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Subject: [SouthernTrails] Northern McLennan County/Southern Hill County Stagecoach
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 11:39:26 EST


Is there a difference between the routes that were taken for freight and the
routes that passenger stagecoaches and/or mail stagecoaches would take?

I live in West, Texas (the town of West)...formerly known as Bold Springs.
My understanding is that Bold Springs was a stop along a stagecoach route
into Waco (most likely from Dallas to Waco, I would guess). However, I have
not been able to locate a map indicating such a route. The town of West is
now situated along a railroad track. However, the stagecoach ran about 4 or
5 miles west of here (where three older cemeteries are located). The road is
currently called Four Corners Road.

Today, I don't see any evidence that a town was out there by the
cemeteries...but last week I learned that the Bold Springs Baptist Church (a
black congregation) is 110 years old and the pastor tells me that the church
used to be located out by Liberty Rest Cemetery (one of the three
cemeteries). There are several "bold" spring ponds out there as well.

Additionally, near Four Corners Road (just outside of town) is a hill with a
tower on it (radio or something...I'm not sure). The hill is on private
property today. From another road, you can see the back of the hill and see
a rough road going up to the top of the hill. My parents looked at that
property when it was for sale a few years ago and reported that the owner
showed them some metal rings and pulleys on the hill that were used to pull
stagecoaches to the top.

Somewhere at the base of the hill there is supposed to be a burial ground for
people that died on the stagecoach. I'm still trying to research this...but
from the bits and pieces I can glean from area farmers this is what I "know":
One farmer was shown papers (he says it was a deed) that pointed out an area
of known burials of people that were on the stagecoach. There are no
markings or indications of a burial site today, from what I am told. A Mr.
Burton is the one that had the deed that mentioned the burials...but he
doesn't own the land anymore. It is believed that a daughter of his owns the
land now.

West is in far northern McLennan County and even though the area I'm speaking
of is just outside of town...it is located in Hill County.

The farmers are telling me that the stagecoach would stop at the bottom of
the hill and bury those that died along the route. Then proceed up the hill.
I wasn't aware that anything like that normally happened along stagecoach
routes. There was a town with three cemeteries practically at the top of the
hill (maybe 3 miles down the road). My mother is wondering if rather than
repeated single burials...there was perhaps an "incident" in which some or
all of the passengers were killed and buried on the spot.

If it helps...there is a "missing" town of Nicholsville that was located "5
miles west of West." I believe this was the location of a cotton gin owned
by a Mr. Nichols.

I appreciate any insight! And...Mr. Coffee...I love reading your postings!

Carol Anne Wilson

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