trails. Many believe that humans and animals both chose […]

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FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS: FORT WOLTERS – MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS

Fort Wolters is located four miles out side of Mineral Wells, Texas. The fort was an official Army camp for 21 years, from 1925 to 1946. During World War II it was the largest infantry replacement training center. It also served as a German POW camp. Audie Murphy underwent basic training at the base. Murphy […]

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FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS: HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY ART

Cemeteries are a link to our past – they are full of history and stories of real people. There are approximately 50,000+ cemeteries in Texas. These range from a single unmarked grave marker to very large cemeteries with hundreds of marker. Many are forgotten and difficult to find but each are reminders of early settlements […]

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