City of Bartlett

Marker Location: Bartlett, at City Hall

Marker Text: Settlers began moving to this area in the 1830s, when Texas was a republic, but the town of Bartlett was not established until the 1870s. The founders were J. Edward Pietzsch and Capt. John T. Bartlett, for whom the community was named. In 1882 the railroad was extended to Bartlett, making the city a major regional cotton center. Incorporated in 1890, the city is located on the Williamson-Bell county line, which divides several homes and commercial buildings. Today Bartlett continues to serve as a trade center for the surrounding agricultural district.

Bell County

Marker Location: Roadside park at Lampasas River bridge and IH-35 S. feeder road, 2 miles S. of Belton. Marker Text: Settlement began on Lampasas River, 1847. Created Jan. 22, organized Aug. 1, 1850. Named for Peter Hansbrough Bell (1812-1898), native of Virginia; veteran of Battle of San Jacinto; served in Somervell expedition to stop Mexico's Raids into Texas; officer in Mexican War; Governor of Texas 1849-1853; U.S. Congressman, 1853-1857. First county seat Nolanville. Moved Dec. 16, 1851, to Belton. By 1860 population was 4,799. Sent 12 troop companies into Civil War. Furnished goods from flour mills, hat factory, tan yard, leather works, blacksmith shops, cabinet shop, beef slaughter pens. (1965)

Belton Yarn Mill

Address: Belton, 805 E. Fourth St.

The Belton Yarn Mill is a 2-story, rectangular-plan limestone industrial building with a low-pitched side-gabled roof. On the north aide is a small 1-story extension. The structure rests on a large, flat lot in an industrial area of Northeast Belton.

The Belton Yarn Mill is constructed of large rough-cut limestone blocks laid in an irregular ashlar coursing. All of the facades have a regular series of large windows with multiple-pane metal sash. The window openings have limestone lintels and sills. On each facade there are a few segmental arched portals with wooden doors for moving materials in and out. The mill has a shallow sloped gabled roof with open rafter tails. The building is unadorned but is distinguished by its heavy limestone construction.

The Belton Yarn Mill is a product of the cotton industry which developed in Belton during the late 19th century. Contextually it relates to Community and Regional Development, specifically to Belton's dependence on the cotton industry from the 1880s to the 1920s. The building is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion A, significant in the area of Industry, for its association with cotton processing in Belton. It is also eligible under Criterion C, significant in the area of Architecture, as an intact turn-of-the- century industrial building of distinctive limestone construction.

The Belton Yarn Mill was built in 1900 by a coalition of Belton businessmen at a cost of S65,000 to establish a manufacturing industry to complement the cotton trade and processing already going on in Belton. By the late 19th century Bell County was an important cotton- producing area and the Belton Yarn Mill became one of several cotton processing facilities operating in and around Belton at the turn of the century. The name of the builder of the project is unknown, but was most likely a local contractor. The mill began operating in 1901 and originally had 3,200 spindles and 100 looms. Soon thereafter, it was converted strictly to a yarn mill and the number of spindles was increased to 7000. After the financial panic of 1907 the mill closed and stood empty for nine years when it was reopened by a group from North Carolina led by a Colonel Johnson. The mill apparently continued to operate through the 1920s, but closed in the late 1920s or early 1930s when the cotton industry in the county collapsed. (See context statement for more information about the cotton industry)

The Belton Yarn Mill is one of the few surviving examples of the numerous cotton processing businesses which once formed a central part of Belton's economy. Such early industrial buildings are comparatively rare in Texas, particularly in Central Texas where the economy at the turn of the century was predominantly agricultural. Although the original spinning machinery has been removed, the building is largely intact and represents an excellent example of a late 19th century factory complex. Architecturally, the structure is notable for its heavy ashlar limestone construction, more typical of mid-l9th century industrial construction.

Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Texas (RVOS)

 Marker Location: From Temple, take FM 53 east about 10 miles to junction of FM 53 and FM 320, marker is 1/2 mile north on FM 320. Marker Text: The Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Texas (Rolnicky Vzajemne Ochranny Spolek Statu Texasu) was organized in the community of Ocker (400' NW) by nine men of Czechoslovakian descent on February 27, 1901. Created as a means of providing farmers and rural citizens with insurance coverage, the association was a cooperative effort of neighbors ready to help each other in times of need. By the rules of the non-profit organization, only rural property was insurable, and each member was obligated to pay a share of any losses sustained by fellow members. In 1933, city property became insurable. Association officers worked from their homes until 1946, when offices were rented in Temple. A home office was built on South 4th Street in 1950, and replaced by a new building at 2301 South 37th Street in 1981. Charter members of the association were: Joseph R. Marek (1856-1936), Martin Stepan (1859-1935), Joseph R. Schiller (1874-1918), Frank J. Wotipka (1847-1933), Josef Wentrcek (1860-1922), F. Vincenc Schiller (1849-1941), Jan Baletka (1858-1939), Joseph Schiller (1847-1929), and Jan Zabcik (1856-1916). (1986)

Maruna Meadow

Marker Location: Off FM 2086 on Peach Orchard Rd, 6 mi. east of Temple

 Marker Text: This meadow is one of the few remaining sites in the area that illustrates what the first Bell County settlers saw upon their arrival. Czechoslovakian immigrants who came here in 1881 found the Blackland Prairie of Central Texas to be similar to the type of farmland they had left behind. Over the years, while other parts of the prairie surrounding Maruna Meadow were plowed for farms, the Maruna family maintained this 18-acre area in its original state. The meadow now is one of the few remnants of Blackland Prairie in Bell County. (1984)

Ocker Brethren Church

Marker Location: From Temple, take SH 53 east about 9 miles.

Marker Text: A group of deeply devoted followers of the Unity of the Brethren faith were among the Czech immigrant families who settled in this area of eastern Bell County in the late 1870s and established the farming community of Ocker. The group initially worshipped informally in their homes. Annual visits from 1884 to 1891 by the Rev. Henry Juren and the Rev. Bohuslav Emil Lacjak encouraged them to organize. The Evangelical Congregation of the Bohemian and Moravian Brethren of Ocker was established in 1892. The dedication of their first church building, erected in 1893, was conducted by the Rev. Juren and the Rev. Adolph Chlumsky, noted early-day Czech community preachers. The church cemetery was established later that year. Membership in the church grew from 52 families in 1900 to 92 families in 1925. A new church/Sunday school building was erected at this site in 1931 to meet the spiritual needs of a growing congregation. By mid-1940, English had replaced Czech as the language used in Sunday school and worship services. The congregation was served by part-time pastors until 1981 when a full-time pastor was called. The church continues to serve the local community with spiritual guidance and outreach programs. (1994)

Seaton Cemetery

Marker Location: 7.5 mi. E of Temple at intersection of SH 53 and Seaton Rd.

Marker Text: The community of Lost Prairie-Seaton was settled in the 1880s by Czechoslovakian immigrants, and at one time contained a post office, school, store and saloon. Charles Motl, Sr., donated two acres of land for a community cemetery following the death of Tomas Ondrasek in 1896. The Seaton National Cemetery Association was formed in 1897, and was eventually renamed the Seaton Cemetery Association. Among the 1,150 burials are those of veterans of World Wars I and II, and the Korean conflict. The cemetery continues to serve the community. (1997)

Information excerpted from Texas Historic Sites Atlas (on line) located at: http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Atlas/atlas_search_frame.html