Historical Marker
First Baptist Church of Hargill
Historical marker location:
13374 FM 490, Hargill, Texas
( 3 blocks west of intersection of FM490 and FM493 - located in center of Hargill - church on north side of FM 490)
Marker installed: 2012
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HARGILL
BEGINNING IN 1912, THE MISSOURI-TEXAS LAND COMPANY BROUGHT SETTLERS TO THE AREA FOR CATTLE RANCHING. AFTER THE RAILROAD BUILT A RAYMONDVILLE-EDINBURG BRANCH LINE IN 1926, THE HARDING-GILL COMPANY SOLD FARM TRACTS AROUND HARGILL. A SMALL BAPTIST CONGREGATION MET IN A BORROWED CHURCH FROM 1923 TO 1926. WALTER HOLT LED THE DRIVE TO RAISE FUNDS, AND THE BAPTISTS BUILT THIS WOOD FRAME CHURCH BESIDE HIGHWAY 490 IN 1926. BAPTISMS TOOK PLACE IN BUCY LAKE UNTIL 1956 WHEN THE CHURCH WAS MOVED 30 FEET NORTH AND REMODELED, KEEPING THE ORIGINAL WOODEN FLOORS AND ADDING A BAPTISTRY. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HOSTS THE BUSY LADIES CLUB AND SPONSORS MANY COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.