Spanish Fort, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Spanish Fort Site
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Historical monument at Spanish Fort townsite
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 Spanish Fort
Location in Texas
Spanish Fort
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Spanish Fort, Texas |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1759 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002000 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1975 |
Spanish Fort is a small, unincorporated community in north-central Montague County, Texas, United States. It's a place with a long and interesting history, once home to Native American tribes and later a busy stop for cowboys. In 2000, about 50 people lived there.
Contents
A Look Back: Spanish Fort's History
Spanish Fort was originally a town belonging to the Taovaya Native American tribe. They built strong defenses there in the 1700s. Later, when settlers from Europe arrived, they found old Spanish items and the remains of a fort. They mistakenly thought it was a Spanish fort, which is how the place got its name.
Early Taovaya Settlements
Between 1750 and 1757, the Taovayas built two main towns near the Red River. These towns were important centers for their community.
The Battle of 1759
In 1759, a Spanish leader named Colonel Diego Ortiz Parrilla led a group of soldiers to get revenge on the Taovaya and Comanche tribes. These tribes had taken things from a Spanish fort called Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas. When the Spanish soldiers arrived, they found about 6,000 Native Americans protecting their town. The town was well-defended with trenches, wooden fences, and a moat. The Taovayas were even flying the French flag! After four hours of fighting, the Spanish soldiers had to retreat, leaving behind their cannons and supplies.
Peace and New Names
By 1771, the Spanish had made peace with the Taovaya people. However, there were still problems with theft, especially of horses. So, in 1778, a French official named Athanase de Mézières visited the area. He convinced the Taovayas to return the two cannons the Spanish had left behind. He also gave the area a new name: San Teodoro.
Changes Over Time
Sadly, Smallpox diseases in 1778 and the expansion of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 caused the Taovaya population to shrink. Around 1841, the Taovayas left their fortified town in San Teodoro, and it slowly fell apart.
How Spanish Fort Got Its Name
In 1859, an early White settler visited the ruins. Not knowing the history, he thought it had been a Spanish fort, which led to the name "Spanish Fort."
A Cowboy Stop: Burlington
By the early 1870s, a town called Burlington grew near the old San Teodoro site. It became a popular spot for cowboys driving cattle along the Chisholm Trail. After resting their herds at Red River Station, cowboys would ride to Burlington for supplies and fun.
A New Name for the Post Office
The community grew quickly, and in 1876, locals asked for a post office. But their request was denied because another town in Texas already had the name Burlington. Two local men suggested the name "Spanish Fort" to honor the nearby ruins. The new name was approved, and the Spanish Fort post office opened in 1877.
A Busy Frontier Town
When Spanish Fort was at its busiest, it had many shops, churches, a Masonic lodge, five doctors, four hotels, and several saloons. The most famous saloon was J. W. Schrock's Cowboy Saloon, where cattlemen would gather for drinks and stories.
The Start of Justin Boots
A famous bootmaker named Herman Joseph Justin started his boot business right in the town plaza. This business later became Justin Industries. Justin would take orders from cowboys heading north and have their custom boots ready for them to pick up on their way back south.
Challenges and Decline
By 1884, Spanish Fort even had its own newspapers, like the Burlington Times. By 1885, about 300 people lived there. However, Spanish Fort also became known as a tough place. Outlaws from Indian Territory would cross the Red River to get supplies, often causing trouble.
The excitement in Spanish Fort eventually faded. The cattle trails moved further west, and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway built its tracks around the town, not through it. In the late 1880s, Justin moved his boot business to the nearby town of Nocona, where it continued to grow.
For the first 40 years of the 1900s, Spanish Fort's population stayed around 250. But by 1952, only about 40 people remained as residents moved to places with better job opportunities. Around 1970, the post office and most businesses closed. By the 1990s, Spanish Fort was almost a ghost town.
Remembering the Past
Even though the remains of the old Taovaya fortification disappeared after more than a century of farming, the site of San Teodoro was honored with a state historical monument in 1936. In 2000, Spanish Fort had 50 residents, but many buildings in the town square were empty.
Recent Events
On February 10, 2009, a very strong F4 tornado hit Spanish Fort. It was the most powerful tornado of that day, first snapping pecan trees just south of the community.
The Stonewall Saloon in Spanish Fort was a well-known resting spot for cowboys herding livestock on the Texas trails.
Where is Spanish Fort? Geography
Spanish Fort is located at the end of Farm to Market Road 103. It's about one mile south of the Red River. It is also about 26 mi (42 km) northeast of Montague, 17 mi (27 km) north of Nocona, and 37 mi (60 km) northeast of Bowie.
Learning in Spanish Fort: Education
The first school in Spanish Fort opened in a simple log cabin in 1884. Today, students in Spanish Fort attend schools in the Prairie Valley Independent School District.
Exploring the Past: Archeological Site
In 1965, experts dug up parts of Spanish Fort along the Red River of the South. This included areas in both Jefferson County, Oklahoma and Montague County, Texas. They did this to study the archeology and analyze artifacts found there, learning more about the past.
Honoring History: Historical Record
Spanish Fort has received historical markers in 1936 and 1976. These markers recognize the culture of the Taovaya tribe and the important confrontation in 1759 with the Spanish expedition. The Spanish Fort site was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, which means it's a very important historical location.
Famous Visitors: Notable People
- Francisco Xavier Chaves: He was held captive by the Taovaya people and later traveled to the fort with Pedro Vial to meet the Wichita people.
- Pedro Vial: A French explorer and frontiersman who visited the area.
