Old Post Road, San Marcos, TX

As we are "newcomers" to San Marcos, we're still learning the history of the area.
We frequently travel Post Road into town. It's currently lined with small homes and apartments - student housing for the nearby college. With a little research I discovered this is a very historic route that figured largely in the growth of this part of the state.

In 1840, while Mirabeau Lamar was president of The Republic, a law was passed that called for the construction of a series of forts extending from the Nueces to the Red River. At the same time an expedition was organized to open a road from Austin to the springs at the head of the San Marcos River for the construction of what was to become Post San Marcos. Though this post, or fort, existed only briefly it was the beginning of the highway from Austin to San Marcos.

Austin had been the seat of government for a year, and there was no road connecting it to San Antonio, the major town in southwest Texas. Travelers had to follow the El Camino Real, which is farther east, through Bastrop. This new road directly from Austin to the springs at San Marcos shortened the distance by about ten miles, which is a big deal if you are traveling by horse or wagon, and it was one of only a very few roads known to have been built during the time of the Republic.

In 1841 the Texas army was disbanded and troops were withdrawn from Post San Marcos and discharged. There is no record of the post being used after this date. The road, however, continued to be referred to as "Post Road". Used extensively by farmers and other travelers in the area it became a major artery of travel.

In 1914, looking toward growth in population and increasing business opportunities, a contracting opportunity was announced for the expansion of this road from a narrow farm road serving a relatively limited area to a "fine gravel road", 16 feet wide, and connecting several sections of farm roads from Austin to San Antonio. The work was expected to cost $229,000, with the funds coming from the counties and the US Department of Agriculture. The project was completed March 1916. The road was referred to by residents at this time as Federal Post Road, and Austin-San Antonio Post Road.

Post Road became a primary artery for north/south traffic through the area. Most of the land at the time was put to agricultural use, and the shorter route to bring goods to markets in the city was important.

In 1917, one year after the completion of the Austin-San Antonio Post Road project, the Texas legislature created the Texas Highway Department which outlined its "dream scheme" for roads to tie together the state’s wide-spread communities. Highway engineers mapped twenty-five primary highway routes, including one, originally named Highway 2, that later became what is now known as Interstate 35. The Highway 2 plan, and the current I-35, largely followed the old Post Road route. Existing bits of the old route that were bypassed are now called Post Road and Old Stagecoach. These are the sections we drive on a routine basis.

Bismark Filling Station

With the passing of years and the increase in numbers of automobiles it's logical filling stations would spring up.

This stone structure remains in pretty good condition, in spite of the encroaching vines.The name on the front is still faintly legible too. So far I haven't found any references to it in local history.

Though it's now the Texas State University Golf Pro Shop, this building below also looks as if it may have been a gas station at one time. Note the stone pillars in front (at the left) and what looks like a solid square room at the right (rear) of the building. The openings have been filled in with wood siding.

I love the decorative stone work on this building, and would love to know more about this style of masonry. There are a few more shots of the building here if you are interested.

I'm still trying to track down history on these two buildings, so if anyone has any leads please let me know!