Fort Street Presbyterian Church
516 W. Hopkins St., San Marcos, TXBuilt in 1901 in Gothic style, Fort Street Presbyterian Church is one of only two San Marcos churches to survive without damaging alterations. The design is vernacular but elegant. Victorian-period detail inside and out beautifies the simple building, which is credited to local craftsmen.
During its years of service, the Fort Street Church housed three different denominations.
Members of the Cumberland branch of the Presbyterian Church had organized a congregation in San Marcos by the 1860s. By 1892 the group had built a sanctuary on Fort Street, now West Hopkins. Shortly thereafter this burned, but was rebuilt perhaps in the original design, within the year. Samuel Blue Bales, overseer of the construction of the Texas State Capitol and a church elder, and John Cape, a ginner and postmaster, are said to have been the contractors. Will Barber was a major financier. Central Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. became the name in 1912. Six years later, a loose federation with the First Presbyterian Church took the Cumberland congregation from its sanctuary. The structure was not completely abandoned. The owners returned occasionally for private gatherings and in 1925 the Literary Clubs of San Marcos were permitted to use it as a lending library. In 1929 the federation dissolved and the congregation returned, only to turn over the building in 1940 to the First American Lutheran Church. The First Pentecostal Holiness Church used the structure after 1969. Recent years have seen the church vacant.
During its years of service, the Fort Street Church housed three different denominations.
Members of the Cumberland branch of the Presbyterian Church had organized a congregation in San Marcos by the 1860s. By 1892 the group had built a sanctuary on Fort Street, now West Hopkins. Shortly thereafter this burned, but was rebuilt perhaps in the original design, within the year. Samuel Blue Bales, overseer of the construction of the Texas State Capitol and a church elder, and John Cape, a ginner and postmaster, are said to have been the contractors. Will Barber was a major financier. Central Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. became the name in 1912. Six years later, a loose federation with the First Presbyterian Church took the Cumberland congregation from its sanctuary. The structure was not completely abandoned. The owners returned occasionally for private gatherings and in 1925 the Literary Clubs of San Marcos were permitted to use it as a lending library. In 1929 the federation dissolved and the congregation returned, only to turn over the building in 1940 to the First American Lutheran Church. The First Pentecostal Holiness Church used the structure after 1969. Recent years have seen the church vacant.
Bibliography
Martha Hawn Baker and Martha Louise Baker, The History of the First American Lutheran Church, Privately printed, San Marcos, Texas, 1969.
San Marcos Daily Record, Golden Anniversary Issue, 1962.
Frances Stovall, "Cumberland Presbyterian Church," a condensation of material in a notebook belonging to Tula Townsend Wyatt. Unpublished, July 1, 1982. On file at the San Marcos Public Library.
Interview with Clara Louise Cape, June 24, 1982.
Interview with Kathryn Rich, June, 1982.
San Marcos Daily Record, Golden Anniversary Issue, 1962.
Frances Stovall, "Cumberland Presbyterian Church," a condensation of material in a notebook belonging to Tula Townsend Wyatt. Unpublished, July 1, 1982. On file at the San Marcos Public Library.
Interview with Clara Louise Cape, June 24, 1982.
Interview with Kathryn Rich, June, 1982.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
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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Texas has been a major oil-producing state for over a century. The first big oil discovery in Texas was the Spindletop field near Beaumont in 1901, which set off a massive oil boom that transformed the state's economy and made Texas one of the wealthiest states in the country.
About Hays County
Hays County Timeline
Hays County, located in the central part of Texas, has a rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various indigenous tribes, including the Tonkawa and Comanche peoples. However, the first recorded European arrival in the region occurred in 1690 when Spanish explorers made their way through the area.
In the early 1800s, Anglo-American settlers began to establish permanent settlements in what is now Hays County. One of the most notable figures in the county's history is Captain John Coffee "Jack" Hays, a Texas Ranger who played a significant role in fighting against Native American raids in the region. As a result of his contributions, the county was renamed in his honor in 1848.
During the mid-1800s, Hays County experienced rapid growth and development, fueled by the arrival of the railroad in the region. The county became an important hub for agriculture, with cotton and cattle as the main industries. The county seat, San Marcos, played a key role in the growth of education in the area, becoming home to Southwest Texas State Normal School (now Texas State University) in 1899.
In the 20th century, Hays County continued to evolve and modernize. The population increased steadily as more people were attracted to the area’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and proximity to Austin. Today, Hays County remains a vibrant and growing community, serving as a bridge between the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country and the urban amenities of nearby metropolitan areas.
In the early 1800s, Anglo-American settlers began to establish permanent settlements in what is now Hays County. One of the most notable figures in the county's history is Captain John Coffee "Jack" Hays, a Texas Ranger who played a significant role in fighting against Native American raids in the region. As a result of his contributions, the county was renamed in his honor in 1848.
During the mid-1800s, Hays County experienced rapid growth and development, fueled by the arrival of the railroad in the region. The county became an important hub for agriculture, with cotton and cattle as the main industries. The county seat, San Marcos, played a key role in the growth of education in the area, becoming home to Southwest Texas State Normal School (now Texas State University) in 1899.
In the 20th century, Hays County continued to evolve and modernize. The population increased steadily as more people were attracted to the area’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and proximity to Austin. Today, Hays County remains a vibrant and growing community, serving as a bridge between the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country and the urban amenities of nearby metropolitan areas.
Hays County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Hays County, Texas.
- 1837: Hays County is officially established as a county when the Republic of Texas is formed.
- 1848: The county seat is established in the town of San Marcos.
- 1856: A charter is granted to create the Hays County Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Mechanical Association.
- 1861: With the outbreak of the Civil War, many men from Hays County volunteer for service in the Confederate Army.
- 1881: The International-Great Northern Railroad is completed, connecting San Marcos to Austin and San Antonio.
- 1903: Southwest Texas State Normal School (now known as Texas State University) is established in San Marcos.
- 1938: The Blanco River floods, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure in Hays County.
- 1996: The Hays County Courthouse, built in 1909, is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2015: The county experiences widespread flooding from heavy rains, resulting in several deaths and extensive property damage.