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Salado, Texas is located in Bell County on I-35 between Austin and Waco on the banks of Salado Creek where Indians camped many years ago. The first Anglo to arrive was Archibald Willingham and later permanent settlers came to the area in the early 1850's. The town was the first designated Texas Natural Landmark in 1966. Sterling C. Robertson, a colonist bought land and built a mansion for his new bride. The slave quarters was the house that he bought from Mr. Willingham. His son Colonel E.S.C. Robertson set in motion the laying out of for the town of Salado. With the founding of Salado College October 8, 1859, many settlers were attracted to the village causing it to prosper as an educational, industrial, and agricultural center with eight flour and grist mills spreading along Salado Creek. |
| It was late in the 1860’s the town was an important stop for the stage lines and herds of cattle were herded through the town up the Chisholm Trail. The town flourished until the railroads passed them by causing the college to close in the late 1880’s. The population |
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dwindled until in the 1940’s, Ruth and Dion Van Bibber bought and restored the old Shady Villa Hotel. They opened a restaurant and named it the Stagecoach Inn. Soon word of the delicious meals served at the Inn traveled. The popularity was the cause of an adjacent motor hotel being built. By 1990, the town’s population had soared as more business people moved to the area. Today, the town boasts an abundance of state historical markers, including one in the honor of Archibald Willingham and another for Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, press secretary, Liz Sutherland Carpenter who was born there. The first weekend in December, each year, people throughout Texas and beyond flock to Salado to enjoy the Christmas strole there. There is the sound of jingle bells as horse-drawn carriages filled with riders travel down the street while Christmas carolers stroll along the walkways. Many out-of-town choral groups participate. Wonderful aromas of potpourris drift through the air from the beautifully adorned shops. |
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As one crosses the Main Street bridge over Salado Creek, just to the east is a beautiful bronze statue of Sirena, half-Indian maiden, half-catfish sits on a slab of stone. The legend of Sirena began many years ago when the Indian girl fell in love with a brave who did not return her affections. She sat on the banks of the creek and talked of her love to a cunning, magical catfish. Since the catfish loved her, and wanted her for himself, he made a pact with her that if she would become a mermaid once each month during the full moon and stay the night with him, he would cast a spell that would make the brave her husband; but, she would remain a mermaid for eternity if a human should see her in mermaid form. She agreed, spell was cast and the brave became her husband.
One full moon night, Sirena had slipped away to keep her promise to the catfish, a hook pierced the mermaid’s fish tail. While sitting on a rock to remove the hook, her human husband came in search of her. Their eyes met, and she slipped silently and sadly into the black waters of the creek, a mermaid forever. |
