Built 1902. Second courthouse for county. American Gothic architecture, planned by Oscar Ruffini, San Angelo. Material is fine stone quarried nearby on Meyer and Couch properties. Cost $30,000.

Early day community social center. Used for cowboy dances, box suppers, Christmas trees, roundup celebrations. In 1909 arc light was added to steeple, to signal Sheriff and guide travelers to town.

William Myers (b.1753) and his wife Flora moved from Virginia to Kentucky, where the last of their ten children, David Myers, was born. David married fellow Kentuckian Letitia Reddish (1801 - 1885) in 1820. They moved to Indiana in 1829 and to Illinois in 1831, where David became a well-established Baptist Preacher. In 1843 he was ordained at Taylor's Creek Church in Jersey County, Illinois.

Inspired by the prospect of free land in Texas, David and Letitia traveled south with their children and grandchildren, and on Christmas Eve, 1845, they crossed the Red River into Texas. They settled on a land grant in Peters Colony located 12 miles northwest of the present-day city of Dallas.

Myers quickly established himself as a religious leader of the pioneer settlements in this area and on May 10, 1846, organized the Union Baptist Church, the earliest continuing Baptist congregation in Dallas County. He served Union Baptist Church until his death and was instrumental in the establishment of other churches in the area including Bethel, Rowlett Creek, Liberty, and Lonesome Dove. Myers died of pneumonia resulting from exposure to cold rain on his return home after delivering a sermon in Collin County.

St. Mary's Chapel, the city of El Paso's first Roman Catholic church, was built in 1882 on this site by Jesuits from Ysleta, with the first Mass being said on Christmas Day, 1882. It was the mother church to El Paso's present day Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception churches.

When these churches opened their doors, St. Mary's ceased to function as a chapel for several years and was temporarily used as a school. Religious worship was resumed under the name of Holy Family Chapel and it continued to function as such until 1913. Later, a fire destroyed its interior. Known to the people of El Paso as the "Rock Church," its limestone walls stood for years thereafter.

Prior to the opening of St. Mary's Chapel, Catholic services were held in various Catholic homes, in the old Central Hotel, and at times in the public school hall.

This church was organized on December 23, 1855, with 15 members. The establishment of the fellowship was directed by a Presbytery consisting of ministers John Bean, William Blackshear, E.S. Phelps, and W.W. Maund. The first service was conducted on Christmas Day by the Rev. Blackshear. Another church organizer, the Rev. Maund, served as the initial pastor. In 1856 the church elected the first deacon, Fabian Adams, a local merchant who served as a trustee for the Jasper Collegiate Institute.

The fellowship, which included slaves as early as 1859, worshiped at this site in a small wooden sanctuary. Despite a decline in membership during the 1870s, the church later outgrew the facility. A larger wooden building was constructed here in 1893, following a year of exceptional growth for the congregation. With minor additions, the structure served the members until the present sanctuary was completed in 1943, during the second pastorate of Dr. E.A. Ingram.

The First Baptist Church has been instrumental in the development of area missions. Congregations sponsored by the church include Adams Chapel, North Baptist, Hillcrest Mission,and Tanglewood Mission.

Founded during 19th century Christian Restoration Movement, by Joseph Addison Clark (1815-1901) and sons Addison (1842-1911) and Randolph (1844-1935). Joseph A. Clark, born in Illinois, came to Republic of Texas in 1839. A teacher, preacher, lawyer, surveyor, editor and publisher, he also was Fort Worth Postmaster in noisy cattle-trail and early railroad era. His sons, home from the Civil War, established a school in this city in 1869, on site which proved unsuitable. The family moved the school to Thorp Springs (33 MI.SW), where they founded Add-Ran Male and Female College in 1873. Church-related from its origin, the college was given in 1889 to the Christian Church Convention of Texas, and renamed Addran Christian University. Moved to Waco on Christmas Day, 1895, the school was renamed Texas Christian University (1902), and stayed there until the main building was destroyed by fire in 1910.

When Fort Worth offered 52 acres of land for a campus and funds of $200,000 for building, Texas Christian University returned (1910) to the city first chosen as its location. By 1973, TCU had grown to 243 acres, 60 buildings, seven schools and colleges, and an average fall enrollment of 6500 students.

Scene of daring Santa Claus Bank Robbery, Dec. 23, 1927. During Christmas festivities, costumed Santa and three fellow bandits looted bank of $12,200 cash, $150,000 in securities. They escaped through gun battle with two little girls as hostages. A three-day manhunt followed. The children and money were recovered; the robbers captured. Six persons were killed, eight injured. Later a mob lynched "Santa" when he broke out of jail.

This church was established in 1854 by an act of the East Texas Presbytery. The Rev. W.C. Dunlap was organizer of the congregation and served as its pastor for two years. Members met in a Baptist Church until the completion of their first building on N. Fourth Street. In 1886 a new building was constructed at this location. It burned on Christmas Day, 1926, and was replaced by the present structure. The church is also known as Tenney Memorial in honor of The Rev. S.F. Tenney who served as pastor for 54 years, 1971-1925.

In the early 20th century, area Presbyterians met with other denominations in a tent, with various pastors holding morning and evening services. In 1909, the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Co. built a school and assembly hall, where local Presbyterians and Methodists took turns holding services. In 1918, they began meeting in the school building.

Two years later, in 1920, the first Presbyterian church of Taft was officially organized with 28 charter members. The Rev. C.S. Long became the church's first minister. That same year, the Taft Presbyterian and Methodist congregations built a sanctuary together on this site, which was provided by the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Co. In 1922, the congregation purchased and moved a house from Rockport to serve as the Presbyterian manse and placed it on a lot adjacent to the sanctuary. The following year, the church purchased the interest of the sanctuary owned by the Methodists, and in 1924, the membership of Presbyterians from Gregory transferred to the Taft congregation.

During the next several decades, members added facilities to their church property and also formed various organizations, including a women's auxiliary and men's and youth groups. The church supported regional efforts during World War II and sponsored other area churches, a Presbyterian girls' school and Vacation Bible School for children from their own congregation, as well as from the Rising Star Baptist Church. Church members also held a live nativity scene each Christmas, from 1957 to 1991, later donating the costumes and equipment to the First Baptist Church. Although the membership, along with the city population, declined in the late 20th century, the congregation continues to serve its community.

Founded before the Civil War, as Quitman Masonic Lodge. Petition for charter was made on Jan. 5, 1852. First officers: James N. Brown, Worshipful Master; A. Gunter, Senior Warden; Francis C. McKnight, Junior Warden. Petitioners (other than the officers) included George Birdwell, W.L. Brown, S.M. Flournoy, I.D. Goes, E.H. McRee, I.H. McRee, M.W. Matthews, and Joshua Smith. Without any recorded explanation, the lodge was given its present name on Christmas Day of 1852. Original furniture was made by illustrious Wood County pioneer Peter Gunstream at cost of $10.75. In 1854 fire destroyed lodge charter, jewels, and furniture. Combination Presbyterian church and lodge hall was built on this site and occupied in 1855. Members voted to prohibit smoking on the premises. Ending of Civil War found the lodge penniless and hard pressed to pay 30 cents a pound for candles bought in 50 pound lots. In 1917 electric lighting closed a 65-year time span of candles and kerosene lamps. The early lodge worked diligently, often meeting on Saturday mornings, dismissing to attend preaching services downstairs, and afterward resuming work. Flora Lodge built new two-story structure at this historic location in 1949.

The Fredericksburg Social Turn Verein was established in 1871 in the tradition of German gymnastic clubs. Initially located at a site nearby, the club opened with a gymnastics school and a 9-pin bowling alley. In 1872 the club held the first of its annual Christmas celebrations and in 1883 sponsored a fire brigade which became the City Volunteer Fire Department. The Turn Verein moved to this location in 1909. Children's gymnastics, Christmas celebrations, and bowling continue at Fredericksburg Social Turn Verein, one of the city's oldest continuing organizations.