You’ll find two ghost towns named Concrete in Texas, each with its own fascinating story. The Guadalupe County location, formerly known as Bethesda, flourished around an 1858 rock church before declining when railroads bypassed it. The DeWitt County site dates to 1846, sharing a similar fate. Both communities showcase early Texas frontier life through preserved landmarks, cemeteries, and architectural remnants. Their parallel stories of rise and fall hold deeper historical treasures.
Key Takeaways
- Concrete, Texas exists in two locations – Guadalupe County and DeWitt County, both becoming ghost towns after economic decline.
- Originally named Bethesda, Concrete was established in 1851 by James Henry Newton along Cibolo Creek.
- The town’s decline began when railroads bypassed it in 1873, redirecting commerce to nearby communities.
- A historic rock church built in 1858 and the Concrete Cemetery with over 800 burials remain significant landmarks.
- The post office closure in 1907 marked Concrete’s final transition to ghost town status.
A Tale of Two Ghost Towns
While Texas boasts hundreds of ghost towns scattered across its vast landscape, two distinct communities named Concrete tell uniquely parallel stories of rise and decline.
You’ll find one in Guadalupe County, formerly known as Bethesda, nestled along FM Road 775, while its namesake in DeWitt County dates back to 1846.
These ghost town narratives share remarkable similarities in their eventual fates, though their origins differ. The DeWitt County settlement earned its name from adobe concrete buildings, establishing a post office that operated until 1907. The structures were built using a mixture of Portland cement and local materials, following construction methods that became widespread in the 1800s. This construction technique reflected the ancient Roman practices of using concrete in significant structures.
Abandoned Texas towns may share different beginnings, but their stories often end the same way – as echoes of frontier dreams.
Through careful Concrete comparisons, you’ll discover how both communities gradually faded as railroads redirected commerce and residents sought opportunities elsewhere.
Today, they stand as quiet testimonies to Texas’s rural past, preserved in time with their empty streets and abandoned structures.
Early Settlement and Community Life
In 1851, James Henry Newton established what would become Concrete, Texas, on the north bank of Cibolo Creek. Originally named Bethesda, the settlement patterns reflected the resourcefulness of early pioneers who adapted to the region’s lumber scarcity by constructing homes from logs and stone.
The community dynamics centered around these key features:
- A prominent rock church built in 1858, serving as the heart of community life
- Regular integrated church gatherings where folks arrived in ox carts
- Camp meetings that brought together both white and black residents
- A shared commitment to education within the church walls
Despite limited resources, you’d find a thriving agricultural community where the rock church served multiple purposes – hosting worship services, school lessons, and Masonic lodge meetings. The community relied on slaves with ox teams to transport essential lumber and supplies from Port Lavaca.
The settlers’ determination to build a sustainable community shaped every aspect of daily life.
Economic Boom and Railroad Impact
Although Concrete initially thrived as one of DeWitt County’s oldest settlements, the town’s economic fortunes shifted dramatically during the railroad era of the 1870s. You would’ve witnessed the bustling plantation operations and agricultural activities that sustained the community, anchored by James Henry Newton’s vision and the iconic rock church that served multiple civic functions.
The railroad bypass of 1873 proved devastating to Concrete’s future. While nearby towns flourished with direct rail connections, you’d have seen Concrete’s gradual economic decline as commerce gravitated toward rail-connected hubs. Many settlements across Texas relied on local rail capital to establish essential transportation infrastructure and thrive economically. The Texas and Pacific Railroad, established in 1871, demonstrated how federal charters could shape the development of transportation networks across the state.
The town’s isolation from major transportation routes led to diminishing trade opportunities and population loss. The closure of the post office in 1907 symbolized the final chapter of Concrete’s transformation from a promising settlement to a ghost town, forever altered by the transformative power of railroad economics.
Architectural Legacy and Building Materials
Long before the railroad’s impact sealed Concrete’s fate, the town’s architectural character emerged from its challenging frontier conditions.
You’ll find the town’s legacy reflected in its masonry techniques and resourceful use of local materials, particularly in the historic 1858 rock church that served multiple community functions.
- Stone from local quarrying operations formed the foundation of major structures, including the church’s distinctive walls and floors.
- The region’s limestone and schist deposits enabled concrete production, shaping the town’s lasting architectural identity.
- Log construction dominated early homes due to lumber scarcity, with innovative stone flooring solutions.
- Ox teams hauled precious lumber from Port Lavaca, reflecting the determination of settlers to build despite material limitations.
The town’s buildings showcased a perfect blend of necessity and ingenuity, adapting to the harsh realities of frontier life while creating lasting structures. Like the workers of Cement City, local laborers were essential to the construction and development of the town’s infrastructure.
Social Heritage and Cultural Remnants
You’ll find rich historical narratives preserved in Concrete’s cemetery records, which document the area’s early settler families and their connections to the developing Texas frontier.
While originally named Bethesda, the community’s change to “Concrete” marked a significant shift in local identity that’s still remembered today.
The cemetery’s Texas Historical Commission marker stands as a tribute to the town’s social heritage, with local historians like Shirley Grammar working to preserve these essential stories for future generations.
Cemetery Records Tell Stories
The weathered gravestones of Concrete Cemetery offer a poignant window into the town’s rich social tapestry, with records dating back to 1855. Within these 6.8 acres, you’ll find burial customs that reflect the intertwined histories of Anglo and Hispanic settlers. The gravestone symbolism and bilingual inscriptions tell stories of cultural fusion in South Texas. The site requires careful navigation due to treacherous roads and dense vegetation that have grown over time. The site reflects a more relaxed attitude toward death and mourning compared to traditional American cemeteries.
- Hand-carved rock tombs and weathered markers showcase 19th-century mortuary art
- Civil War era markers document the period’s impact on local families
- Personal mementos and religious items left at graves reveal ongoing traditions
- Clustered gravestones hint at ethnic and social groupings of the time
You can trace multigenerational family histories through these stones, though sandy soil and erosion have taken their toll on these precious historical records.
Community Name Change Legacy
While Bethesda served as the community’s original name, its transformation to Concrete reflected a pivotal shift in the town’s identity during the era of early adobe concrete construction. The name origin speaks volumes about the town’s industrial heritage, marking a period when building materials shaped not just structures, but community identity itself.
You’ll find this cultural significance woven throughout the ghost town’s remaining physical landscape, from weathered adobe concrete buildings to boundary markers that once defined the bustling community.
The name change represents more than just a new title – it’s a reflection of how economic forces and industrial development left their mark on rural Texas communities.
Like many ghost towns across the state, Concrete’s evolution from Bethesda mirrors the broader pattern of communities adapting to changing economic realities.
Historical Preservation and Modern Significance
You’ll find that Concrete’s preservation efforts center on its historical landmarks, including the iconic 1858 rock church and various Texas Historical Commission markers that commemorate the town’s significance.
Like the town of Thurber, Concrete experienced significant economic shifts that transformed it from a thriving community into a ghost town.
The Concrete Cemetery serves as an essential record of early residents, with its historic headstones and iron fencing telling stories of pioneer families and skilled immigrant workers who shaped the community.
These preserved sites and artifacts now provide researchers and history enthusiasts with tangible connections to South Texas’s rural settlement patterns and immigrant labor history.
Landmark Protection Efforts
Preserving Concrete’s historical landmarks has become a primary focus of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), with special attention given to the town’s cemetery as one of its last remaining physical connections to the past.
You’ll find that landmark significance extends beyond mere preservation, as the site serves as a crucial educational resource and genealogical treasure.
- Community-driven efforts maintain the cemetery grounds while documenting local histories
- THC provides consultation and training to protect against weathering and vandalism
- The historical marker program helps visitors connect with early Texas settlement patterns
- Preservation challenges include limited funding and the delicate balance of maintaining the ghost town’s authentic character
Similar to the Sacred Heart Church in Shafter that still conducts monthly Mass, these landmarks continue to serve vital community functions today.
Despite these obstacles, you’re witnessing an ongoing commitment to protect this valuable piece of Texas heritage, where early multi-racial congregations once gathered and settlement stories unfolded.
Cemetery Records Matter Today
Although Concrete now stands as a ghost town, its cemetery records serve as an invaluable chronicle of Texas history, documenting over 800 burials since 1855.
You’ll find a rich tapestry of Anglo and Hispanic pioneers, their gravesites telling stories of cultural coexistence that shaped early Texas settlements.
These records aren’t just names and dates – they’re essential tools for genealogical research, helping you trace your family’s roots through time.
The cemetery’s detailed registries reveal migration patterns and social connections that might otherwise be lost to history.
Through weathered tombstones and carefully preserved inscriptions, you can connect with your cultural heritage and understand the community’s evolution.
Even as a ghost town, Concrete’s cemetery continues to bridge generations, offering tangible links to the pioneers who built Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Natural Disasters or Extreme Weather Events Impacted These Concrete Communities?
You’ll find flood damage disrupted transportation and wrecked properties, while drought effects devastated local farming. These disasters struck repeatedly, wearing down your community’s resilience through crop failures and infrastructure destruction.
Were There Any Notable Crimes or Lawlessness in Either Concrete Town?
You’ll find Best’s crime history was especially brutal, with nightly burglaries, murders, and rampant fraud. Law enforcement struggled to control violence, specifically the 1926 Santa Rita Hotel incident involving a drunken machinist.
What Native American Tribes Originally Inhabited the Areas Around Concrete?
You’ll find rich cultural heritage from the Comanche and Cherokee tribes in this area, with both groups having significant tribal history around what’s now Concrete before white settlers arrived.
Did Any Famous Historical Figures Visit or Live in Concrete?
Like a fading photograph lost to time, you won’t find any famous visitors or historical figures in the records – no documented evidence shows that notable personalities ever lived in or visited here.
What Crops or Livestock Were Primarily Raised by Concrete’s Farming Communities?
You’d find cotton production was a key economic driver, alongside cattle ranching and other livestock breeding. Local farmers also cultivated corn and vegetables while raising hogs and chickens for sustenance.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete
- https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2019/december/the-ghosts-of-cement-city/
- https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/best-texas-the-ghost-town-with-the-worst-reputation/
- https://www.ghostsandgetaways.com/ghost-towns
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Concrete
- https://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGhostTowns/Boise-Texas.htm
- https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/concrete-tx-dewitt-county
- https://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/ConcreteTexas/ConcreteCemeteryTx.htm
- https://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas-Ghost-Towns-2-Central-Texas.htm
- https://www.allacrosstexas.com/texas-ghost-town.php?city=Concrete
