Historical Marker
Double Mills
Marathon, Brewster County · Texas
Erected 1967
The old water hole here, also called Double Wells, vanished in the early 1900s when overgrazing and settlement helped Maravillas Creek cut its channel deeper and the water table dropped. In October 1911 Edgar D. Lowe opened the first candelilla wax factory in Brewster County at Double Mills, rendering wax from the desert plant. During the border troubles the Army built the first concrete bridge in southern Brewster County here, and parts of it still stood decades later beside the newer highway bridge just upstream.
What the plaque says
Double Mills A natural watering place in prehistoric time, as evidenced by artifacts found here. Used later by Indians and Spaniards on roads from northern Mexico. As Maravillas Creek developed from a draw into water channel, old water hole vanished. About 1900 a rancher, George Miller, dug two wells and put up twin windmills. After that site was called Double Mills. Became campsite for ranchers driving cattle and horses from Mexico or the Chisos Mountains to the railroad at Marathon. Also for wagon trains of ore; and for U.S. troops on border duty. (1967)
Where it stands
29.74287, -103.16085 · Directions