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The
First Baptist Church of Garza County
Photo courtesy
Erik Whetstone, 2002 |
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What
little is known:
Ghost town researcher Erik
Whetstone came across this former community that doesn't
even have a listing in the Handbook of Texas, nor does it appear on
Garza County maps, even as a cemetery. FM 2008 is an 11 mile county
road, merely connecting two highways (US 380 and FM 651), not two
towns.
"Verbena isn't dead, as evidenced by 4 nearby ranches: The Rafter
M Ranch, Medlock Land & Cattle, The Birdsong Ranch and Fumagalli Ranch.
The drive is scenic and thus well worth [an] altered route. Continuing
North on 2008 was just as scenic and reminded me of the Texas Plains
Trail on Hwy 70 & 207 from Borger
to Dickens." - David
Higgins. (See Forum below.) |
Photographer's
Note:
"I'd definitely consider this one a bit of a ghost town. When I was
there I only saw this church building and a rather new and nice looking
mobile home. Other than that, just cactus and mesquite trees. If this
is indeed, the first Baptist Church in Garza, I'm surprised it doesn't
have a Texas Historical marker. ("There IS indeed a historical
marker for this church, which is located in the museum in nearby Post."
- Ryan J. Nims. See Forum below.)
The church, however, has a cornerstone, [but since] it's a bit difficult
to read, I'll include the text as inscribed:
VERBENA CHURCH
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
ORGANIZED IN GARZA CO
AUG 24, 1902
PASTOR REV J.V. BILLBERRY
CHURCH CLERK J.B. COTTON
DEACONS J.B. COTTON R.I. SELI
J.B. BARROW
CHARTER MEMBERS
J.B. COTTON, M.C. COTTON,
FORD COTTON, ISABEL NICHOLS,
RAE NICHOLS, IONA NICHOLS,
ANNIE COTTON, MAMIE
GRAHAM, VIRGINIA BARROW
THIS CORNER STONE IS
DEDICATED TO THESE AND
TO THE OTHER FAITHFUL
ONE WHO HELPED TO
PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF
THIS CHURCH |
Verbena
Texas Forum
Subject:
Verbena, Texas
I just wanted
to update you on some Verbena Area Information. We just recently
purchased the south 800 acres of the Fumagalli Ranch. We have also
leased the two sections on which the "old church" stands. The Fumagallis
still own that property and are near the point of tearing down the
church after repeated attempts to get assistance to restore it have
not been successful. - Coy Howell, 5 Star Ranch, Verbena, Texas,
August 29, 2006
Subject:
Rural Church in Verbena
Dear Editor,
I am currently looking for more information about the First Baptist
Church of Garza in Verbena, Texas. Do you know anyone I could contact
who would know more about its current condition? Email jspiller@bysp.com
- James Spiller, Wichita Falls, Texas, June 13, 2006
Subject:
Location of Verbena, and Scenic Drive
"I visited Verbena
[September 2005]. The church is still there although it's completely
surrounded (but visible) by mesquite trees and a fence with a padlocked
gate. The exact location is 4.4 miles North of Hwy 380 on FM 2008.
Verbena isn't dead, as evidenced by 4 nearby ranches: The Rafter
M Ranch, Medlock Land & Cattle, The Birdsong Ranch and Fumagalli
Ranch.
The drive is scenic and thus well worth [an] altered route. Continuing
North on 2008 was just as scenic and reminded me of the Texas Plains
Trail on Hwy 70 & 207 from Borger
to Dickens." -
David Higgins, Lubbock, Texas, September 14, 2005
We found this
place over the weekend, and were fortunate to run into the owner
of the land on which this church sits, who gave us some info/corrections...
It is fenced in barbed wire, on *private property* and is in a pretty
advanced stage of disrepair.
Unfortunately, the landowner is afraid he may have to tear it down
as:
a) He can't afford to restore the building on his own
b) It poses a danger to "trespassers"
c) Neither the state of Texas nor Texas Tech seem to have a need
for any more small churches. (this is almost criminally sad...)
Also, there IS indeed a historical marker for this church,
which is located in the museum in nearby Post.
I hope that this helps to keep the information current. - Sincerely,
Ryan J. Nims, January 24, 2005
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