The town where history lives

BRIDGE STREET HISTORY CENTER

Anybody who spends more than 15 minutes in Granbury, Texas will realize we’re proud of our hometown and celebrate its colorful history every chance we can.

Citizens, visitors and those just passing through see the town motto on the huge sign at the water facility stating “Where Texas History Lives” as they come into town. They also see our pride in history when they stop to read the many interesting Texas historical markers posted around our town square. Preservation of the classic, turn-of-the-century architecture downtown is another indicator of our determination to keep our town’s history alive. We celebrate our history at no less than five history museums around town including the magnificent Hood County courthouse.

If you stay in Granbury a while you’ll learn stories of the town founders and key civic leaders that made Granbury the thriving small city it is today. The docents at the Bridge Street History Center tell stories of our heritage at the museum, and its directors post historical articles in The Hood County News on a regular basis. Acclaimed historians and authors frequently discuss significant historical events and profile key individuals as part of The Ramay-Macatee Lecture Series or the less formal “Local Tales by Local Folks” sponsored by the Bridge Street History Center. Several talented local authors have published well-researched and well-written books about the founding and development of Granbury and Hood County.

The history of Granbury was both wild and progressive during its developmental years. Here are just a few of the highlights of those years in a chronological listing. Each of these events have a very interesting story behind them. Books have been written about some of them and some would make great movies. This list is only a few of the many colorful events that made our history so special.

1866 – A new county in Texas was created by law from the 11^th Texas Legislature. The new law specified it would be named Hood County with its county seat named Granbury from two prominent Confederate generals.

1868 - Hood County’s first judge, Abe Landers, managed the contentious process to select the new county seat town site. His leadership resulted in the town square of Granbury being located on the beautiful bluff overlooking the Brazos River. Judge Landers was a colorful man. He once dismissed a grand jury to find a missing goat. Another time, he took the jury to a saloon and bought the first round of drinks.

1871 – Business lots on the newly cleared and surveyed town square of Granbury went on sale at sunup on Jan. 17. Before the day was over, 84 lots were bought by 33 individuals. Some set up their businesses immediately in tents until more permanent buildings could be constructed. 

1872 – According to attorney Finis Bates, John Wilks Booth (alias John St. Helen) lived and worked in Granbury at the Black Hawk Saloon.

1874 – Mitchell Bend was named for “Cooney” Mitchell, the only man legally hanged in Granbury.

1874 – Dr. D.K. Turner and Mr. J.M. Bateman had a fatal confrontation in Granbury. Dr. Turner drew a derringer. Mr. Bateman drew a knife. They buried Mr. Bateman the next day.

1876 – John Rylee’s ferry hauled people, livestock and equipment across the Brazos River. Fees: 1 man, 2 horses and a wagon - $.75. A footman - $.15.

1877 – After a six-hour stagecoach ride from Fort Worth, Granbury passengers could finally see Comanche Peak.

1887 – Granbury’s new Brazos River bridge was the only bridge across the Brazos between Granbury and Waco.

1887 – The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway line to Brownwood reached Granbury. It ultimately created daily service between Granbury and Fort Worth.

1891 – The newly completed Hood County courthouse was accepted by the county commissioners.

1893 – The greatest gathering ever assembled in Granbury was the re-interment of General Granbury at the Granbury cemetery.

1899 – The telephone line from Granbury to Glen Rose was up and functional. 

1900 – Baseball became very popular around Hood County with several teams formed. Some team names were, “The Squints, The Squats, The Fats and The Leans.”

1903 – The Granbury Light and Water plant was built by the Granbury Milling Company. Its first use was to provide water for the railroad’s steam engines and ice for the refrigerated cars and the public.

1907 – Earl Cogdill owned the first automobile in Hood County, soon to be followed by Dr. Wilder, W.R. Robbins, Dr. Walker, R.W. Bowden and Earl Brewer.

So, Granbury grew with new families moving west after the Civil War, prospered (with a few difficult years) and progressed out of the nineteenth century through the twentieth and into the twenty-first, becoming “The Best Historic Small Town in America.” Our town truly is “Where Texas History Lives.”