Brandt Building--Historical Markers Hansford County No. 2
The Hansford County Historical Commission will feature the Historical Markers located in Hansford County in a series of stories and photos.
No. 2
Brandt Building--Marker No. 489 201 Main Street in Spearman Latitude & Longitude: 36° 12' 3.79239999984", -101° 11' 37.0159500012"
This frame commercial building with decorative sheet metal siding was constructed in 1918. D. E. Dillow built the structure for the mercantile partnership of P. M. Maize and his brother-in-law Fred Brandt (c. 1962). Originally, located in the nearby community of Hansford (6 miles west), then the county seat, it was moved to this site in 1920. Brandt became sole proprietor of the business nine years later and continued the operation until the 1950s. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1980.
In the Main Street Sidewalk Renovation Project, the Historical Commission with the help of Donna McCubbin at Hansford Abstract Office, identified all the owners of the properties listed in the records.
The Brandt Building owners are:
Joe T. and Linda Venneman are the current owners of the building
using it in during the season as a farmer's market
UPDATE: July 21, 2020 Venneman's daughter Holly Gifford will open Hansford Pie Society and Dana Trill will open Prime Coffee in the historic building
Hansford County Courthouse
"Hansford County, on the northern edge of the Panhandle, is bordered on the north by Oklahoma, on the west by Sherman County, on the south by Hutchinson County, and on the east by Ochiltree County. Hansford County, on the High Plains, ranges from 2,950 to 3,300 feet in altitude [and covers 907 square miles].
"In 1876 the Texas legislature marked off Hansford County from land previously assigned to Young and Bexar districts; the new county was administered by authorities in Wheeler County. The county was named for John M. Hansford. In 1889, when the county was politically organized, Hansford outpolled Farwell in a county-seat election.
"The arrival of farmers led to major changes in the economy and structure of the county. In 1920 the North Texas and Santa Fe Railway built a line from Shattuck, Oklahoma, to its new townsite of Spearman in southeastern Hansford County, and more and more farmers arrived to buy promising lands. Spearman soon became the leading town in the county; it absorbed both Farwell and Hansford by the mid-1920s, and in 1929 it became the county seat.
"By the 1980s Hansford County had a diversified economy based on agriculture, oil, and transportation. In 20
Marker No. 2366 Erected 1936 by TxDOT, relocated and restored by Hansford County Historical Commission May 2017
(By Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2016)
Notice bullet hole and missing star
Inscription
Formed from Young and Bexar territories Created, August 21, 1876 Organized, March 11, 1889 Named in honor of John M. Hansford came to Texas in 1837 Member of the Texas Congress Judge of the Seventh Judicial District, 1840-1842 Died in 1844 Hansford, the county seat
Location. 36° 13.71′ N, 101° 9.527′ W
Marker is near Spearman, Texas, in Hansford County on State Highway 15 E
(By Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2016) Note Missing Star Medallion
(By Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2016)
Hansford County Historical Markers--Stationmaster's House Museum No. 12
No. 12
Santa Fe Railroad Stationmaster's House Latitude & Longitude: 36° 11' 52.72224", -101° 11' 53.2012700004"
Marker Number: 4581 Marker Title: Santa Fe Railroad Stationmaster's House Address: 30 S. Townsend City: Spearman County: Hansford UTM Zone: 14 UTM Easting: 302371 UTM Northing: 4008147 Subject Codes: railroads; houses, residential buildings Year Marker Erected: 1978 Designations: Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Marker Size: Medallion & Plate Marker Text: When Spearman was founded on a branch of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1920, this cottage was built for the stationmaster. As local agent for the railroad, he represented a business vital to the economy of this area. He supervised passenger and freight service, operation of the telegraph, and loading of the U.S. mail. In the 1920s, the station here was especially busy, handling supplies and equipment for oil and gas fields in the Panhandle. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1978.
Spearman Hotel--Hansford County Historical Markers No. 13
No. 13
Latitude & Longitude: 36°12'1.87462", -101°11'38.96422"
Marker Number: 5005
Marker Title: Spearman Hotel
Index Entry: Spearman Hotel
Address: 502 S. Davis St.
City: Spearman
County: Hansford
UTM Zone: 14
UTM Easting: 302733
UTM Northing: 4008421
Subject Codes: inns, hotels, motels
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Designations: Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Marker Size: Medallion & Plate
Marker Text: Built 1909, by Bert O. Cator, J. H. Wright and S. B. Hale, Hansford County pioneers. Cator had built first dugout in the Panhandle, 1873; Hale was first druggist in Old Hansford; Wright promoted town of Hansford, now abandoned. Victorian architecture. This was first hotel erected in Hansford. In 1920 building was moved 6 miles east to Spearman, after railroad came into county at this point. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Bulls bought the Hotel from Don Cates in 1977 and renovated the building and gave it its Texas Historical Marker.
The Hotel was built in the Old Town of Hansford.Construction was started in 1908 on Lots 27
Blk 53, Old Town of Hansford.It was
built by a company known as the Hansford Hotel Company.Trustees were Bert O. Cator, J.H. Wright,
and S.B. Hale.
The building was completed in the spring of 1909.The first manager was C.R. Thomas, moving to
Hansford with his family from Indiana in May 1909.
At this time there was a railroad boom in the county known
as the EW&O.Many people were
moving into the area.The hotel filled
a real need for the little town of Hansford.
There were many different managers.C.R. Thomas, Mrs. Bessie White, Davie Foley,
Paddy Doyle, W.H. Marney, and was finally sold to Ora F. Dacus. He was the
owner at the time the Hotel was moved to Spearman in 1920, and located on lots
7 and 8 Blk 11 Original Town of Spearman.
Mr. Dacus managed the Hotel until it was sold to H.M. Wiley
in 1924.Mr. Wiley sold it to J.C. Lee,
February 22, 1930, Lee to R.H. Cooke, February 2, 1933; et al sold it to Sid
Beck.
Bullish On Spearman
From the Amarillo Globe News by Bruce Romia 1977.
It is impossible to pinpoint the exact time that the City of
Spearman shook off some of is lethargy, glanced around, and decided to make
itself one of the fastest growing and most progressive towns in the Texas
Panhandle area.
It is equally difficult to give any one person or group of
persons credit for the transformation since everybody in Spearman seems to have
had a part in making things click.Perhaps one of the guiding forces behind the rejuvenation is the Bulls
family, formerly of Amarillo, who have given their time and talents to create
things of beauty and economic value for the city and its people.
Their latest venture—conversion of the old Spearman Hotel
into a first class, multi storied shopping center—came to life this past summer
with the opening of Bulls’ Inn in downtown Spearman.
The product of the imagination and artistry of Charlene
Bulls, plus a lot of help from her husband Roy, and the couple’s five children,
was formerly dedicated last August.The
new enterprise occupies an old building that has been designated an historical
landmark by the State of Texas.It is
one of two buildings moved into Spearman from Old Hansford.The other building has also been renovated
and restored by the Bulls and is doing a business as Saks 3rdAvenue.
A lot of labor, planning, and materials have gone into
converting the old hotel into a shopping center.Today the new structure houses a variety of shops and eating
facilities including The "N” Place, The General Store, Queen’s Cupboard, ETC.
Shop, Chambers Accessories, and offices and lounge area.
Parts of the dilapidated building were utilized in
remodeling.Old dresser from the rooms
were used as receptacles for sinks and mirrors in the rest rooms, and brick
from the old flue were used to build entry ways.Beams and the front porch railing were made from the many walls
that were torn down.
the old hotel fell into disrepair and the marker was removed
Later is was burned in a controlled fire by the Spearman Volunteer Fire Department
Cator Buffalo Camp--Historical Markers Hansford County No. 10
No. 10 Marker No. 4867 Erected in 1967
Site of Cator Buffalo Camp Latitude & Longitude: 36° 8' 18.09200000004", -101° 26' 27.9201500016"
Established by James H. and Bob Cator in the spring of 1872 while hunting buffalo in the fall of 1875.
The camp became a trading post known as Zulu. 1936
In 1875, a large, two-room pole building furnished with staple groceries and ammunition became the first trading post in Texas above the Canadian River. The stockade, located in Indian-infested country, was fittingly named for the fierce Zulu tribe of Africa. It began as a buffalo camp which crack hunters Jim and Bob Cator (from England) had made the first permanent Panhandle residence at Christmas, 1873. In 1876 Zulu became a major depot on the Ft. Dodge-Ft. Bascom military road, and it eventually received a post office contract. It was finally abandoned, 1912. (1968)
Oslo Community--Hansford Historical Marker No. 9
Photo by Donna Barnes
No. 9
Latitude & Longitude: 36° 25' 51.59093999988", -101° 31' 40.5880200012"
Marker Number: 3857 Marker Title: Olso Community City: Gruver County: Hansford UTM Zone: 14 UTM Easting: 273387 UTM Northing: 4034724 Subject Codes: cities and towns; Norweigan settlement; land surveys, land companies, promotional towns Year Marker Erected: 1981 Marker Location: from Gruver take S.H. 136 about 6 miles north; head west on F.M. 2535 about 6 miles; turn north on F.M. 1262, continue for 5 miles, then turn west on F.M. 2349 to Oslo Community Marker Size: 27" x 42"
Photo via Rob Shields
Marker Text: In 1908 Anders L. Mordt, a native of Norway, secured form R. M. Thomson and R. T. Anderson the sales rights to 100 sections of Hansford County land he named Oslo. The first settlers were recruited from existing Norwegian colonies in the midwestern United States. To promote the development, Mordt advertised his inexpensive Texas land in major Norwegian language publications across the nation. He also published a weekly newspaper, The "Oslo Posten", and organized an annual Norwegian Independence Day celebration, "Syttende Mai" (May 17), which attracted crowds from surrounding towns in Oklahoma and Texas. Community worship services were first conducted at the Oslo schoolhouse in 1909 by the Rev. Christian Heltne. Officially organized the following year, the Olso Lutheran Church became the center of the farming settlement. Mordt's land sales ended in 1913 as a result of a severe drought. When the Denver and Gulf Railroad decided to bypass the area, the townsite of Oslo (2.5 miles south) declined. Although many settlers moved away, more than thirty families remained. Today the Olso Lutheran Church serves as a remainder of the area's Norwegian Heritage. (1981)
Photo via Rob Shields
Gruver Cemetery--Hansford County Historical Marker No. 8
No. 8
Marker Number: 17096 Marker Title: Gruver Cemetery City: Gruver County: Hansford UTM Zone: UTM Easting: UTM Northing: Year Marker Erected: 2012 Marker Location: Gruver, FM 278, 2 miles east of intersection SH 15 & SH 136 Marker Size: 18" x 28" with post
Marker Text: GRUVER CEMETERY IN 1907, JOSEPH HEZKIAH GRUVER (1863-1962), HIS WIFE, ADDIE REED GRUVER, AND THEIR SON, LAWRENCE, MOVED FROM MISSOURI AND SETTLED IN THIS AREA. A POST OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1927 AND SOON BUSINESSES FOLLOWED. IN 1929, AT THE REQUEST OF CLARENCE WINDER, MR. J.B. DULIN DONATED TEN ACRES OF LAND TO BE KNOWN AS GRUVER MEMORIAL PARK, NOW GRUVER CEMETERY. ADDITIONAL ACREAGE WAS ADDED BY CECIL AND MARGARET RALSTON IN 1970. ON MARCH 9, 1929, WILLIE A. WINDER, CLARENCE’S MOTHER, BECAME THE FIRST PERSON BURIED IN THE CEMETERY. THE LANDSCAPE OF THE CEMETERY IS TRADITIONAL WITH JUNIPER TREES SURROUNDING GRANITE AND MARBLE HEADSTONES THAT DOCUMENT THE HISTORY OF THE GRUVER AREA.
Lindberghs Land at Spearman--Hansford County Historical Markers No. 7
Marker located just outside of Spearman on Hwy 207
No. 7
Lindberghs Land at Spearman--Marker No. 3086
Latitude & Longitude: 36° 10' 42.31251999984", -101° 12' 49.2688000008"
At ten minutes before 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 24, 1934, a small monocoupe airplane landed in a pasture about 1/4 mile west of this site.
The pilot taxied his craft to a stop near a windmill, deplaned, and asked the curious resident, "Lady, can I park my plane in your back yard?"
The day proved a momentous one for Spearman residents.
The pilot was Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974), traveling from California to New York with his wife, Anne. With about one hundred miles worth of fuel left in his plane, Lindbergh chose to stop in this small community to refuel in order to avoid the inevitable crowds his arrival would cause in a larger town.
A passing motorist was sent into town to purchase fuel for the airplane while the Lindberghs rested, enjoyed refreshments, and gave their hostess a tour of the airplane.
Original photo of Lindbergh's landing near Spearman
As news of the Lindberghs' landing spread, school children were excused from classes to see the famous aviator and watch the plane depart two hours later.
Although brief in duration, the visit by Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh to this small rural community was a significant local event. (1989)
Latitude & Longitude: 36° 14' 37.67764999992", -101° 22' 22.1139099984"
Marker Text: Established 1886 about 1/2 mile northeast of this site. Intended to be county seat of Hansford County, created 1876, organized in 1889. Lost election to town of Hansford, which served till 1928 but is also now non-existent. Named for early surveyor John V. Farwell and members of his family, Chicago department store executives who operated XIT Ranch in this and 9 other counties - their fee in payment for building of the Texas State Capitol, 1882-86. Stones here are from the casing of a 200 foot well dug by hand to supply water to the town. (1964)
Established 1886 about 1/2 mile northeast of this site.
Intended to be county seat of Hansford County, created 1876, organized in 1889. Lost election to town of Hansford, which served till 1928 but is also now non-existent.
Named for early surveyor John V. Farwell and members of his family, Chicago department store executives who operated XIT Ranch in this and 9 other counties - their fee in payment for building of the Texas State Capitol, 1882-86.
Stones here are from the casing of a 200 foot well dug by hand to supply water to the town. (1964)
From the Hansford County History Book 1876-1979 In 1880, the first town of the county was established and was named Farwell. The town was begun by a family who moved to the area from Illinois named Canott.
The town was quite thriving for that day and time.
Located in the center of the county, Farwell stood some three miles to the east of the present town of Gruver. The town’s buildings included a livery stable, store, hotel, saloon and butcher shot.
The post office for Farwell was established in September of 1887 with Robert Rosenthal, postmaster followed by Lizzie Pierson, Aaron Canott and Nellie Croxton. The post office was discontinued in August of 1894 and move to Hansford.
The first newspaper was the Farwell Graphic
Hansford County Bridge Funded by Grant for Disaster Relief To read past story (above title) on this bridge click (more)
Hansford County Sheriff Robert E. (Bob) Martin Marker No. 2367
Latitude & Longitude: 36° 12' 9.52120000008", -101° 11' 48.4262900016"
Killed while assisting United States Marshall making arrest in boundary line dispute in the northwestern part of county. Like many frontier sheriffs, he was a cowboy and farmer chosen for office out of regard for his standing as a good citizen. Came to Hansford, 1906, bought a section of land. Eager to see area develop, he ran a livery stable. This provided for land prospectors from the north and east the only means of travel to seek out and buy property. He married Sophia Snowden; had 10 children. He was sheriff from 1908 until his untimely death. (1965)
Hansford County
Latitude & Longitude: 36° 13' 45.71771999988", -101° 9' 32.02056" Formed form Young and Bexas territories. Created, August 21, 1876. Organized, March 11, 1889. Named in honor of John M. Hansford; came to Texas in 1837. Member of the Texas Congress, Judge of the Seventh Judical District, 1840-1842. Died in 1844. Hansford, the county seat. (1965)
The annual Heritage Days Celebration takes place each year on the beloved lawn of the
Hansford County Courthouse
to view "He Stole My Courthouse" by David J. Murrah, Ph.D. please click (more)
Hansford Cemetery-Historical Markers Hansford County No. 4
A group of interested volunteers gathered in the chilly March 17th wind, to install the Quanah Parker Arrow at the Triangle Park in Spearman.
This arrow is a 20 foot tall granite historical maker that is donated to communities that have a connection to Quanah Parker and included on the Quanah Parker Trail.
There will be an official dedication of the marker later in the spring.
Quanah Parker (Comanche kwana "smell, odor") (ca. 1845 or 1852 – February 23, 1911) was Comanche/English-American from the Comanche band Quahadi ("Antelope-eaters"), strictly related also to the Nokoni band ("Wanderers" or "Travellers"), his mother's people, and emerged as a dominant figure, particularly after the Comanches' final defeat.
He was one of the last Comanche chiefs.
The US appointed Quanah principal chief of the entire nation once the people had gathered on the reservation and later introduced general elections. Quanah was a Comanche chief, a leader in the Native American Church, and the last leader of the powerful Quahadi band before they surrendered their battle of the Great Plains and went to a reservation in Indian Territory.
He was the son of Comanche chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, an English-American, who had been kidnapped at the age of nine and assimilated into the tribe. Quanah Parker also led his people on the reservation, where he became a wealthy rancher and influential in Comanche and European American society.
Quanah Parker (Comanche kwana "smell, odor") (ca. 1845 or 1852 – February 23, 1911) was Comanche/English-American from the Comanche band Quahadi ("Antelope-eaters"), strictly related also to the Nokoni band ("Wanderers" or "Travellers"), his mother's people, and emerged as a dominant figure, particularly after the Comanches' final defeat. He was one of the last Comanche chiefs. The US appointed Quanah principal chief of the entire nation once the people had gathered on the reservation and later introduced general elections. Quanah was a Comanche chief, a leader in the Native American Church, and the last leader of the powerful Quahadi band before they surrendered their battle of the Great Plains and went to a reservation in Indian Territory. He was the son of Comanche chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, an English-American, who had been kidnapped at the age of nine and assimilated into the tribe. Quanah Parker also led his people on the reservation, where he became a wealthy rancher and influential in Comanche and European American society.
Dodge City-Tascosa Trail--Historical Markers Hansford County No. 3
Dodge City - Tascosa Trail--Marker No. 1238
No. 3
Hansford County 1876-1979 History Book---This road was surveyed during the Civil War to haul military supplies to Fort Bascom, New Mexico Territory to Dodge City and points east.
Then came the buffalo hunters using the trail to haul hides and buy supplies.
Tascosa became a town in the early 1880's. Oxen teams and mule teams hauled freight for the Cowboy Capital of the Panhandle and ranches that ran into hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Herds from all over the Panhandle trailed into Dodge City over this route for a number of years. Stage coaches ran weekly carrying mail and passengers over the 242 mile stretch.
Brick for the court house at nearby Hansford was hauled from Dodge. Later freight came over this trail from Liberal.
Ranchers continued to use portions of this trail until 1920 when the railroad was built across the county and Spearman was built.
Thus another old and historic trail was fenced and plowed under.
Marker Number: 1238 Marker Title: Dodge City - Tascosa Trail City: Spearman/Gruver County: Hansford UTM Zone: 14 UTM Easting: 292118 UTM Northing: 4008214 Year Marker Erected: 1964 Marker Location: from Spearman take SH 15/207 about 6.5 miles west Marker Size: large red granite, irregular shape, adopted as state marker in 1964
Most longtime Spearman residents will remember the Swimming
Pool Park being located on what is now the sand volleyball court between the
Fire Department and the O’Loughlin Center.
Those were the days…Coach Allen Simpson managed the swimming
pool with a firm hand….no cannon balls anywhere except off the diving board,
melting your Reese’s Cup in the summer sun, the smell of Coppertone….no such
thing as a SPF number…just plain Coppertone.
March 20, 1973, a letter was sent to the citizens of Spearman
asking for a bond election to build a new pool.The vote carried on April 7 of that year and the new pool was built. (more)
Gruver City Park
The City of Gruver has one park that is located in the heart of the community. Here lies the swimming pool and two sand volley ball courts with playground equipment and two covered public gathering areas.
Each year, the park is used for many events which include Christmas and decorating a tree in the memory of a lost loved one.
The Catholic Church uses the park for its annual Jamica Fundraiser The annual Halloween Carnival is there each year also.
"We have currently applied for a grant to put in a walking park around the outside, and if we do not receive the grant we hope to be able to put in walk anyway," said city secretary Lynn Vela.
Brick Streets--Hansford County Historical Markers No. 1
Longtime historical commissioner, J.D. Wilbanks, shows an original brick during the marker dedication September 29, 2009
Marker No.15930
The Hansford County Historical Commission will feature the Historical Markers located in Hansford County in a series of stories and photos.
No.1 Brick Streets in Spearman
This marker is the most recent project of the HCHC
The bricks of Main Street have been enjoyed for many years
and lend a nostalgic feel to our quaint little community
Legend says that the bricks were shipped in via rail road and unloaded at the west end of Main. John R. Collard shared that as a young boy, they were told there were quarters hidden within the piles of brick that could be kept if found while they were moving the bricks to where they were to be laid.
Eska Park
Eska Park is located at the 900 Block of Archer/Evans
It was created and dedicated in 1954 by the Glover Family.
Site of Hansford County Courthouse
Near Spearman in Hansford County, Texas
Site of Hansford County Courthouse
Marker No. 14068
36° 11.834′ N, 101° 17.803′ W
(photo by Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2016)
Site of Hansford County Courthouse
Erected by State Historical Survey Committee
Inscription. This court house was located one fourth mile northwest of here and built in 1891. It was made of red brick brought overland in wagons from Dodge City, Kansas. It was the first court house in the county .Hansford County. Surveyed in 1876 and organized in 1889, was named for John M. Hansford a Texas Congressman and Judge.
Marker is near Spearman, Texas, in Hansford County. Marker is on State Highway 15/207 0.1 miles west of Farm to Market Road 19, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in this post office area: Spearman TX 79081, United States of America.
(photo by Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2016)
Site of Hansford County Courthouse Marker
(photo By Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2016)
Site of Hansford County Courthouse Marker
This page originally submitted on March 30, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.
