CEDAR PARK,
TEXAS est. 1873
Austin and Northwest Railroad steam engine pulling 18
flat cars of pink granite destined for use in construction of the State
Capitol. On a steep, curving decline, the granite blocks were lost over
the edge of the trestle into Brushy Creek. The granite slabs still
remain in the creek bed.
Courtesy of Cedar
Park Heritage Society
view page
Brushy Creek Railroad Train Trestle Historical Marker Dedication
The first white man’s
settlement in the part of Texas that would become Williamson County was
the Blockhouse Tumlinson fort built between present day Cedar Park and
Leander in 1835/36. Steps were cut into this oak tree to be used as a
“lookout” but the tree died several years ago. Texas Centennial Marker
1936.
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reproduction rights Please view the
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interests and the preservation of the materials will be assured
by the observance of these policies and procedures.
To inquire about the use or purchase of any of these photographs
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Cedar Park is rich in cedar
trees and limestone. Their ranch and home became the central point
around which the Cedar Park community developed. A post office was
established in 1874 and was named Running Brushy. Harriet Cluck
served as an early postmistress. When the railroad came through
Running Brushy in 1882, the community's name was changed to
Bruggerhoff to honor a railroad official. Five years later, the
current name was adopted. Cedar Park was the scene of much growth
and activity during the latter years of the nineteenth century. A
community school and church building was constructed, and by 1892, a
landscaped park had appeared along the rail line. George Cluck
noticed the increasing popularity of barbed wire and opened a cedar
yard in which he made and sold cedar posts. Cedar Park did not see
much growth during the first part of the twentieth century, and by
1960 nearly all traces of the earlier community had disappeared.
During the 1970s, however, the growth of Austin led to a population
increase in this area, also, and the city of Cedar Park was
incorporated in 1973.
Location:
In front of the Cedar Park Public Library at 550 Discovery Blvd.
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Cedar Park
- Historical Marker
Cedar Park
marker text |
In 1873, George and
Harriet (Standefer) Cluck purchased a large amount of land in
this area, which they found to be rich in cedar trees and
limestone. Their ranch and home became the central point around
which the Cedar Park community developed.
A Post Office was established in 1874 and was named Running
Brushy. Harriet Cluck served as an early Postmistress. When the
railroad came through Running Brushy in 1882, the community's
name was changed to Bruggerhoff to honor a railroad official.
Five years later, the current name was adopted.
Cedar Park was the scene of much growth and activity during the
latter years of the nineteenth century. A community school and
church building was constructed, and by 1892, a landscaped park
had appeared along the rail line. George Cluck noticed the
increasing popularity of barbed wire and opened a cedar yard in
which he made and sold cedar posts.
Cedar Park did not see much growth during the first part of the
twentieth century, and by 1960 nearly all traces of the earlier
community had disappeared. During the 1970s, however, the growth
of Austin led to a population increase in this area, also, and
the city of Cedar Park was incorporated in 1973.
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Leander grew from the once
thriving town of Bagdad, founded in 1854 (1 mi. W). when the Austin
& Northwestern Railroad bypassed Bagdad in 1882, a new town was
surveyed and named for railroad official Leander Brown (1817-89).
Homes and businesses from the older community quickly moved to the
new site along the rail line. The post office was brought here from
Bagdad in 1882. The school started here in 1893 has grown into the
largest school district in Williamson County. Originally in a rural
area, Leander had boomed in recent years due to Highland Lakes
development.
New Hope First Baptist Church
and Cemetery - Historical Marker
Although Baptist worship services may have been conducted in this area
as early as 1848, this church was not formally chartered until 1868. On
October 22 of that year the organizational meeting was held in the home
of James M. and Elizabeth Trammell, pioneers of the rural Block House
community. Six charter members formed the New Hope Missionary Baptist
Church of Christ, and the Rev. Thomas F. Bacon was chosen to serve as
the first pastor. The church cemetery was first used in 1869 for the
burial of Martha Elizabeth Inman, the wife of deacon S. C. Inman. Other
marked gravesites include those of settlers who were prominent early
leaders of the church and community. For over a century the New Hope
First Baptist Church has been instrumental in the development of the
Cedar Park area. From 1871 until 1919 the church building was also used
for the public school. Pastors have included such leading Baptist
ministers as missionary J. E. Hamilton, who died in Brazil of yellow
fever, and the Rev. D. E. Simpson, board member and first treasurer of
the Texas Baptist Children's Home, who was baptized and ordained here.
Location: 200 W New Hope Dr, off US 183
W. Park Lane, 0.2 mi. W of US 183
Cedar Park Cemetery - Historical Marker
Text
George W. and Harriet Cluck settled in this area with their family
in the early 1870s, soon after they returned from a cattle drive on the
Chisholm Trail. They built a log home and were instrumental in the
community's development. In 1901, upon the death of their infant
grandson, Emmett A. Cluck, the couple set aside land on their farm for a
family burial ground. The family graveyard became a community cemetery
and was formally deeded as such in 1912. George and Harriet Cluck are
buried here, along with many family members and neighbors.
Leanderthal Lady or the Wilson-Leonard Site
In 1983 TxDot archaeologists found one of the oldest
and most complete prehistoric human skeletons while building RM 1431
connecting Cedar Park with Round Rock and Interstate 35. They named her
the Leanderthal lady after nearby Leander (because it rhymed well with
Neanderthal) even though the find was nearer to Cedar Park.
Leanderthal Lady Marker
On Dec. 29, 1982, Texas Highway Department archeologists uncovered the
skeleton of a pre-historic human female at the Wilson-Leonard Brushy
Creek Site (approx. 6 mi. SE). Because of the proximity of the grave
site to the town of Leander, the skeleton became known as the
Leanderthal Lady. Carbon testing indicates the woman lived 10-13,000
years ago. She was about 30 years old at the time of death and measured
5' 3" in height. As one of the earliest intact burials uncovered in the
United States, the site is a valuable source of information on the
nation's prehistoric past.
Location:
South Side of RM1431 approximately 1 mile West of Parmer Lane.
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Built by Texas Rangers under Captain John J. Tumlinson in 1836.
Destroyed by Indians in 1837. This was the first white man's
post in Williamson County.
Location: At the entrance of Block
House Creek subdivision off of Highway 183 (east side of the
highway).
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Pardon our dust - we're under construction and we will have more
information forthcoming.
Williamson County 
