Brooks Blacksmith Shop
Historical marker location:The town of Meadow developed in the early 20th century, moving to meet the railroad in this location in 1917. In 1922, O.L. Puthuff built a blacksmith shop on this site. By that time, brothers Leslie and Herschel F. Brooks, Alabama natives, had moved to Meadow. World War I veterans, the brothers built and implemented water drilling equipment. Leslie wed Audrey Maddox, and her father, John, bought the shop in 1923. John and Leslie became partners in the three-generation Brooks Blacksmith Shop. In the mid-1950s, Leslie's two older sons took over the business. The shop, which closed in 1996, provided vital services to area farms and ranches, and was a social gathering place for Meadow residents. (2004)
As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.
Texas was once an independent country: After winning its independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas became its own country, known as the Republic of Texas. It existed as an independent nation for nine years before being annexed by the United States in 1845.