First Methodist Church of Rocksprings

Rocksprings had 500 people and a bank by 1914, and as the county seat it grew with the ranches around it, to 998 people in 1931 and 1,433 in 1952 before settling at 1,285 in 2000. The town's living came from wool and mohair, with Edwards County among the world's leading producers, and hunting and fishing brought in about a fifth of city and county income. The Angora Goat Breeders Association Museum is in town, and each May the Top-o-the-World festival celebrates the mohair and wool that built it.

What the plaque says

First Methodist Church of Rocksprings This congregation traces its beginning to organized religious gatherings led by the Rev. D. O. McAllister in a schoolhouse located on property owned by Mary Buswell in 1893. Early worship services were also held in a public schoolhouse and in the county courthouse. Contributors to the church's initial success include donors of land J. R. Stanford, S. A. Hough, and Dave Elms; organizers of Sunday Schools and church socials J. J. Gill, Ira L. Wheat, and Mrs. J. R. Stanford; and donors of buckets filled with silver dollars, saloon owners Herman Fleischer, Sr., Joe Burris and George Newton. The first church structure was built about 1900. It was used by the entire community for religious worship until other church buildings could be erected. A storm and tornado, so severe as to detach the church bell clapper and deposit it five miles away, ripped through the community in 1927 destroying the church structure and killing First Methodist Church minister H. L. Spires and his wife. The congregation quickly recovered and erected a new building in 1928. The congregation has supported missionary work in many parts of the world, including Korea and Zaire. Church pastors have continued the early practice of serving Methodist congregations throughout the county. (1992)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area — steps away
  A 140-foot shaft into a cavern outside Rocksprings, seen only on guided tours from a platform at the rim as some three million bats spiral out on summer evenings.
• Real County Historical Museum — 33 mi
  A small county museum in Leakey, at the head of the Frio Canyon, with a log-cabin parlor, an 1880s horse-drawn hearse, a wool and mohair shearing machine and 1910s jail cells.

More markers nearby

• Gilmer Hotel — steps away
• Rocksprings Telephone Company — steps away
• Edwards County — steps away
• First Baptist Church of Rocksprings — 0.4 mi