​Menard County Historical Markers

NUMBER OF MARKERS IN COUNTY - 21

Have - 13     Need - 8

 Menard County is named for Michel Branamour Menard the founder of Galveston.  The county seat is Menard. This is another one of the counties on the Edward Plateau. We only spend part of a day in Menard County and all things being equal that should be enough time to complete the county. Unfortunately that did not occur in this case. The thing that stands out when I think back, is that it was hot and sticky and on these types of days I find we have less patience for missing markers and incorrect directions. 
     Okay, it's time to talk about Texas Historical Commission Atlas and duplicate entries. When the atlas was developed, entries were put in by college volunteers. It was strictly data entry, so sometimes depending on how the marker title was entered a duplicate entry was created for the same marker. For example Sheriff John L. Jones versus Jones, Sheriff John L. only one marker but two entries. This phenomenon occurs several times in the atlas for Menard County. 
  
     

We found these dudes in Menard County it seemed an odd place for reindeer to be, I stand corrected these are elks. 😮

The Ditch and Irrigation Ditch may actually be two separate markers I have seen mention of these two in the 1975 Texas Historical Commission Marker book, however we could find the Irrigation Ditch marker. The Menard County marker was not where the atlas had it placed I believe it is in a roadside park north of town. We missed that one. The Puerto de Baluartes marker was missing. The Sheriff John L. Jones monument is on private property. We did not locate the second Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba. The Sentry Building was taken down and the medallion returned to the Texas Historical Commission according to the staff at Fort McKavett.  I have written to Menard County Historical Commission and am waiting for their response, regarding some of the queries I have. ​

16th August, 2022  Special thanks to Terrell Kelley and Jan Wilkinson from Menard County Historical Commission for answering my questions and helping with this project. Jan took the time to explain that although the initial irrigation ditch (1966)  marker was delivered but the "in charge" person at the time refused to install it so a second marker was later installed in 1972 and this is the one that is currently in place. 

Arroyo de Juan Lorenzo
Bank of Menard, 1903
Fort McKavett, C. S. A. 
Frisco Depot 
Irrigation Ditch
Menard County 
​Menard County
Menard County Courthouse
​Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba 
Paso de la Santa Cruz
Pegleg Crossing on the San Saba 
Pioneer Rest Cemetery 
Puerto de Baluates (Haven of the Strong Points) 
Real Presidio de San Saba 
Sacred Heart Catholic Church 
Sentry Building
Sheriff John L. Jones
Site of Fort McKavett 
Site of Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba 
The Ditch
Wadell Cemetery