Hereford Christian College

The college opened in a town only a few years old. Hereford began as Blue Water, for the waters of Tierra Blanca Creek, and took the name of the Hereford cattle of ranchers L. R. Bradly and G. R. (Rat) Jowell when postal authorities found Texas already had a Blue Water. It became county seat in place of La Plata, and by 1900 it had 532 people and its first public school. F. L. Vanderburgh began the Hereford Reporter, later the Brand, in February 1901, and five churches had been established by 1902.

What the plaque says

Hereford Christian College Hereford College opened 1902 as co-educational public school in newly-built three-story main building. By 1903, college was transferred to Christian Church for needed financial support. Renamed Add-Ran College. The next year, name changed to Panhandle Christian College. Relying on tuition alone for support, college was forced to close in 1912. Housed Hereford High School, 1915-26. This marker is mounted on Roswell, New Mexico, brownstone from the old main building. (1966)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Deaf Smith County Historical Museum — 0.5 mi
  Hereford's county museum in an early Catholic school: the Windmill City's pioneers, a half-dugout and caboose outside, and work by the Italian prisoners held south of town in the war.
• Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge — 17 mi
  A 1938 Depression-era lake on Tierra Blanca Creek that has gone dry, now 7,664 acres of shortgrass, cottonwood canyon and a prairie dog town on the High Plains south of Umbarger.

More markers nearby

• The Thompson House — steps away
• Two-Wheel Fire Hose Reel — 0.5 mi
• Mothers Park — 0.5 mi
• Deaf Smith County — 0.6 mi