Pinery Station
a.k.a. Butterfield Stage Station
Off U.S. 62/180, Gaudalupe Mountain National Park, TX"Pinery Station has the distinction of being the only ruin of an original company-built, Butterfield station standing on the route in close proximity to a national highway. ... The station named for the surrounding forests of pine and located but a quarter of a mile from Pine Spring, and in a region of good grazing, was one of the most favorably situated stations on the route. The location on the summit of Guadalupe Pass, ... was the highest point on the route as originally laid out. ... All the early expeditions camped here: Lieutenant Bryan on July 22, 1849, Captain March on September 10th of the same year, Commissioner Bartetton on November 10, 1850, and Captain Pope in February 1854.
"Pinery was the fourth of the stone fort stations constructed by the company on the route west from the Head of Concho. According to Ormsby, only the palisade corral had been built at the time of the arrival here of the first west-bound Butterfield Mail in the afternoon of Tuesday, September 28, 1958. The meal provided at the station on this occasion consisted of venison pie and baked beans. The station keeper, Henry Ramstine (who was connected with the El Paso District Surveyor's office in 1855) and his helpers were living in tents at the time. The station was completed in the early part of the following November by Superintendent Glover's men."
"The Pinery continued to be a meal and change station until in August 1859. when the route was changed to run to El Paso by way of Fort Stockton and Fort Davis. For years after its abandonment, however, even as late as 1883-1885, the old station continued to be a retreat for emigrants, freighters, drovers, soldiers, squatters, and renegades."
Local significance of the site:
"Pinery was the fourth of the stone fort stations constructed by the company on the route west from the Head of Concho. According to Ormsby, only the palisade corral had been built at the time of the arrival here of the first west-bound Butterfield Mail in the afternoon of Tuesday, September 28, 1958. The meal provided at the station on this occasion consisted of venison pie and baked beans. The station keeper, Henry Ramstine (who was connected with the El Paso District Surveyor's office in 1855) and his helpers were living in tents at the time. The station was completed in the early part of the following November by Superintendent Glover's men."
"The Pinery continued to be a meal and change station until in August 1859. when the route was changed to run to El Paso by way of Fort Stockton and Fort Davis. For years after its abandonment, however, even as late as 1883-1885, the old station continued to be a retreat for emigrants, freighters, drovers, soldiers, squatters, and renegades."
Communications
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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About Culberson County
Culberson County Timeline
Culberson County, Texas, located in the southwestern part of the state, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American groups, such as the Apache and Comanche tribes, who roamed the vast expanses of land. These tribes hunted the abundant wildlife and adapted to the harsh desert environment.
The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios in the area, seeking to convert the Native Americans to Christianity and establish control over the land. However, conflicts between the Spanish settlers and the indigenous peoples were common, and the region remained relatively unpopulated.
In the mid-19th century, the region that is now Culberson County became part of the United States after the Texas Revolution. The county itself was established in 1911, named after David B. Culberson, a prominent Texan lawyer and politician. At this time, the area was primarily used for ranching, with cattle grazing on the grasslands.
The discovery of oil in the early 20th century led to a boom in Culberson County's economy. The establishment of oil fields and drilling operations brought an influx of workers and boosted the local population. However, the oil industry faced ups and downs, with periods of prosperity followed by decline.
Today, Culberson County continues to be primarily rural, with a small population. The county's economy is based on agriculture, oil and gas production, and tourism. The vast and rugged landscape of Culberson County attracts outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who come to explore the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and experience its stunning desert beauty.
The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios in the area, seeking to convert the Native Americans to Christianity and establish control over the land. However, conflicts between the Spanish settlers and the indigenous peoples were common, and the region remained relatively unpopulated.
In the mid-19th century, the region that is now Culberson County became part of the United States after the Texas Revolution. The county itself was established in 1911, named after David B. Culberson, a prominent Texan lawyer and politician. At this time, the area was primarily used for ranching, with cattle grazing on the grasslands.
The discovery of oil in the early 20th century led to a boom in Culberson County's economy. The establishment of oil fields and drilling operations brought an influx of workers and boosted the local population. However, the oil industry faced ups and downs, with periods of prosperity followed by decline.
Today, Culberson County continues to be primarily rural, with a small population. The county's economy is based on agriculture, oil and gas production, and tourism. The vast and rugged landscape of Culberson County attracts outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who come to explore the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and experience its stunning desert beauty.
Culberson County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Culberson County, Texas.
- 1911 - Culberson County is established.
- 1927 - The town of Van Horn is incorporated.
- 1942 - Construction of the Van Horn Army Airfield begins.
- 1969 - Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin visit Van Horn during a nationwide tour.
- 2006 - Jeff Bezos purchases land in Culberson County for his private aerospace company, Blue Origin.