Celebrating 175 Years

Burleson CountyCelebrating 175 Years! by Tammy Kubecka

Happy Birthday Burleson County! We’re turning 175 years old on March 24, 2021. It’s quite a milestone for a rural area of Texas, settled by a lot of people from a lot of different places.

Born on the Camino Real, Burleson County is the midway point between the Mexico border and Natchitoches, Louisiana. It’s a tiny fact, but not unknown by travelers who used the route for several hundred years. Expeditions by French, Spanish, Mexican and American explorers, missionaries and military traveled through what is now Burleson County, often camping at Arroyo Nuncio. A Place of Rest at a Creek is a simplified translation, but we know it as Davidson Creek at Caldwell.

The Brazos River boasted several river crossings, and there is evidence that a Mexican military outpost was located at one crossing. Not to be confused with the later Mexican Fort Tenoxtitlán of the early 1830s, the “Guarda” shows up around 1795. An official ferry crossing wasn’t established until the 1840s.

The Camino route was formed by following animal trails, and hunting routes of early Native Americans. Archeological evidence dates artifacts here from the Archaic Period (ca. 7000 b.c.- 500 a.d.), and we know Tonkawa Indians, and related tribes, inhabited the area well into the 1850s. There is prehistoric evidence of inhabitation some 13,000 years ago.

This area didn’t produce major cities or industry, but has remained a quite farmland county through the years. Settlers came for the opportunity to own land and make an independent living.

Burleson County didn’t really start growing until the 1840s, after Texas’ Independence, with a greater population surge in the 1860s, after the Civil War. The county was formed for judicial purposes in January 1842, but a few weeks later all judicial centers were declared unconstitutional. At the time, our county included the NW portion of Lee County. The official formation of the county happened in March 1846. We’re named for General Edward Burleson, noted figure Texas’ Independence. Another population surge came in the later 1800s, with the arrival of Czech, German and Italian immigrants.

Looking through old newspapers, you’d expect to find past celebrations for notable birthdays. A huge Centennial celebration for the State of Texas was held in 1936 at “Old Washington,” with dignitaries attending from all over the world. The Caldwell newspaper declared that hundreds of Burleson County resi-

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I never thought I’d be the kind of person who’d wake up early in the morning to exercise...

And I was right!

dents would be traveling there for the celebration.

When Burleson County turned a hundred years old, in 1946, there was no mention of the milestone. Emerging from World War II, the county news still centered on buying war bonds, news of our military men getting discharges and coming home, and Caldwell making an agreement with Lone Star Gas to provide a pipeline system in town to provide natural gas to city residents. During our March birthday week, the Matsonian Theater was showing “Hold That Blonde,” starring Eddie Bracken and Veronica Lake…..and a bottled Pepsi Cola cost 5 cents.

Unfortunately, with a Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world, our 175th Birthday will be another quiet celebration. The Burleson County Historical Commission will be working on a Time Capsule this spring, to be opened in another 25 years for our 200th Birthday. In the meantime, let’s all leave our own trails…. family trees, photos with names written on the back, written histories and stories you can pass on to your grandkids.

Here’s to 175 years of beautiful Burleson County!! Mark your calendars for March 24, 2046!! We’re hoping there will be a major party!! You’re all invited!

Women

Bookseller conducting a market survey asked a woman: “Which book has helped you most in your life?”

The woman replied, “My husband’s cheque book!!”

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A prospective husband in a book store: “Do you have a book called ‘Husband – the Master of the House?’”

Sales girl: “Sir, fiction and comics are on the 1st floor!”

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Someone asked an old man: “Even after 70 years, you still call your wife – darling, honey, luv. What’s the secret?"

Old man: “I forgot her name and I’m scared to ask her."

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Pharmacist to customer: “Sir, please understand, to buy an anti-depression pill you need a proper prescription ...

Simply showing marriage certificate and wife’s picture is not enough!”

****** For MEN.....and WOMEN with a bit of humour ??

There are 3 kinds of men in this world. Some remain single and make wonders happen. Some have girlfriends and see wonders happen. The rest get married and wonder what happened!

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Wives are magicians. They can change anything into an argument.

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Why do women live a Better, Longer & Peaceful Life, compared to men?

A very INTELLIGENT student replied: "Because Women don't have a wife!"

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A lady says to her doctor: "My husband has a habit of talking in his sleep! What should I give him to cure it?"

The doctor replies: "Give him an opportunity to speak when he's awake! "