New Fountain, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Fountain, Texas
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Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Medina |
Elevation | 853 ft (260 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area code(s) | 830 |
FIPS code | 48-50928 |
GNIS feature ID | 1380889 |
New Fountain is a ghost town in Medina County, Texas. It was started in 1846. It's located about 1.8 miles west of Quihi and 5.6 miles east of Hondo. This town was part of a big plan by a person named Henri Castro to settle the Medina River valley when Texas was its own country, the Republic of Texas.
The Story of New Fountain
How it Started
New Fountain was founded in 1846. It was settled by people who had moved from a nearby place called Vandenburg. They had to move because the water springs they used in Vandenburg dried up. So, they looked for a new water source. They found a fresh spring about four miles downstream on Verde Creek. Because of this new spring, they named their new home "New Fountain."
Life in the Town
New Fountain quickly became an important place. In 1857, it got the fourth post office in Medina County. This post office stayed open until 1914. By 1858, a church was started by Reverend John Schaper. This church and its cemetery are now the only things left of the old town.
By 1860, New Fountain had more than just the church. It also had a mill and a special meeting place called a Masonic lodge. The town was also a stop for stagecoaches traveling on the important San Antonio-El Paso Road. A school was built in New Fountain in 1876. By 1896, about 400 people lived in the community.