2018-02-04: Texas Ghost Towns, Cemetery, and Courthouses

Hello again and welcome to another 360+/- mile Sunday Geocaching drive from Killeen to Monahans, Texas. There are multiple routes to take and I will probably be taking most of them over the next few months as I find all the available geocaches. So I hope you'll come back to follow along as I visit a lot of ghost towns, cemeteries, Texas history, and just ordinary roadside geocaches. And just a reminder to like our new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AwayWeGoUS to stay up to date with any new posts.

My first geocache (GC2C3WW) was just several miles away in Copperas Cove, the next town over. Since I'll be making this long drive every weekend for a while, I'm gonna try to grab a cache near to each end. This will help to increase one of my favorite stats: cache-to-cache distance. This stat measures the straight line distance from each found cache in the order that you found them. I started caching back in 2006. From 2007 through 2010, I was an over-the-road truck driver. Caching along the way, I racked up miles quickly that way. I currently have nearly half a million cache-to-cache distance miles. So let's continue rolling!

My next cache was called "Almost There" (GC363HY) located just off US-190 near Rochelle. A quick park-n-grab and I'm on my way.

Over and through San Angelo, I take US-67 south (west). Taking one of the side roads for a short detour, I stopped for the "Don't Get Stuck" geocache (GC11J83). A fairly easy cache to find right along the road. But it hasn't been found in nearly 4 years! So it felt pretty good to have found a lonely cache and still in good shape.

Another side street geocache a few more miles down was the "Big Rock w/Bonus" geocache (GCMF26). This cache was first hidden way back in 2005, thirteen years ago! So the "Bonus" were the coordinates to a puzzle geocache just to the south. So after finding the "Big Rock", I found the puzzle cache called "Foster" (GCMF2D).

Getting back to US-67, but not very far, I arrived at "TGT: Tankersley" (GC15Y5B). Tankersley (Tankersly), also known as MacGrath, was named for Richard Franklin Tankersley, husband of Annie Ellen Allen Tankersley, one of the first white settlers on the Concho River in 1864 and donor of land for the townsite. A post office, established in 1910 as Tankersly, was discontinued in 1963. In 1914 the community had a population of forty, a general store, and two grocers. The local school had eighty-three pupils and three teachers in 1933. The population reached a high of seventy-five in 1946, when Tankersley had three businesses, but by 1953 the community had twenty residents and one business. In the 1980's a cemetery, the Tankersly–Twin Mountain school, the abandoned railroad station, and the West Texas Boys Ranch remained in the area. The estimated population of the community was twenty in 1990. No population estimates were available in 2000.

Close by to Tankersly was "TGT: Hughes" (GC15T5E). Hughes, between Spring Creek and the Middle Concho River in east central Irion County, was named after Duwain E. Hughes, on whose ranch the settlement was located. The Hughes community was receiving its mail from Tankersley in Tom Green County in the early 1950s; the townsite was not shown on later maps.

I didn't see anything to take a photo of near these two caches.

Crossing over into Irion County I arrived in the community of Sherwood. There are three caches here in town. The first geocache was at the Sherwood Cemetery (GC113GK). The oldest dated internment here is Infant Daughter Hodge in 1865. There are also several here that perished in the flood of 1882.

Next up was the beautiful former Sherwood Courthouse (GCM4G3). See photo at top of this page and below. The first permanent courthouse for Irion County, Texas, locally organized in 1889. Replaced temporary housing in several buildings. Site was gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ripley. Contractors Martin and Moody; stone was quarried nearby. Courthouse was used for dances, teachers institutes, community events, and the lawn for summer socials.

In a familiar case of death-by-railroad, Mertzon became the county seat in 1936 and this small town was finished. This was merely a technicality since Sherwood had all but been abandoned when the railroad by-passed it by two miles in 1910. The now privately owned courthouse is available for special events and festivals. The clock faces had painted hands. The hands reportedly indicate the moment of Abraham Lincoln's death.

After spending about 15-20 minutes of looking where there just weren't a whole lot of places to hide it, I did not find the cache. I do not like to, but I had to log a DNF on this geocache.

The last cache in town for me to find is another one of those "would never have seen if it weren't for geocaching" places! This dugout type home was once "The Old Scout House" (GC7DXBM). I couldn't find any information on it other than what's listed on the geocaching page that it was once a cub scout meeting house. Don't know any dates for it. But it does look like it would have been a cool place. After taking a lot of photos and looking into all the cracks and crevasses, I could not find a cache. Ughh! Two DNF's in a row! Not a good sign.

Continuing westbound on US-67, I arrive in the town of Rankin. Established in 1911, Rankin is the oldest town in Upton County and named after rancher F. E. Rankin. The first of two caches in town was "Sitting on a Hilltop" (GC2YC10). Located near the Rankin Park Building and gave you great views of the town.

Next on the north side of town was "Rodeo Kids" (GC3W3NM). Since 1952, the community of Rankin has annually hosted an all-Kid Rodeo. An event unique to the sport, which has it's roots in the American cattle industry. Ranching has been the backbone of the Rankin economy sine the town's establishment in 1911. Many of the cowboys and ranchers in Rankin participated in rodeos, while other individuals from outside the area came here roping events. The competitors often brought their children, many of whom practiced events and wanted an outlet for their skills.

In 1952, professional roper Walton Poage, along with his son and his son's friend, enlisted help from residents in Rankin in creating an all-kid rodeo. The community came together to support the idea and the first all-kid rodeo was held that year in two go-rounds of calf roping, ribbon roping, goat roping, steer riding, and a barrel race and boot scramble. The entry fee for each event was $1.00 and prizes were donated by local businesses and residents. By the next year, the Upton county 4-H club began to sponsor the rodeo. The event grew in popularity, and in 1954, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 individuals attended each night of the event.

Since its inception, the all-kid rodeo has been held every year. It brings commerce into Rankin, drawing in visitors and competitors, many of whom later became members of the professional rodeo cowboys association. It was the first rodeo contest for many boys and girls, and helped them get a start in the sport. Today, the all-kid rodeo continues to be a unique tradition promoting the ranching and family spirit of the Rankin community.

That's all for today. I take the final leg home to Monahans where I can grab a bite to eat and relax. Until next week...

2016-03-19: Geocaching History in Pecos Texas and a Couple of Cemeteries

With the move last weekend from Lubbock down to Monahans, Texas, we didn't get a chance to go Geocaching and exploring. So today was a good day to get out and explore some new areas and pick up some new counties. Candy had to work a few hours this morning so we got a late start.

We headed west on I-20 towards Pecos and by now it was getting close to lunch time and neither one of us have eaten anything all morning. So a quick Google of restaurants in Pecos and I decided on Old Mill BBQ and Burritos. I ordered the BBQ brisket and sausage, while Candy ordered a cheese burger and fries. And we still got the traditional nachos and salsa while waiting for our food. All the food there was pretty good, so it'll definitely be getting a return visit from us.

Now that we have full bellies, it's time to go exploring and Geocaching! Out first stop was at the rodeo. The first cache (GC234FP) was to highlight that the town of Pecos hosted the worlds very first rodeo. Held a block south of the Pecos courthouse on July 4, 1883. The rodeo started with claims of three cattle ranches having the fastest steer ropers; the NA, the W, and the Lazy Y ranches.

Settlers in town for the Fourth of July picnic were spectators. The prizes were blue ribbons cut by pocket knife from a new dress of a 4-year old girl in the crowd.

The best roper was Morg Livingston of the NA Ranch and second place was Trav Windham of the Lazy Y.

Just down the road was the West of the Pecos Museum and our next Geocache (GC47RDM). On the outside was a replica office and courthouse of Judge Roy Bean, Justice of the Peace and the Law. Phantly Roy Bean, Jr. (c. 1825 – March 16, 1903) was an eccentric U.S. saloon-keeper and Justice of the Peace in Val Verde County, Texas, who called himself "The Law West of the Pecos". According to legend, Judge Roy Bean held court in his saloon along the Rio Grande on a desolate stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert of southwest Texas. After his death, Western films and books cast him as a hanging judge, although he is known to have sentenced only two men to hang, one of whom escaped.

Next to the office was the gravesite of Clay Allison. Robert Clay Allison (September 2, 1841 – July 3, 1887) was a cattle rancher, cattle broker, and sometimes gunfighter of the American Old West. He fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Allison had a reputation for violence, having survived several one-on-one knife and gunfights (some with lawmen), as well as being implicated in a number of vigilante jail break-ins and lynchings. He is posthumously known as the man who "...never killed a man that did not need killing." A drunken Allison once rode his horse through town nearly naked—wearing only his gunbelt.

Also on the grounds was an old jail replica and the Mesquite House, the oldest house in Pecos.


Then came the museum itself. On the right was the original saloon and hotel on the left. Touted as the “best hotel between Fort Worth and El Paso”, The Number 11 Saloon, with guestrooms on the second floor – was built in 1896 of Pecos Valley red sandstone. The quarry was just 8 miles east of Pecos. The three story hotel was added in 1904 by R.S. Johnson. Mr. Johnson, a retired Texas Ranger, was in charge of the saloon and his wife ran the hotel. The hotel served as a headquarters for land promoters, salesmen and families of settlers in the early years of Pecos Valley development. The hotel and saloon were restored in 1962 and opened as the West of the Pecos Museum in 1963. Many civic organizations and groups contributed volunteer hours and resources to the museum’s exhibits. Original pressed tin ceiling, hand – carved newel posts were preserved.. Most of the furnishings in the Number 11 Saloon are original. Over 50 rooms of pioneer history and memorabilia are housed in the old hotel and saloon.

A few blocks away was the Old Pecos Cemetery (GC1P62N). The original burial site of the gunslinger Clay Allison before being relocated outside the museum. The Old Pecos Cemetery was used from 1880 to 1910 by settlers in the Pecos Valley. Originally established for railroad construction workers who died during the building of the railroad. There are only 6 marked graves remaining and some wooden crosses for the unknown.

Leaving Pecos, we headed north on US-285 to Hwy 302 into the small town of Mentone. A quick rest area cache (GC2H0BC) on the west end of town before getting a virtual cache (GC621F) at the Loving County Courthouse. Though I don't understand the name that well considering that "Loving" County is the LEAST populated county in the lower 48 states! In September 2000, National Geographic Magazine did a series of articles on various Zip Codes in the United States. Here is a link to their website for this location: Zip Code 79754.

Our next cache and always a favorite was one placed at a cemetery (GC638RA). Since Loving County is sparsely populated, there aren't any "official" cemeteries. Burials are typically on the family ranch. This Geocache was the only cemetery cache located within the county and had only 3 grave sites. The first was dated 1912 for Shady Davis. Shady Davis was a young cowboy who was fatally injured by being dragged by his horse during a roundup. The two other graves were from 1992 and 2007.
Located on the Slash (Johnson Brothers) Ranch but accessible via a few oil field access roads, it was some rough driving for the GeoPrius. We both agreed (again) that it was time for a Jeep! One of these days... Anyway, we got to within .15 miles from the cemetery when we encountered a rut I thought to be too deep for the car. So we hiked it the remaining way.

After another lonely cache in the middle of nowhere (GC2MX4H), we continued north on US285 almost to the New Mexico state line. There was the location of our next historic Geocache (GC36AG6) along the old section of the Pecos River Railroad. First opening in 1891, it later merged with the Panhandle and Sante Fe Railroad in 1948. Eventually this original section was abandoned in 1990-91.

That was pretty much it for the day. Not a whole lot, but we did have a good adventure and especially enjoyed touring the museum and learning about the history of the area. Tomorrow we have a big hike planned, so we hope you return for that. See you soon.