Site of the First Lamb County Courthouse

Olton was the county's first town, settled around 1900 by Harry Baughn, T. F. Brown and Luther Williams on state land surrounded by C. C. Slaughter's ranch. A. B. Powell opened the first store and post office in his home in 1903, three miles from today's townsite; the office moved three times, ending in 1908 in T. F. Brown's home, an old Slaughter ranch windmill. The Burro school, named for burros that froze beside it in a blizzard, moved to town that year. Littlefield tried in 1929, 1932 and 1937 before winning in 1946.

What the plaque says

Site of the First Lamb County Courthouse Created in 1876, Lamb County was unorganized until it could muster 21 qualified voters, 1908. Citizens donated labor for first 9-room frame courthouse, which served until it burned in 1922. First county officials were: judge, H. R. Miller; commissioners, J. A. Hooper (Precinct No. 1), Claude E. Halsell (No. 2), G. M. Arnett (No. 3), Walter Sullivan (No. 4); sheriff, Herb Dickenson; clerk, George Gallaway; treasurer, Fred Schreier; assessor, Luther Williams. A new courthouse of brick and concrete was built here, 1922-23. After a 1946 election, the county seat was removed to Littlefield. (1972)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Olton's Union Church Bell — steps away
• First Baptist Church of Olton — 0.6 mi
• Lamb County — 0.9 mi
• Halfway — 10 mi