San Gabriel
River Texas
History
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here for the History
San Gabriel River Blue Hole
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North Fork of the San Gabriel
River - Historical Marker
3.5 mi. W of
Georgetown via FM 2338, south on CR 264 (look for the brown
Lake Georgetown sign),
turn into overlook past Corps of
Engineers office, Georgetown vicinity.
Marker text
The North
Fork of the San Gabriel River, part of the Brazos River
system, flows east across Williamson County to join with
the Middle and South forks at Georgetown. Abundant fish
and wildlife attracted numerous Indian tribes to the
areas along the stream in historic times. Named Rio de
San Xavier by Spanish explorer and priest Fray Isidro
Felix Espinosa in 1716, it was known as the San Gabriel
River by the time Williamson County was created in 1848.
Anglo settlements along the river in the 1800s led to
the establishment of four major crossings which took the
names of families living at the sites: Booty, Russell
(later Jenkins), Box, and Hunt. Located along the stream
near the crossings were homes, mills, schools, churches,
cemeteries, postal stations, and a gin. Booty, Russell,
and Box Crossings were inundated by the waters of Lake
Georgetown, but Hunt Crossing remains above the
reservoir. Planned as part of a flood control measure
for the Brazos River system, a dam creating Lake
Georgetown was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers in 1979. The lake and adjoining parks and
recreational facilities were opened in 1981.
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San Gabriel Park - Historical Marker
E. of Austin Ave., N of San Gabriel
River,
in San Gabriel Park in History Georgetown.
Marker text
The land and springs around this site
made it a favored camping site for local Indian tribes for centuries
before the Spanish discovered it. Raids, drought and conflict led the
Spanish to abandon the area in 1756. The Mexican State of Coahuila and
Texas granted a colonization contract to Robert Leftwich in 1825.
Conflicting contracts were granted to Stephen F. Austin and Sterling C.
Robertson. George W. Glasscock, Sr. (1810-1868) purchased the land while
speculating for Thomas B. Huling and Company. In 1839 Glasscock received
two headrights including this land as part of his share of assets when
the company dissolved. The site had become a popular gathering place for
settlers when Sam Houston spoke here in 1859. It became known as "The
Fairgrounds." Large annual fairs, reunions and religious revivals drew
crowds from surrounding areas. The county's first public hanging took
place here in 1886. Williamson County Old Settlers' Association, formed
in 1904, used the area for annual gatherings, eventually leasing 33
acres and building reunion structures. Helen Glasscock, the widow of
George Glasscock, Jr., sold the site to I. M. Williams in 1912. A
devastating flood in 1921 swept away the fairgrounds. Georgetown
citizens requested that the city buy the site from the Williams family
and name it San Gabriel Park in 1933. Under the direction of R. E. Ward,
the city improved the park in the 1930s and 1940s. A river wall, low
water crossing, large building and rest rooms were erected with funding
and labor from the Federal Works Progress Administration. Rodeo pens,
sports fields and further land acquisitions continue to ensure that the
park provides recreation and shelter for area citizens.
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