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Welcome to the
Justin Texas Area Historical Society CHISHOLM TRAIL MARKERS Information page |
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RELEASE:
The National Park Service announced that the feasibility study/environmental assessment for the Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail is complete and is available for public comment. This has been a four year project. In 2010 the National Park Service conducted 12 public meetings along the trails to receive feedback. After receiving this feedback the park service began a four year research project to determine if these trails would meet the requirements to become part of the National Historic Trail System. This study was conducted to meet the requirements of the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act. Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the Chisholm and the Western Cattle Trails to determine if they qualify under the National Trail System Act. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 directed the park service to study the Chisholm Trail (also known as the Abilene Trail) starting near San Antonio, Texas traveling north through Fort Worth, Texas, Duncan, Oklahoma, to Enid, Oklahoma into Kansas near Caldwell, up to Wichita and Newton, finally ending in Abilene, while the Ellsworth Trail (Cox Cutoff) headed northwest to Bluff City, Kingman, Ellinwood and on to the Ellsworth railhead. The Western Trail (also known as the Dodge City Trail) starting near San Antonio and traveled north-by northwest through Texas going through Kerrville and Menard, Texas and continuing to Coleman, Albany, Vernon, Texas to Doan’s Crossing. It continued northward through Oklahoma near Altus, Long Wolf, Canute, Vici and May, Oklahoma. Then it continued north through Ashland to Dodge City and on to Dighton, Park, Hoxie, Oberlin and Atwood across Kansas. Then north to Ogallala, Nebraska, passing through Trenton and Madrid. The International Chisholm Trail Association has been advocating for national historic status for the Chisholm Trail since 1995. This organization was formed to identify, preserve, develop, celebrate and promote the Great Cattle Trails of the 19th century for education, heritage and tourism. The feasibility study for the Chisholm and Western Trails is a major accomplishment enhancing the goals of the International Chisholm Trail Association. The complete feasibility study was released January 5, 2015. The public has until March 20, 2015 to read and make comments on this study. If you are interested in viewing the study, you may go to: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectid=30803 If you have any questions about the feasibility study or about the International Chisholm Trail Association please feel free contact D.R. Katzenmeier, President at 785-643-8656, dennis.k@eaglecom.net or Jeff Sheets (Chairman of the Kansas Chapter of the International Chisholm Trail Association) at 785-263-2681 or by email heritagecenterjs@sbcglobal.net. Visit the website at www.chisholmtrailassn.org |
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Comments by Stacey Lotz and Kelli Thomerson submitted to National Park Service in support of the Alternative B for the Draft Chisholm and Western National Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment. Park: National Trail System Project: Chisholm and Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment Document: Draft Chisholm and Western Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment Name: Stacey Lotz City: Roanoke State: TX Postal Code 76262 Email: Stacey.Lotz@roanoketexas.com Organization: City of Roanoke Visitor Center and Museum Comments: Stacey Lotz, Manager and Kelli Thomerson, Curator of Collections of the City of Roanoke Visitor Center and Museum, we unequivocally support Alternative B in the Draft Chisholm and Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment. This alternative would designate the two trails as one administrative unit. The City of Roanoke is located in southwestern Denton County close to the Chisholm Trail route, and it would see great heritage and economic benefits from the National Trail designations. Roanoke has a strong connection to the area’s cattle ranching history. The area was first settled in 1847 by a group of settlers led by brothers Charles and Louis Medlin, who came from North Carolina via Missouri. Several families also settled in or owned land in nearby Justin and the now-defunct community of Elizabethtown, which were located along the Chisholm Trail. The majority of these settlers used the land for cattle ranching. In 1881, the Texas and Pacific Railroad platted the town of Roanoke, Texas, from the D.O. (David) Hoover survey. The Texas and Pacific Railroad laid track from Fort Worth to Denton. The railroad founded the community to serve as a major shipping point for the cattle ranches in the vicinity. Local historians believe the town was named by one of the railroad surveyors who came from Roanoke, Virginia. The earliest extant commercial building in Roanoke is a two-story stone structure constructed in 1886. Built by the Snead brothers, the Silver Spur Saloon hosted many locals and cowboys who worked the trails and ranches in the area. The building eventually housed various other businesses such as a grocery store, mechanic’s garage, doctor’s office and the local telephone switchboard. In 2007, the building was in a derelict state and was donated to the city. After an extensive renovation, the building was reopened in 2008 as the Roanoke Visitor Center and Museum. The museum proudly displays a Denton County historical marker and is considered the center of the revitalized downtown area. In fact, the downtown district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the city was recognized in 2009 by the State of Texas as the “Unique Dining Capital of Texas.” Roanoke recognizes and celebrates its heritage by hosting the annual “Celebrate Roanoke” and “Victorian Christmas” festivals. “Celebrate Roanoke” includes Western shootout re-enactments and costumed Victorian characters. In 2014, more than 15,000 people attended this free festival. The also-free “Victorian Christmas” celebration includes not only costumed characters from the 1880s but also Father Christmas and an old-fashioned parade down the main thoroughfare. Please extend our thanks to Congress for authorizing the study. We commend the National Park Service for its excellent and thorough study of possible national trail designations, and we hope Congress will implement the national trail designation in time for the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2017. |
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Comments by Mary Horn submitted to National Park Service in support of the Alternative B for the Draft Chisholm and Western National Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment. Park: National Trail System Project: Chisholm and Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment Document: Draft Chisholm and Western Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment Name: Mary Horn State: TX Organization: Denton County Judge Comments: As Denton County Judge, I strongly support alternative B" in the NPS feasibility study. This county encourages local, state, and national efforts to preserve our western heritage and culture, as demonstrated through the substantial financial backing and administrative assistance we provide to the Denton County Historical Commission and to the Denton County Office of History and Culture. As with all county historical commissions, the DCHC protects and preserves the countys historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations. The mission of the OHC follows these same ideals, by interpreting our past, giving context to our present, and providing a greater direction to our future through the interpretive development of Denton county history and the cultural enrichment of our community.At the direction of the DCHC Chair in April 2014, a Denton County Trail Marking Committee was formed to identify and document as conclusively as possible any portion of the Chisholm Trail that passed through Denton County. As a result, the committee conducted interviews with various individuals and researched books, periodicals, newspapers, brochures, handbooks, and maps pertinent to the area. They arranged meetings with individuals from both Denton and neighboring counties in order to better understand the network of the trail as it traveled through and between counties. In addition, they organized driving tours and visits to county sites that offered some evidence of the trails route. On November , 2014, the committee presented a preliminary report of their findings at the DCHC monthly meeting, concluding that the Chisholm Trail traversed the western portion of Denton County, entering the county via the southwest corner, near the now defunct town of Elizabethtown, traveling northward at a point just west of Bolivar, and exiting at the northwest corner of the county as the Trail continued its northwesterly heading. A final report from the committee to the full membership of the DCHC is scheduled to be delivered on March , 2015. Based on this information, I fully encourage designating the Chisholm Trail as a National Historic Trail, since it traversed so much of Denton County on its way from Texas to Abilene, KS. A national designation recognizing its tremendous significance to the Western heritage for our entire nation as it journeys through one Texas county to the next and then crossed multiple state lines from trail beginning to trail end would only be logical. Please extend my thanks to Congress for authorizing the study. I commend the National Park Service for its excellent and thorough study of possible national trail designations. It is my hope that Congress will implement the national trail designation in time for the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2017.
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Comments by George Westby submitted to National Park Service in support of the Alternative B for the Draft Chisholm and Western National Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment. Park: National Trail System Project: Chisholm and Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment Document: Draft Chisholm and Western Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment Name: George Westby State: TX Organization: President Texas Trail of Fame Comments: As president of the "Texas Trail of Fame", I strongly support alternative "B" in the NPS feasibility study. The "Texas Trail of Fame" is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1996, to honor those who have helped create and or preserve our great Western heritage. We do this by installing 24" bronze markers in the walkways of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, backed up by an educational web site giving information on each inductee. There are 172 markers in the walkways to date. We have recognized the Chisholm Trail here locally, but feel it is deserving of national recognition as it crosses state lines and is of tremendous significance to the Western heritage for our entire nation. More than three million visitors, from all over the world, come to see and photograph our twice daily cattle drive, which represents what happened on the Chisholm and Great Western trails during the post civil war years. A national designation would certainly be appropriate since it went right through Fort Worth Texas.Please extend my thanks to Congress for authorizing the study. I commend the National Park Service for it's excellent and thorough study of possible national trail designations. Hopefully, Congress will implement the national trail designation in time for the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2017.
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Comments by Alan Schiegg submitted to National Park Service in support of the Alternative B for the Draft Chisholm and Western National Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment. Park: National Trail System Project: Chisholm and Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment Document: Draft Chisholm and Western Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment Name: Alan Schiegg City: Denton State: TX Postal Code 76207 Email: schiegg@aol.com Organization: Co-Chairman/Denton County Historical Commission Chisholm Trail Marking Committee Comments: I was born in the eastern United States but did my best to make it to Texas as quickly as possible. I didn't make it in time for the long cattle drives but my nearly 50 years here has just about qualified me as a full fledged Texan, for which I am proud. Some of my Pennsylvania slang or accent still becomes obvious at times but I'm pretty well accepted in just about all social circles. I've been retired now for a number of years and have developed quite an interest in Texas history during these retired years. I have worked as a docent in both San Antonio at the Institute of Texan Cultures and here In Denton at the Museum of History and Culture. Of particular interest has been the research time I've given to the Chisholm Trail. Oddly enough this interest started from a request prompted by the National Park Service during the Lewis and Clark bicentennial celebration. San Antonio was one of the stopping points on the exhibit travels through the States and the Institute was asked if someone could prepare a talk on the Chisholm Trail. It was probably through default that I inherited the task. I was both excited and concerned about the project but it provided me a great opportunity to learn of the significance and importance of this unique period in Texas' colorful history. The heritage, cultural and economical impact of the cattle drives from Texas continues to be a binding part of the fabric of our state to this day. It so excites me today, nearly 150 years after these cattle drives started that a recognition of their importance is being considered for Nation Historical Trail designation. It goes without saying that I fully support these efforts and encourage the acceptance of Plan B as proposed in the NPS Draft Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment.Any consideration that those involved in the decision process can provide toward this acceptance is greatly appreciated. |
| National Park Service Gretchen Ward Lead Planner 505-988-6033 gretchen_ward@nps.gov |
Gretchen Ward National Park Service National Trails Intermountain Region P. O. Box 728 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 |
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