Round Rock, Texas History

Round Rock, Texas est. 1848

This rock formation, located in Brushy Creek, is the source of the name for the city formerly known as Brushy Creek. “Round Rock” was chosen by Thomas C. Oatts and Jacob M. Harrell as the new name for the community in 1854. Site of the outlaw Sam Bass’s final shootout in 1878, Round Rock has become the largest city in the county, with its population more than doubling from 30,923 in 1990 to 82,040 in 2004.

Courtesy of Karen Thompson

image 2146

Photographic policies prohibit reproduction - please contact the Williamson museum for reproduction rights.
Your 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 please contact the museum at 512-943-1670

click on thumbnail images for an enlarged view

image 1091 Post Card of Round Rock & bridge image 1121 Young People at Round Rock	image 1016 Per Johan Noren and three sons, [L-R]: Harry, Walter, and Tom Noren, at the grave of another son, Pvt. Oscar A. Noren, who was killed in Argonne Forest, France in combat during World War I on September 26, 1918. Photo at Palm Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery, 1918. Among the pallbearers were Oscar's brothers: Harry, Walter, and Tom.	image 1015 Sam Loving of Round Rock gets ready to be shipped out to Cuba in the Spanish American War in 1898. He was in First Texas, Company E. image1086 Nelson Merrill House. 2 miles East of Round Rock, Texas	image 1087 Michelle Robertson, Karen Thompson, and Noel Grisham image 1088 Gerald Hill, Isaac Lopez, Myrtle Matthews, & Rev England
image 1090 Dedication of Historical Marker for Round Rock's Schools, Myrtle	image 1109 Dedication of Marker, RRISD Adm. Building	image 1105 Noel Grisham, Supt. of RR Schools w/ Karen Thompson	image 1111 Noel Grisham, Karen Thompson, C.D. Fulkes
image 1116 Drawing of Mays & Black store in Round Rock	image 1118 McNeil Store, Austin White Lime Co.	image 1106 Uncle" Clem Harvey, deliveryman for W.J. Walsh Store, Round Rock,	image 1125 Stone Cabin, Slave Quarter, Washington Anderson
image 1136 Round Rock Area Family ca 1800's image 1202 McNeil School grades 1-4 in 1942. Children are all Hispanic, parents worked for Austin White Lime Company, Round Rock, Texas	image 1176 In the second half of the 19th Century, many Mexican families settled in the Round Rock / McNeil area to work at the lime processing plants. The photo of this young Mexican American girl was taken about 1920. Round Rock, Texas	image 1200 Washington Anderson image 2003 Frances McNeese on a white mule, “Pete” near Merrelltown, Round Rock,	image 2128 Palm Valley Lutheran Church Band in 1800's, Round Rock, Texas image 2132 "Frontier Days" in 1970's, Round Rock, Texas
image 2134 Thompson's with antique cars at Frontier Days	image 2138 Getting Ready for Frontier Day Parade	image 2142 "Old Town" Round Rock Wagon Train in Front of St. Charles Hotel, ca. 1860's, Round Rock, Texas	image 2147 Making Syrup from Cane
image 3010 Louis Vitek with Milk Delivery Truck for Round Rock Cheese Factory, Round Rock, Texas, ca. 1950's	image 4005 Two Girls Imageking Cotton in Field, l-r: Agda Noren & Annie Friedholm, NE of Round Rock, Texas, ca. 1912	image 4006 Kids on Trailer with Bales image 8193 Molly Asher & Weber McNeese with ducks, Merriltown, near Round Rock, Texas, ca. 1940	image 5003 In 1853 Swedish immigrant Anna Hurd Palm brought her extended family to the Brushy Creek area, east of Round Rock. In 1894 the beautiful Gothic Revival style church building of Palm Valley Lutheran Church was built. Today this church stands as one of the most noted landmarks of the county.
image 6027 Graduation Class Round Rock High School 1939-1940, O. F. Perry, Supt. Round Rock, Texas	image 6028 1937 Football Team, Round Rock, Texas, Coach O. F. Perry on right, Superintendent Britt on left, Mascot-S.A. Womble	image 6029 1936-1937 Freshman Class, Round Rock High School, Round Rock, Texas	image 6030 Pep Squad, Round Rock High School, Round Rock, Texas, 1938-1939. Cheerleaders l-r: Marjorie Johnson, Artie Louise Ferrell, and Matilda Brady
image 8066 Oscar Blom Family, Round Rock, Texas l-r: Oscar Bloom [native of Lekeryd parish, Smoland, Sweden], Cornelius, and Marie Lovisa Peterson Bloom [native of Nassjo parish, Smoland, Sweden] top row: Selma, Esther, Willie, Ellen, and Edith. Children later spelled name Bloom, ca. 1909	image 8067 Early 1900's Wedding Party of Noren Family, Round Rock, Texas	image 8068 Noren Family, Round Rock, Texas image 8192 Frances McNeese Archer, ca.1942, Round Rock, Texas	image 8085 Archer Family l-r: Mercer Archer, Margaret Archer, Helen Archer, back: Amanda Archer, and Doris Archer, ca.1942, near Round Rock, Texas
image 9093 Aerial View of "New Town" Round Rock, Texas, ca 1930	image 8217\| Frances McNeese Archer wearing Football Sweater RR High School 1939, Round Rock, Texas	image 8319 Marie and Julia Kohler in matching dresses, Round Rock, Texas, ca. 1892. The Krohlers immigrated from Switzerland to the US in 1885 and stayed with family and friends in Round Rock until they found a place to live. Photographer's imprint: "W.B. Praytor / Round Rock, Texas	image 9034 McNeese Farm at Merrelltown, south of Round Rock, Texas image 9033 McNeese Home, near Round Rock, Texas

Narrative on the Round Rock Historic Commercial District

also visit the

Video segments about history and preservation in Round Rock

and

The Historic Round Rock Collection: An Ongoing History

Historical Markers

click on thumbnail images for an enlarged view

view page on Early Commercial Building 203 E. Main Street Marker text: Erected to house private bank as well as hardware and lumber business of John A. Nelson and Associates. Bank was closed in 1922; commercial use continues. Architecturally important for facade of case iron and pressed tin. Ornamented pilasters and columns of this type were used in many late 19th-early 20th century structures in central Texas. This front is notable for its continuous preservation. the building is of native limestone. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970	view page on Old Broom Factory Building Mays Street at Main St. Marker text: Erected in 1876. Victorian-style building has ashlar-cut limestone front with stepped parapet and keystone arches. During prosperous railroad era, housed Round Rock Broom Company (1887?-1912), an important local business. (Broom made here won a gold medal at St. Louis World's Fair, 1904.) Building also housed general store, furniture store, school, skating rink, and car repair shop. Roger Burleson, owner, preserved structure, 1969. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970
Otto Reinke Building 102 E Main St Marker text: Erected 1879, three years after Round Rock expansion began at railroad's arrival. Some successive tenants included stores, physician, restaurants. After it was gutted by fire in 1963, architect Martin S. Kermacy and wife, Evelyn, built a modern interior within the Victorian Italianate walls.	IN MEMORY DR. DICK BOLLING GREEG 21 JUNE 1894 – 18 MAY 1963 “In this day of specialties within specialties, The day of the Doctor who is a General Practitioner is passing, the Country Doctor - Family Doctor - General Practitioner, who devotes his entire career to one community, is practically unknown today. Such a doctor, however, was Dick Bolling Gregg,” “One who was so much a part of the lives of all of us here in Round Rock, one who for so many years devoted his precious time and energy to his community, much of it in the red brick building located to the left of this marker….and one who was cherished and loved by all his friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens, and who helped to mold our little town of Round Rock into the growing community it is today…. Our own beloved, Dr. D. B. Gregg.”