Photograph of clock tower at the Downtown Denton Transit Center. 360-degree panoramic photograph.

Street scene in Weatherford.

Photograph of the Smokestack Restaurant in Thurbur, Texas. The restaurant is red with green trim and the parking lot in front of the building is filled with cars and several people standing around a group of motorcycles. The edge of a field is visible in the foreground of the picture.

Red-brick smokestack of the Texas Pacific Coal and Oil Company. EVOLUTION OF AN OIL COMPANY

THIS IS THE SITE OF THE FIRST COMMERCIAL COAL PRODUCED IN TEXAS BY TEXAS & PACIFIC COAL COMPANY. MINED IN 1888. THIS COMPANY WAS THE FORERUNNER OF TEXAS PACIFIC COAL AND OIL COMPANY, NOW ONE OF THE NATION'S SUBSTANTIAL INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS OF OIL AND GAS. THE TRANSITION FROM COAL MINING TO PETROLEUM PRODUCTION WAS ACCELERATED BY THE COMPANY'S DISCOVERY IN 1917 OF OIL AND GAS IN THE GREAT RANGER FIELD, 16 MILES TO THE WEST. IT WAS A NATURAL EVOLUTION OF AN AMERICAN ENTERPRISE DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING NATURAL RESOURCES TO SUPPLY THE NATION'S GROWING NEEDS FOR ABUNDANT ENERGY. BENEATH THIS GROUND LIES PART OF THE 127,000,000 TONS OF COAL STILL OWNED BY TEXAS PACIFIC, WHICH MAY BE MINED IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS TEXAS' ONLY KNOWN DEPOSIT OF BITUMINOUS COAL OCCURS FROM THE SURFACE TO A DEPTH OF 450 FEET. ERECTED MARCH, 1960 BY TEXAS PACIFIC COAL AND OIL COMPANY, FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Photograph of a historic plaque in Thurber, Texas. It reads: "Thurber. Most important mine site in Texas for 30 years. Coal here, probably known to Indians, was "discovered" in 1886 by W. W. Johnson, who with his brother Harvey sold out to Texas & Pacific Coal Company in 1888. (T. & P. Coal Company provided fuel for the Texas & Pacific Railroad, but was independently owned. Town was named for H. K. Thurber, friend of T. & P. Coal Company founders. Most dynamic firm member was Robert D. Hunter (1833 - 1902), developer of 7 of 15 mines. Next president was E. L. Marston, Hunter's son-in-law, who left mining largely to William K. Gordon (1862 - 1949), an engineer who brought daily output to 3,000 tons. Then in 1917, Gordon (backed by management of coal company) was primarily responsible for discovery of Range Oil Field, 20 miles west. Adoption of oil-burning railway locomotives cut demand for coal. Last mine here closed in 1921, and the 10,000 or more inhabitants of Thurber began to move away. The coal firm changed its name to Texas Pacific Coal and Oil Company and was sold in 1963 to Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., …

Red-brick smokestack of the Texas Pacific Coal and Oil Company. EVOLUTION OF AN OIL COMPANY

W. K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas, Tarleton State University.

Photograph of the fire station in Thurber, Texas. The building is painted red with white trim and part of the brick smokestack is visible on the right.

Photograph of a two-story building in Thurber, Texas that used to be a gas station, viewed from the back. Part of the second story forms an overhang where gas pumps are visible; it also has a taller platform with a railing that has a "Thurber" sign on the side and a "Thurber Tipple" sign near the roof. A newer sign on the side of the building says "Thurber 'Tiques & Treasures" as well as "Western Art * Antiques * Crafts * Collectibles & Gifts." Other signs on the building say "Oil Change," "Fish Bait," "Hay for Sale," and "New-Used Tires." A restaurant building is visible in the background.

TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TEXAS OFFICIAL HISTORICAL MEDALLION TEXAS & PACIFIC RAILWAY DEPOT IN 1881, THE FIRST STORY OF THIS BRICK DEPOT WAS BUILT AS A STATION FOR THE TEXAS & PACIFIC RAILWAY. TWO YEARS LATER, A SECOND FLOOR WS ADDED TO THE STRUCTURE, AND THE NEW RAILROAD TOWN OF BAIRD WAS CHOSEN CALLAHAN COUNTY SEAT. THE RENAISSANCE REVIVAL DEPOT, WHICH FEATURES DECORATIVE BRICKWORK, WAS USED BY THE RAILROAD UNTIL 1977. ITS PRESENCE IS A REMINDER OF THE TOWN'S IMPORTANCE AS A SHIPPING POINT FOR THE T&P RAILWAY FOR OVER 60 YEARS. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1985

Photograph of a street scene in Baird, Texas, looking towards the Callahan County courthouse. Cars are parked outside buildings on both sides of the street. Several trees obscure the courthouse from view.

Photograph of a street scene in Baird, Texas. Buildings line the street, and two cars are parked outside an antique shop.

Photograph of the Baird Chamber of Commerce, formerly the T & P depot. It is a two-story red brick building.

Photograph of the Baird Fire Department building. It is made out of bright red brick, and has two garage doors. A sign at the top of the building says "B.A.I.R.D. Est. 1881, Volunteer Fire Department."

Photograph of a stained glass window at the International Order of Odd Fellows club building in Baird.

Tiled street sign in Baird "Market Street"

Photograph of the International Order of Odd Fellows club building in Baird. There are two stained glass windows set into the building. The window on the left says "IOOF". The second window says "FLT".

TEXAS & PACIFIC 616 PLAZA CORNER

Photograph of the historic marker for Camp Pecan in Baird, Texas. The stone marker is on the courthouse lawn; buildings are visible in the background. Text: Camp Pecan C. S. A. This Civil War camp of the Texas Frontier Regiment was located 21 mi. southeast established in 1862 as one of a line of posts a day's horseback ride apart. The number of men guarding the frontier were few. Trouble came from all directions with Indian threats and raids from the west and plundering renegades and deserters from the east. Food, supplies, clothing and horses were constantly scarce. But in spite of all obstacles, these Confederates managed to effectively hold the frontier line of settlement. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Erected by the state of Texas, 1963.

Photograph of a historic plaque about the Callahan County Courthouse. It reads: "Callahan County Courthouse. The county seat moved from Belle Plain to Baird in 1883, and a courthouse, designed by noted architect F. E. Ruffini, was built at this site. The county hired another noted architect, J. Riely Gordon, in 1900 for a larger courthouse; J. E. Flanders was the supervising architect. In 1928, the growing county hired Voelcker & Dixon Architects & Engineers of Wichita Falls, who designed this classical revival courthouse, completed the next year. Suggs and Dunlap Contractors constructed the building, which features intricate detailing, including acanthus leaves, rosettes, medallions and cartouches. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2003."

Photograph of a black sign that says "Callahan County Library Museum". A picture of a lighted torch held above an open book has been painted in the middle of the sign.

Photograph of a memorial plaque in Callahan County. It says: "Callahan County, Formed from Bexar Territory, created February 1, 1858, recreated August 21, 1876, organized July 3, 1877. Named in honor of James H. Callahan, 1812-1856, Soldier in the Texas Revolution, Captain of the Texas Rangers. County seat, Callahan City, 1877; Belle plain, 1877-1883; Baird, since. Two early military roads, the Chisholm Trail, and the first government telegraph line traversed this region."

Photograph of a memorial plaque placed on a cut rock in Callahan County. The seal on the front reads "Texas Highway Department 1936."