Texas Historical Marker for the Mill Tract

Title

Texas Historical Marker for the Mill Tract

Subject

History of Spring Lake, San Marcos, Texas

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.

Creator

Jeremy D. Moore

Publisher

Texas State University

Date

August 4, 2015

Contributor

Digital and Web Services at the Alkek Library

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.

Format

JPG

Language

English

Original Format

State Historical Marker

Citation

Jeremy D. Moore, “Texas Historical Marker for the Mill Tract,” University Archives Online Exhibits, accessed March 20, 2023, https://exhibits.library.txstate.edu/univarchives/items/show/514.