Heritage Village

Native Americans and buffalo roamed this area before buffalo hunters arrived in 1876. The presence of Comanche bands is commemorated by a large arrow on the square, signifying that Snyder is part of the Quanah Parker Trail. An 18-foot bronze statue of Quanah Parker stands near the museum on the Western Texas College campus.

Snyder began in 1878 as a trading post for hunters and was named after W.H. (Pete) Snyder, who operated the trading post and later created the plot map for the city that now bears his name.

On October 7, 1876, J. Wright Mooar killed a rare white buffalo on Deep Creek, about 10 miles northwest of Snyder. A replica of the buffalo now stands on the courthouse square beside a marker detailing Mr. Mooar's hunting career. He later became a rancher and businessman and was fondly referred to in his later years as "Scurry County's No. 1 Citizen." The White Buffalo Festival, held each October, pays tribute to Mr. Mooar and his contributions to the county's history.

Cattlemen followed the hunters, becoming the county’s first permanent settlers. The annual Scurry County Rodeo, held in mid-July, celebrates this ranching legacy. A historic marker west of Snyder on Highway 180 highlights the Von Roeder Cotton Breeding Farm, which pioneered the development of improved stormproof cotton seeds. Agriculture remained the county's primary industry until the discovery of oil in the Canyon Reef Oil Field in 1948, which transformed Snyder into a boomtown overnight. The county celebrated the production of its billionth barrel of oil in 1973.

Exhibits showcasing Scurry County's colorful history can be found at the Scurry County Museum on the Western Texas College campus. Restored landmarks include the Ritz Theatre and the Manhattan Hotel on the south side of the courthouse square, along with numerous structures in the Heritage Village on the Coliseum grounds.

Visitors can relax at Towle Memorial Park on South College Avenue, which features picnic tables, a walking path, and other recreational amenities. Genealogists will find research materials at the Scurry County Library, while golfers can enjoy the 9-hole courses at Western Texas College and the Scurry County Golf Course.

For more information about Snyder, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at (325) 573-3558.

The Cornelius-Dodson House is the oldest residence in Snyder. The house was built in 1883 by Dr. J.C. Cornelius, a retired Confederate Army surgeon who moved west after the Civil War. Designed in the Tennessee Cumberland style, it features a sloped roof and a fireplace in each of the two front rooms.

Dr. Cornelius built much of the house himself using lumber shipped by rail from Fort Worth to Colorado City, about 20 miles away, and then hauled to Snyder by wagon. The original flooring remains in the parlor and bedroom, with the bedroom also retaining its original tongue-and-groove ceiling. During restoration, wood for the other rooms was milled to match the original. Most of the ornate iron fence dates back to the house's construction, while the remainder was custom-manufactured in 1981 by the same company that created the original.

In 1894, A.D. (Uncle Andy) Dodson purchased the house. Originally a farmer from Tennessee, he was a horse trader and a dry goods merchant. Members of the Dodson family owned and lived in the house until it was sold to First Federal Savings and Loan. The house was located at the corner of College Avenue and 30th Street. When First Federal acquired the property in 1979, they intended to use it as an office. However, they realized that the necessary modifications would compromise its historic value. As a result, the house was donated to Historic Scurry County, Inc., a nonprofit organization.

In the spring of 1981, rooms that had been added to the house over the years were removed to restore it to its original size. On April 6, 1981, the house was relocated to its current site. A formal opening was held in June 1984 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scurry County.

The Cornelius-Dodson House is an interpretive restoration, as no inventory of the original furnishings was available. The bedroom and kitchen are furnished in a style typical of the 1884 period, while the parlor and dining room reflect early 1900s turn-of-the-century decor. 

Behind the house stands a cistern donated by Aline and G.A. Parks. Dating back to 1891, as indicated by the date etched into its concrete cap, the cistern was relocated and reconstructed at the site by the Parks' children, Paula Parks Fulford and Witt Parks. The Parks family wished for it to be used in a historical context. During tours, special attention is given to educating visitors about the significance of rainwater collection systems.

The Dermott School was built in 1923–24 in the town of Dermott, about 12 miles northwest of Snyder on Highway 84. Pete McDermott donated the land for the town, and when the post office was established in 1902, the town was named after him, with the "Mc" removed.

Nearby was a settlement named Dark, which began in the 1890s. Students in Dark attended a school called Bookout before the creation of the Dermott School building.

The Dermott School was constructed at a cost of $4,000. After its consolidation with Snyder ISD in 1949, the building was repurposed and used by several churches. It was moved to the Heritage Village in 1988 and renovated through the efforts of Historic Scurry County, Inc., and the Scurry County Historical Commission, with significant support from the community.

The school originally had two classrooms. One is now furnished to resemble a classroom as it might have looked when it was in use, complete with the original stage curtain. The other room is used for meetings, receptions, luncheons, and similar gatherings, with a partition added to create a kitchen space.

Located behind the schoolhouse is a seesaw made of pipe and iron tractor seats. It was crafted as a gift for Pat Falls' great-grandchildren, Matthew and Neilan Garcia. Originally located on the Falls ranch, it was donated by Thom and Ann Falls.

Nearby is the Dermott baseball field. A replica backstop, constructed in March 2013, features 100-year-old posts from the town of Ira, with chicken wire added to complete the structure. Stephen Couch, a student at Snyder Academy, led the project with the help of other students who have collaborated with the Heritage Village on various projects.

Early records indicate that a small city jail was built in 1913 for the town of Hermleigh, located 10 miles east of Snyder on Highway 84. No records in the county commissioners' meeting minutes show that county funds were used for the building, suggesting it was financed by citizens and likely constructed through volunteer labor.

The jail was an 8' x 10' structure with small open windows secured with iron bars on each end. Its walls, made from 2" x 4" boards laid flat, were four inches thick. The sloped shed roof was made of wood covered with tin, and the heavy wooden door had an iron latch. The building, never painted, was crudely constructed but strong. It remained in use until 1920.

In the early 1920s, Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Layman traded a cow for the building and moved it to their property to serve as a storage structure. In 1971, the Laymans donated the jail to the Scurry County Historical Survey Committee (later renamed the Historical Commission). It was moved to the west side of the Hermleigh Community Center, approximately 100 yards from its original location.

In 1993, Hermleigh residents requested the jail be moved to the Heritage Village, believing it would be more visible to visitors. The medallion for the building is displayed in the kiosk, while the official Texas Historical Marker is located on Wheat Street in Hermleigh, one block east of Highway 84 and one block north of FM 644.

*The buildings connected by a wooden sidewalk near the Calaboose are next on your tour.

The Fluvanna Barber Shop was a project of the Fluvanna Young Farmers of Texas, one of the state’s leading chapters. Using borrowed money, lumber from an abandoned church, and personal labor, the club built a barber shop for Fluvanna in the late 1950s. No chapter had ever attempted such an ambitious project and it earned them the Outstanding Young Farmers Award in Texas.

Members searched for a barber willing to work in Fluvanna. Fortunately, Richard Skelton of Snyder agreed to work at least two days a week with the potential for more if business warranted it. "At first, my reaction was much the same as the other barbers. I visited Fluvanna and talked to these young farmers. Then I only wished they had enough business to keep me busy five days a week. I'd move to Fluvanna," Skelton stated.

Opening day was a sight to behold as the young farmers erected screens, sanded and painted the exterior, and cleaned the area. Many of them were looking rather shaggy after weeks of waiting for their first haircut in their new barber shop.

This building was relocated from the Dunn community, about 10 miles south of Snyder on Highway 208. Dunn began as a change station for mule teams hauling goods north after the Texas and Pacific Railroad reached Colorado City in 1881. As the town developed, mail was initially delivered to the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Dunn. When the post office was established in 1890, it was named after the Dunns, with Mr. Dunn serving as the first postmaster.

The current structure, dating to the 1950s, was donated to the Heritage Village by John Young Stewart II and relocated with assistance from E.D. Walton Co. and Rusty Fargason. After extensive renovations and restoration, the building was dedicated on June 7, 2014.

The post office boxes and counter window now displayed in the building were located by Lynn Fuller and purchased by Historic Scurry County to replicate the originals. The mail sorting table is from the Fluvanna post office. Numerous photographs and memorabilia documenting the history of Dunn, Texas, have been assembled by Lynn Fuller and are now on display.

Standing proudly in front of the Dunn Post Office is the flagpole originally located at the Lincoln School. At one time, Black children in Snyder attended Lincoln School for grades ranging from elementary through high school. The school closed in 1965 following the end of segregation, and the flagpole was removed when the building was demolished.

The flagpole, a gift to the Heritage Village from the C’Eller Harrison family, was erected with assistance from Mark McClain and Big Country Electric. It now flies the United States flag once again, symbolizing the contributions of the Black community as an essential part of Scurry County’s history.

In 1878, William Henry "Pete" Snyder, a buffalo hunter and trader from Pennsylvania, established a trading post on the banks of Deep Creek. The post attracted other hunters, leading to a colony of buffalo-hide dwellings, which came to be known as "Hidetown." This trading post became the first business in what later became the town of Snyder, named in his honor.

To commemorate the city of Snyder’s 132nd anniversary, the organization of Scurry County’s 130th anniversary, and the 30th anniversary of the Scurry County Heritage Village, city employees constructed a replica of Pete Snyder’s trading post. Mayor Terry Martin, City Manager Merle Taylor, and city employees, under the direction of Eli Torres, led the project. The wood for the store, sourced from a structure approximately 100 years old, was donated by Debra and Richard Hester.

The oil industry has been of major importance to the local economy, especially after the discovery of the Canyon Reef Field north of the city in 1948. Historic installations representing that industry are located a few yards from the Pete Snyder Store. These include an oil well pump jack, a workover doghouse, gas pumps, service station equipment, and a 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck.

J.J. Moore No. 1
In 1923, Scurry County's first producing oil well, the J.J. Moore No. 1, was drilled near Ira in the San Andres formation. This area, known as the Sharon Ridge field, has produced oil from over 2,200 wells. The pumpjack in the photo is much like those used in the early 1920's. It is a gift from Ira Pump and Supply.

Doghouse
The small steel structure next to the pumpjack is a "doghouse" donated by the Fluvanna Young Farmers. A smaller version of the large doghouses of oil drilling rigs, a workover doghouse was used when a well was being serviced. It was transported on a trailer to the well site and used as a shelter, a place for coffee breaks, tool storage, a lunch room, and a place to change clothing. It would often have lockers for the crew's clothing, and a place for paperwork.

Gasoline Pumps
Next to the doghouse is a gravity-operated gasoline pump manufactured between 1924 and 1929 by the Wayne Company which continues to be in operation today. In order to transfer gasoline from the underground tank, the station attendant had to push the handle by the hose back and forth, moving fuel into the glass tank atop the pump. As the fuel Tevel rose, the numbers on the columns inside the glass showed how many gallons were in the glass tank. If a customer asked for five gallons of fuel, the tank would be filled until the level reached the five gallon mark. When the valve at the spout of the hose was opened, gasoline flowed by gravity into the customer's gas tank. The Wayne pump is the gift of Thom and Ann Falls.

The carport next to the Wayne pump was donated and built for the Village by Elyndabeth and Frank Toland. It shelters a pair of electric gasoline pumps, some service station equipment and a Chevrolet truck.

These mid-century electric pumps were donated by H.P. "Bo" Brown, Jr., and restored by Lynn Fuller. Compared to the Wayne pump, they represent another step in technological progress but still required a gas station attendant to operate them for the customer. Conveniently, the amount of fuel and the price are shown on the pump itself.

Chevrolet Pickup Truck
The 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck sports a sturdy set of welded pipe sideboards mounted on the bed of the pickup to haul livestock, which was a common practice prior to the popularity of stock trailers.

Other items under the shelter include a floor jack and an oil storage tank. Along with the truck, they were donated to the Village in February 2013 by former Snyder resident H. P. "Bo" Brown, Jr. The bricks of the floor were originally part of the street around the county courthouse. They were donated by the Janelle Hammack family.

The Fluvanna Volunteer Fire Department donated a retired Ford fire truck to the Heritage Village in 2019. In exchange, Historic Scurry County arranged for the transfer of a lot adjacent to the Fluvanna fire station, allowing the department to expand its facilities.

Believed to date to the early 1950s, the truck was likely donated to Fluvanna by the Snyder Fire Department. Now in its third home, the truck stands as a testament to the Fluvanna community’s support for preserving local history.

According to the Snyder Daily News of July 1, 1984, "In 1984 as Scurry County was realizing 100 years of existence, J. A. (Snooks) Merritt was realizing a dream. At one time there were 700 windmills in Snyder, a fact that led it to being called "windmill city." Mr. Merritt, turning 70 on his next birthday, wanted to bring back water beneath the shade and the rhythmic 'clink and creak' of an Eclipse windmill."

"The Eclipse was patented in 1867 by a Reverend Wheeler," Merritt said. "After they stopped making them, three other companies jumped on the bandwagon with the same design. But the mill I'm restoring is a true Eclipse."

"The historic 28 foot tower and 10 foot wheel were originally placed in Towle Park where a well was drilled. This completed the dream of Mr. Merritt to offer water right out of the ground' to the present and future youngsters of Scurry County."

Over time, the effects of west Texas sunshine and wind took a toll on the wooden structure. Employees of Towle Memorial Park took note of its condition and decided to take responsibility for once again restoring it. By June 2011, employees under the leadership of Larry Thompson, Park Director, completed painting it in its original colors. It was again moved, this time to the Scurry County Heritage Village to be preserved for future generations.

As fate would have it, a 70 mile per hour wind in 2013 sent the 10-foot wheel tumbling from its tower.

The community was saddened that the central symbol of the Village lay in disrepair on the ground. Paul Cowley of Ropesville, Texas, was contacted, and though retired, he agreed to remake the broken parts.

Jim Brooks re-assembled and repainted the wheel in its original colors, and Bennie Marricle reinstalled the wheel. On June 7, 2014, the windmill was once again in place and the community celebrated its restoration and return to the Heritage Village.

In Scurry County communities, the center of activity was the church -- often serving not only for worship, but also for community gatherings as well as social and official events. In June 2010, the Board of Directors of Historic Scurry County launched a county-wide search, but were unable to find a church building to relocate here.

HSC member Bernhard Bartels envisioned a chapel and used his engineering background to draw detailed plans, then spent weeks dismantling a 100-year-old house he owned for lumber to build a chapel. After he laid the foundation, HSC called on the Baptist Church Builders to help frame and erect the new chapel. Bernhard constructed the six arched windows from scratch during the cold winter months inside his historic 100-year-old home-on the Bartels' antique dining room table.

The chapel is 16 feet by 28 feet in size, and its furnishings were donated from all parts of the county. The front door was donated by Thom and Ann Falls. The large stained glass window once hung in the Snyder First Baptist Church, and is the gift of the Hammack Family in memory of husband and father Bob Hammack. The two stained glass windows on either side of the building were donated by Roy Bartels.

The large wooden cross, the attendance board, and kneeling cushions were once a part of the Fluvanna Methodist Church. The pulpit was built in the late 1920's by Rev. F. O. Garner (1897-1962) and was originally in the Camp Springs Methodist Church. It was given to the chapel by the Clovis Robinson Family.

The pews are the gift of the congregation of the Knapp Baptist Church. The piano was originally owned by the Bison School and the Bison Baptist Church. When that building was demolished in 1946, the piano was kept by Whit and Manie Thompson. It was then loaned to the Knapp Community Center for a few years, and eventually found a new home in the Knapp Baptist Church until it was given to the chapel.

The ornate Gem City wood-burning stove was manufactured in Quincy, Illinois, around the turn of the century. It is the gift of Bobby Grice. The oil painting of Christ was done by Austin Higgins and is the gift of the Kat Higgins family. The aisle runner was woven in Israel and is a gift from Francene Allen-Noah. After an extensive search, Judy Moss located a bell and donated it for the chapel. The sconces and candelabra were handcrafted by Bern-hard Bartels.

All of the gifts to this project make it a true representation of all faiths in the village. The Redwood Chapel was dedicated as a house of prayer for all people and as a bright and shining light in this community, a witness of the faith of our pioneer forefathers and mothers, and of our own faith.

The Chapel is available for wedding ceremonies and several couples have exchanged vows before its altar.

To inquire about reserving the chapel, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at (325) 573-3558 for information.

Scurry County is deeply rooted in the agriculture industry. Along the fence south of the chapel, a series of antique farm implements are lined up, along with buildings originally located on area ranches.

The implements nearest the chapel include a horse-drawn scoop for moving soil and one of two Russell Graders used to level land and build roads. These were pulled by mules or horses and were sometimes called fresnos. R. E. Cozart used this Russell Grader during the Great Depression. Working for the WPA (Works Progress Administration), he graded and maintained county roads, using two mules to pull the grader. This grader was donated by Stanley and Linda Cozart.

Another grader, located by the WPA outhouse, was donated by Randy Lambert.

Single-Bottom Breaking Plow
Most of the farmland in our country was put into cultivation by a plow with a curved one-sided blade that broke the soil loose and turned it over. This breaking plow is an original single-bottom "sod buster," pulled by oxen or mules. Note that there are no wheels, which required the farmer to wrestle with the plow to keep it in place while walking in the plowed furrow. It was donated by Randy Lambert.

Stalk Cutter
This implement was used by R. E. Cozart on his farm to cut cotton, corn, and maize stalks. A horse or mule pulled it, and usually his brother or son ran the stalk cutter because it was relatively easy to use. It was donated by Stanley and Linda Cozart.

Two-Bottom Plow
Over time, the original "sod buster" was improved by adding wheels, levers to adjust the plow, and a seat on which the farmer could ride. It was pulled by a team of oxen or mules. This particular model does not have a seat and has forward-leaning handles, indicating that the farmer was able to adjust the plow from the seat of an early-day tractor, perhaps a Fordson or a John Deere.

The WPA outhouse, situated next to the barn, was donated to Heritage Village by Johnnie and Tommy Riley. They relocated it from the athletic field of the Scurry County Boys and Girls Club, where it had previously been placed by Tommy's father.

Constructed at the original Snyder Junior High School between 1935 and 1943, the outhouse was built by carpenters working under the WPA (Works Progress Administration). During the Great Depression, WPA workers constructed approximately 2.3 million outhouses nationwide. Each followed a standardized design featuring a concrete floor, a pot with a tightly-fitting lid, and a T-shaped screened ventilation system to keep flies and other pests out.

The official WPA insignia remains stamped into the concrete floor just inside the door.

The barn and lean-to, built around 1937 on the Elza and Laura Rollins Ranch west of Snyder, were later used as a garage and a tractor shed/shop. The Falls family purchased the ranch in 2009 and donated the barn and bunkhouse to Heritage Village in July 2010.

The barn now houses an antique buggy, donated by Randy Lambert.  Harnesses, saddles, and farm and ranch equipment are housed in the barn and lean-to.

The bunkhouse was built in the early 1900s for cowboys working on the Diamond M Ranch owned by the McLaughlin family. In 1948, it was relocated by house mover Gib Tatum to the Elza Rollins Ranch. The Rollins family’s three sons used it as sleeping quarters. At that time, it had a screened-in porch that enclosed the front, offering a cooler sleeping area during hot West Texas summers.

After Joe Rollins married Doris Hataway in 1954, they lived in the bunkhouse for 18 months before purchasing a nearby home. Following the deaths of Elza and Laura Rollins, Mr. & Mrs. Falls bought the ranch and converted the bunkhouse into a guest house for their grandchildren, who enjoyed many adventures there.

Between the Western Texas College Coliseum and the Heritage Village sits the last steam locomotive of the Roscoe, Snyder, and Pacific Railroad: Engine No. 5. Originally a coal burner, it was later converted to fuel oil. Built in 1920 in Philadelphia, the engine was donated to the City of Snyder and moved to Towle Memorial Park in March 1956.

When it was relocated to its current location in 2002, children and adults lined the streets, delighted by the procession of flashing police escort lights as Patterson Drilling Company transported Engine No. 5 to The Coliseum.

The Texas Historical Marker near the engine reads: "Old Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Railroad Engine No. 5, a Baldwin locomotive of the Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific, the railroad that reached Snyder in 1908 with passenger and freight service, contributed greatly to the growth of the city and the area."

The railroad initially extended northwest to Fluvanna, but service there was discontinued in 1941. The tracks were removed in 1942 and sold for scrap to support the war effort. Passenger service to Snyder ended in 1953. This 31-mile short-line railroad connected with the Santa Fe and Texas & Pacific railroads, facilitating transcontinental traffic. At its peak, it moved 20,000 cars annually.

Once located at the intersection where the Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific railroad tracks crossed 26th Street between Avenue O and Avenue Q, the crossing signal and control box were relocated next to Engine No. 5.

These acquisitions were the gift of Bruce Kallemeyn and Ricky Miller. Their relocation was arranged by David Holt with the assistance of Walton Construction Company.