Historic Calvert Tour - Schools, Churches, & Cemeteries

www.robertsoncounty.info

H I S T O R I C C A L V E R T T O U R
Public Buildings, Churches, Cemeteries, & Parks

A Tour Of Places & Buildings With Architectural & Historical Significance In The City Of Calvert

Additional Information About Historic Calvert Is Available At:
History Of Robertson County by James Walter Baker,
Historical Recollections Of Robertson County by Richard Denny Parker

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If you have pictures of Robertson County, its towns, communities, rivers, streams, bridges, fields, cemeteries, houses, government buildings, businesses, farms, churches, farm machinery, crops, farm animals, wild animals, oil wells, gas wells, drilling platforms, cotton gins, bluebonnets, dogwood trees, or any other pictures which give glimpses of what life is like in Robertson County, please send them to William Kent Brunette.

U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N

# On Map

Sketches & Photographs

Names & Descriptions Of Places, Buildings, & Houses
With Architectural & Historical Significance

Early Calvert Photos
Photos from
History Of Robertson County,
pp. 510, 526, & 543.

Former Courthouse / Hammond House
30 58 50 N / -96 40 12 W, bounded by Burnet, China, Elm, & Hanna Streets, Map
The Hammond House was designed as the Robertson County Courthouse by St. Louis Architect W. P. Ingraham in 1875, and was completed in July of 18979. The county seat, however, was moved to Franklin, Texas in December of that same year and it never saw use as a courthouse. The county sheriff and his family lived in Ingraham Castle, as it was then known, until the spring of 1881, when it was sold to a Mr. A. Faulkner. In 1885, R. A. Brown purchased the building and converted it into a residence. It was sold again in 1909, to Mrs. Fannie Lee Hammond, and it remained in the Hammond family until it was sold to the Robertson County Historical Commission in 1967 by the Norton family, heirs of Fannie Lee Hammond. This two-story brick, Gothic Revival style building has a castellated parapet concealing a standing seam metal roof, hood mouldings over the windows are cast iron or brick. The double hung, sash windows have elegant wooden shutters. The two-story bay, capped by an octagonal metal roof, was a later addition to the previously symmetrical floor plan. On the east side of the house, a smaller two-story building, originally the kitchen and extra bedroom, was linked to the main house by a wooden bridge at the second floor. This was later enclosed by a wooden structure housing a bathroom and pantry, now removed. The Hammond House, with its carriage house and gazebo, occupies and entire city block. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Former Calvert Courthouse. Most impressive public building in early Robertson County. After becoming county seat in 1870, Calvert lost many leaders in 1873 yellow fever epidemic. As planned, this courthouse was begun in 1875; but before its completion, Franklin was named county seat in 1879. Robert A. Brown, a merchant, investor, and planter, purchased this building in 1885. With help of his wife, Lucy Herndon Brown, he made it into a residence. In 1909, his heirs sold it to Mrs. Fannie L. Hammond, in whose family it remained until 1966, when it became a museum." [#10906/1968] The Former Courthouse/Hammond House is one of 12 buildings or groups of buildings in Robertson County that is preserved in the U.S. Library of Congress American Memory Collection. Architectural drawings and floor plans of this historic building from this collection are featured to the left and below.

Historic Courthouse, National Register, THC Survey, THC Marker

Top photo to left from History Of Robertson County, p. 516.

Virginia Field Park
30 58 59 N / -96 40 08 W, [Burnett Street between Pin Oak & Maple], Map
In 1895 a pavilion and two gazebos were constructed in Virginia Field Park from the design of a New York architect. The pavilion is octagonal in plan and is covered by a two-tiered roof. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Land given to Calvert 1868 for use as a park by the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. Co C. 4th Texas Infantry Regiment, Hood's Texas Brigade, under Major William Townsend, mustered nearby in 1865. Was site during Reconstruction, 1868 - 1873, of 'Sky Parlor' [room built on pole, as a tree house] to serve as prison for Southern sympathizers. In 1895 and 1912, Hood's Texas Brigade Association entertained here. The Victorian pavilion and two gazebos were built 1895 for concerts, gatherings, and dancing. The park was named in 1937 for landscaper, Mrs. Virginia Field." [#10954/1968] Virginia Field Park covers a city block. The main wood-shingled Victorian Pavilion was named the "Karen Wiese Memorial Pavilion" in recent years.
THC Survey, THC Marker

Garten Rhien Park
According to John Walter Baker on p. 534 of his book History of Robertson County: "The German families in Calvert had 'The Garten Rhien,' a ten-acre park complete with tennis court, pavilion, horseshoe throwing courts, card tables, and a beer barrel platform on the lawn. They met every Sunday to eat, drink, and hear the music of their fine band, directed by Mr. Jietsch. They had maple lanes for playing tenpins that were built by the Lang brothers, and for their amusement they also had their own Negro band." So, if you hear voices speaking in German in the shadows on a Sunday afternoon in Calvert, these may be coming from the former location of Calvert's Garten Rhien Park. Does anybody know where this park was? If so, please contact William Kent Brunette.

Photos to left are from History Of Robertson County, p. 535.

Calvert Ghost Railroad
The Calvert Ghost Railroad was a spur of the Calvert, Waco, & Brazos Valley Railroad that was built by the end of 1900. After operating for almost 3 1/2 decades, the three-mile route was abandoned in 1934. This ghost railroad appears on two Calvert fire insurance maps (Fire Map #1 & Fire Map #2). This route (from the river bottom road up behind the Calvert County Club) is identified as the "old railroad grade" on Calvert Map #1. It connected in a "Y" at the old CW&BV Railroad tracks. Calvert Map #2 shows this route in greater detail.

City Hall
Calvert's City Hall at 600 Railroad Street was built around 1910.
THC Survey

Katy Hamman Stricker Library
404 Mitchell Street
The Katy Hamman Stricker Library building as built at the turn of the century by the American Woman's League. The one-room building, with a small kitchen area, served as the league's clubhouse. In 1939, the Calvert Woman's Club purchased the building for the town's library. Today, the Calvert Woman's Club continues to sponsor the library for the community.
THC Survey

Catholic Church
Built around 1890, this building at 505 Logan Street is a one-room Catholic church, board and batten construction with imbricated shingling in gable ends, shuttered windows, bargeboards and pendant in gables.
THC Survey

Church Of The Epiphany
30 58 47 N / -96 40 10 W, [700 Gregg Street, corner Gregg & Elm], Map
Built around 1890, this wooden church building features architectural details in brackets and soffits, with Gothic lancet windows and round stained glass windows, double door with two light transom, and pressed tin ceiling. This church is distinguished by the three-story tower, lances windows and jig-saw cut bargeboard. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Organized June 6, 1870, by Bishop Gregg. Oldest church edifice erected in Calvert. Has been used continuously since parish was founded. Fine wood scrollwork and lancet windows compliment the Victorian architecture." [#10913/1967]
THC Survey, THC Marker

Photo to left from History Of Robertson County, p. 505.

First Baptist Church
30 58 52 N / -96 40 15 W, [corner Elm & Burnett], Map
Texas Historic Marker reads: "As early as 1835, Baptists were worshipping in this area. In 1868, when Calvert was founded, Houston & Texas Central Railroad donated lots for a church. Until a brick edifice was built in 1873 on that land [at Hanna and Pine], services were held in a private residence. This church was host [1875] to Baptist State Convention; [1875, 1878] the State Sunday School Convention; [1912] Hood's Texas Brigade Reunion. Sent [1907] Alyne Guynes Muirhead and [1915] Sammie Guynes Johnson as missionaries to Brazil. Since 1947, sponsors Mexican mission. Elmo Baptist Church merged with Calvert, 1969." [#10921/1972]
THC Marker

First Presbyterian Church
30 58 55 N / -96 40 22 W, [401 N. Barton Street, corner Beech & Barton], Map
The Greek Revival style church at 401 Barton Street has imported stained glass, round arched windows, four Doric columns support the pedimented portico. It also has a pedimented central door with a bell tower on top. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Built at Sterling before Civil War on land of Judge Robert Calvert, Texas legislator and descendant of Lord Baltimore [Maryland colonizer]. Stained glass in windows was imported. Other materials and labor were from Calvert's plantation. Calvert's heirs gave building to the church - then Cumberland Presbyterian. It was moved to Calvert in 1868, remodeled 1877, placed at this site 1913." [#10923/1967]
THC Survey, THC Marker

Photo to left from History Of Robertson County, p. 509.

Independent Missionary Baptist Church
This church in the 300 block of Magnolia Street was built in 1924. Church formed 1874, structure built 1924. Wood frame, with corner towers to each side of central entry.
THC Survey

Saint Paul Methodist Church
30 58 51 N / -96 40 45 W, [101 Pecan Street, corner Pecan & Hwy. 979], Map
This African American church in the 100 block of Pecan Street has fine stained glass windows in Gothic arches and a bell tower over the entry. L. H. Richardson was the first pastor (1900). Texas Historic Marker reads: "This congregation organized in 1872 as St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, North. After their first church building burned, members of St. Paul moved quickly to replace it. Using salvageable material from the old sanctuary as well as new materials, noted area carpenter and church member Charlie Terrill completed this building in 1900. Since that time it has served as a place of worship for the congregation and as a center for community activities. Members hosted the West Texas Annual Methodist Conference here in 1913. A fine example of the Gothic Revival style, St. Paul church features a central tower, pointed-arch windows and fish-scale shingles on the gables." [#12590/2001]
THC Survey, THC Marker

1872 - 1923

Sneed Memorial Methodist Church
30 58 50 N / -96 40 20 W, corner Beech & Mitchell Streets, Map
This late Gothic Revival church was built in 1923. Texas Historic Marker reads: "This congregation, organized in 1869 as the Calvert Methodist Church, built its first sanctuary on this site in 1872. Among the early pastors were [1885 - 1886] the Reverend Seth Ward, later first native Texan to be named a Methodist bishop; and [1895 - 1899] the Reverend Dr. James Kilgore, a founder of Southern Methodist University. In 1923 when the present church building was erected, the name was changed in memory of the Reverend Joseph Perkins Sneed [1804 - 1881], a circuit rider who came to Texas in 1838, then served for many years in Robertson and Milam County churches." [#10947/1975]
THC Survey, THC Marker

Photo to left from History Of Robertson County, p. 503.

Episcopal Parsonage
The Episcopal Parsonage at 700 Elm Street is a wooden vernacular structure with transom and sidelights.
THC Survey

Methodist Parsonage
The Methodist Parsonage at 402 Mitchell Street was built between 1900 & 1910. It is an L-shaped one-story wood vernacular with Doric columns.
THC Survey

Presbyterian Manse
Built around 1880, the Presbyterian Manse at 403 Barton Street is an example of the symmetrical Victorian. This one-story, five-bay wooden residence was constructed ca. 1880. The central entrance is bordered by side lights and a transom. It has 4/4 light windows, door with three light transom and two light, sidelight, four square columns, and a jig-saw cut balustrade. This brick foundation building was built as manse by Mrs. F. G. Garrett.
THC Survey

Calvert Beauty Rest Cemetery
30 58 13 N / - 96 40 16 W, Map
Beauty Rest Cemetery

Calvert City Cemetery
30 58 53 N / - 96 40 07 W, Map
Established in 1870, the Calvert Cemetery reveals a variety of large, elaborate nineteenth century sepulchral sculpture, often symbolizing a person's achievements or position within the community.
Calvert Cemetery A - K, Calvert Cemetery L - Z

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Hammond
30 58 53 N / -96 40 07 W, [buried at Calvert Cemetery], Map
Texas Historic Marker reads: "Prominent physician, planter, industrialist, political leader. As a man of wealth, came [1852] to Texas from Huntsville, Alabama, with family, slaves, cattle, horses, and ox-train of property. Bought extensive lands here. After Civil War, gave about 160 acres to each household of his ex-slaves, but carpetbaggers nevertheless put him in Calvert's tree prison. Married four times; had a son William Eli Hammond; two grandchildren." [#10928/1973]
THC Marker

Calvert Livestock Commission Cemetery
30 57 56 N / - 96 39 51 W, Map
Calvert Livestock Commission Cemetery

Hispanic Cemetery
30 59 07.1 N / - 96 39 40.9 W, Map
Calvert Hispanic Cemetery

Jewish Cemetery
30 59 05 N / - 96 39 44 W, Map
Jewish Cemetery

Nixon Cemetery
30 59 07 N / - 96 39 45 W, Map
Nixon Cemetery

Norton-Orviss Cemetery
30 59 06 N / - 96 39 42 W, Map
Norton-Orviss Cemetery

Sterling Cemetery
30 59 05 N / -96 42 26 W, [two miles west of Calvert on FM 979 to CR 116], Map
This cemetery is on private property and is not easily accessible. A fenced-in area is visible from the road where a handful of tombstones remain. This is only a small portion of the cemetery. Other markers can be found on several acres in the surrounding fields which are now somebody's pasture. Texas Historic Marker reads: "Burial place of some 400 Texas pioneers and descendants. On land granted [1835] to A. J. Webb; bought in 1850 by Judge Robert Calvert, a civic leader in Sterling, a town named for empresario Sterling C. Robertson. Calvert dedicated 11.1-acre cemetery and built adjacent Cumberland Presbyterian Church of his own plantation timber. In 1867, Judge Calvert died and was buried near cemetery gate. The church building was moved by oxen to new town of Calvert [2 mi. E]. In 1868, his wife, Mary Keesee Calvert, and their three daughters deeded cemetery site to the Cumberland Presbyterians." [#10950/1973]
Sterling Cemetery, THC Marker, & First Presbyterian Church above

Photo to left from History Of Robertson County, p. 442.

Sunnyside Cemetery
30 59 29 N / - 96 40 21 W, Map
Sunnyside Cemetery

Spikner High School
30 58 18 N / -96 40 50 W, Map
Texas Historic Marker Pending

THC = Texas Historical Commission

= For additional information