Texas Historical Marker for the Mill Tract

Item

Title
Texas Historical Marker for the Mill Tract
Description
Photograph of the historical marker that was placed in 1986 at 221 Sessom Drive in San Marcos, Texas. The marker is just steps away from a sizable sluice that still regulates rushing water escaping from Spring Lake.

Marker text:
San Marcos Mill Tract - Located on land that was granted to Juan M. de Veramendi in 1831, this tract was purchased by Edward Burleson (1793-1851) in 1844. A native of North Carolina, Burleson moved to Texas in 1830, settling first in Bastrop county. He commanded forces at the battle of San Jacinto and later participated in the Cherokee War in East Texas. He served as congressman, senator, and vice-president of the Republic of Texas, but was defeated by Anson Jones in a bid for presidency. Later, when Texas became a state, he served in both the House of Representatives and Senate. Burleson moved his family to the valley of the San Marcos River in the late 1840s. Here he built the first dam on the river to provide power for a grist mill and sawmill. What became known in later land transactions as the "Mill Tract" evolved into the center of commercial enterprise for the town of San Marcos. following Burleson's early operation, a cotton gin, three ice factories, a water works, and an electric plant were built in the area. San Marcos early industrial park continued to have a steady economic impact on the town for over a century. Although no longer an industrial site, the Mill Tract is a reminder of the area's rich history.
Contributor
Digital and Web Services at the Alkek Library
Creator
Jeremy D. Moore
Date
August 4, 2015
Format
JPG
Language
English
Publisher
Texas State University
Rights
This image is presented for research and educational purposes only, and may not be distributed or re-published without permission from the University Archives, Texas State University.
Subject
History of Spring Lake, San Marcos, Texas
Original Format
State Historical Marker
Site pages
The Mill Tract
Media
MillTract_P8040730.jpg

Position: 2175 (15 views)