Goforth-Harris House

401 Comanche St., San Marcos, TX
Residents of the Goforth-Harris House have been deeply involved in Texas education. The house is also architecturally significant. With its asymmetrical plan and gracefully detailed porch, it is typical of late Victorian residences.

J.T. Goforth, who with his wife Lucinda built the home in about 1905, founded and gave his name to a now empty town about 12 miles northeast of San Marcos. He and two others also founded the Goforth School and contributed most of the operating funds. In 1913, the Goforths sold the present house to Thomas Green and Lon Harris. After earning his B.A. and M.A. in Tennessee and teaching school in Georgia, Harris came to Texas in 1879. Eventually, he served as superintendent of schools in Weatherford, Mansfield, Plano, Dallas, Houston, and Austin. In 1903 he moved to San Marcos and was named the first president of Southwest Texas Normal School. In 1911 he transferred to the San Marcos Baptist Academy to become its second president. Even after his retirement in 1915, Harris taught math at Sul Ross State College for six years and superintended San Benito schools for three years. He died in 1934. The house remained a residence until converted into three apartments in recent years.
Bibliography:
Bibliography
Handbook of Texas, vol. 3.

San Marcos Record, September 25, 1936. The Citizen-Advertiser, February 3, 1966.
Local significance of the building:
Education; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

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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The state flower of Texas is the bluebonnet. The flower blooms in the spring and is a common sight along the highways and in fields throughout the state.
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.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history 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.