Old Post Sanitarium
117 North Ave. N, Post, TXBorn in Springfield, Illinois, in 1854, Charles William Post became a successful businessman and inventor before he was thirty years old. Howe, However, in 1885, Post suffered from a severe stomach disorder and nervous breakdown. He resigned from his position as head of the Illinois Agricultural workers in August of 1886 and when his health improved, he made his first trip to Texas. Seeking opportunities in the western frontier and a suitable climate for his health, Post traveled to Fort Worth in September 1886 and became associated with a real estate firm. From his many hunting trips in the Texas Panhandle, Post began envisioning the development of western real estate. After two more nervous breakdowns, Post moved his family in 1891 to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he could receive better medical attention. While a patient in a Battle Creek sanitarium in 1891 he was served the various health foods which had been developed there and began to study foods and their relationship to health. During this period he developed his own theory of dietetics. Impatient to be cured, he left the sanitarium to cure himself.
While he had traveled in Texas, Post met several farmers' wives who had been mixing chicory with roasted wheat and other ground grains combined into a makeshift coffee. He experimented with it trying to find a coffee substitute that had much of the same taste but no ill effects on the body. Opening his own Battle Creek sanitarium in 1892, La Vita Inn, he continued to experiment with the warm cereal drink and eventually perfected it in 1894 and called his product Postum. Through his own successful promotion, the mixture of wheat, bran and molasses, brought him his fortune. As Postum had a seasonal demand, Post quickly developed a second cereal, Grape Nuts, in 1897 and put it on the market the following year. Numerous other trademarked kinds of cereal were to follow, such as Post Toasties and Post Bran.
Post was a multi-millionaire by 1906 when he returned to Texas and purchased a quarter-million-acre tract that stretched along the Cap Rock Escarpment. T. P. Stevens, a veteran rancher, assisted him in purchasing the West Texas ranchland, and W. E. Alexander became the manager for his colony in January of 1907. Situated near the center of his vast lands, Post kept a close watch over his settlement for the next six years. Surrounding properties were broken up and fenced into 160-acre tracts on which he built a five or six-room house on each. These improved properties were sold at a low-interest rate on a long-term note to the farmer who settled there. He also founded a hotel, a cotton mill, a bank, a telephone company, and a sanitarium. He brought the Santa Fe railroad to Post, tried to establish Texas Tech in the community, became the father of West Texas irrigation, and continued to drill unsuccessfully for oil. One of his most spectacular experiments was his persistent attempts to force rain with dynamite during the West Texas droughts.
Post's interest in health led to the founding of the Post Sanitarium in 1912, but the hospital also represents the man's personal conflict in the field of medicine. When the medical treatment did not result in immediate recovery from his physical and mental breakdown in 1890, he joined the Church of Christian Scientists. He remained a member of this religious faith for the duration of his life. Consequently, it is ironic that he was responsible for the first hospital built in Garza County. This irony of his personality was also evident in the circumstances connected with his death in 1914. In need of an emergency appendectomy, he agreed to the operation which proved to be medically successful. However, due to his despondency caused by his acceptance of medical treatment which violated his religious principles, he committed suicide at his home in Santa Barbara, California.
The Post Sanitarium was built with hand-cut stone from a local quarry at the edge of the Cap Rock Escarpment on the edge of the High Plains. white sandstone was quarried and shaped by George "Scottie" Samson and his assistant Jimmy Napier. Samson and Napier immigrated to New York from Scotland in 1905. Although Napier is deceased, Samson continues to reside in Post.
Dr. Arvel Ponton opened the Post Sanitarium in 1913. The hospital had the very best medical facilities. Among numerous other modern facilities, it contained an x-ray laboratory, operating and sterilizing rooms, an elaborate diet kitchen, and a nurse's training program. The sanitarium originally operated a private electric plant, which was powered by a gasoline engine. Each patient had a private bath. Steam heat was provided from a large coal-burning furnace in the basement to steam-heated radiators in each room.
The building served as a hospital through the period of World War I but ceased operations in 1920. The Post Estate sold the building in 1928 and from 1928 to 1953 the structure was used as an apartment house. Vacated for 13 years, the building was finally bought in 1966 by Garza County and has since been used as a museum.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
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.
In the 1870s, the arrival of European settlers brought significant changes to the area. The county was officially organized in 1876 and named after José Antonio de la Garza, a prominent Tejano leader. Ranching quickly became the dominant industry, and the establishment of cattle ranches contributed to the growth and development of the county.
The Great Depression of the 1930s took a toll on Garza County, as it did on much of rural America. Many residents faced financial hardships, but the county received a boost during this time with the establishment of the Caprock Canyon State Park. The park, which opened in 1982, offers stunning landscapes for outdoor enthusiasts and has become a significant tourism attraction in the region.
In recent years, Garza County has continued to evolve and diversify its economy. The oil and gas industry has become an important economic driver, contributing to job growth and increased prosperity in the area. Agriculture still plays a vital role, with the production of cotton, wheat, and hay being significant contributors to the local economy.
Today, Garza County is a vibrant community that celebrates its western heritage while embracing modern industries. The area offers a unique combination of natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and a welcoming community spirit that continues to attract visitors and residents alike.
Garza County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Garza County, Texas.
- 1876 - Garza County is officially established, named after a prominent Mexican ranching family.
- 1883 - The first post office in the county opens.
- 1890 - The county seat is established in Post City.
- 1892 - The Santa Fe Railroad begins operating in the county.
- 1917 - The first oil well is drilled, leading to a short-lived oil boom.
- 1933 - The Civilian Conservation Corps establishes a camp in the county, providing employment during the Great Depression.
- 1956 - The White River Reservoir is completed, providing a reliable water source.
- 1973 - The Garza County Historical Museum is founded to preserve the county's history.
- 2014 - Garza County celebrates its 138th anniversary.