Colonel O.M. Roberts
Marker Location: US 60, on Courthouse lawn in Miami
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Text: President Secession Convention 1861, resulting in comment by Sam Houston, "I don't know what they will do, but Roberts is honest." Raised in 11th Texas Infantry. Gallantly led Brigade Battle Bayou Bourbeau, LA. Chief Justice Texas Supreme Court under Confederacy and State. Federal reconstruction policy caused his removal from bench 1865, denial U.S. Senate Seat 1866. Elected Governor by people, 1878 and 1880. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy Erected by the State of Texas 1963.
Fossil Beds
Marker Location: from Miami, travel on US 60 approximately 4.5 miles northeast
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Text: Cited as one of most prolific fossil fields of lower Pliocene age at time of discovery, these beds are about 13,000,000 years old. Geologists of Rio Bravo Oil Company found them in 1928 on C.C. Coffee Ranch, and their reports brought specialists from several major institutions to the area. The fossil bones buried here included (among others) those of a prehistoric camel, a kind of antelope, horse, and wild pig. Further studies led scientists in 1941 to adopt "Hemphillian" as the name for the geologic age represented by these fossils. (1970)
Miami Railroad Depot
Marker Location: intersection of US-66 and S. Mobeetie Street, Miami
Year Marker Erected: 1979
Marker Text: When the Southern Kansas Railway Company of Texas built a line through Roberts County in 1887, Miami developed at the end of the track as a campsite for workers. The crew set up a kitchen and a tent hotel. Soon the railroad built a public water well and telegraph lines to nearby Fort Elliott. Passengers and supplies for the post and nearby town of Mobeetie began arriving by rail. This depot was erected in 1888 between North Main and Birge Street. The Santa Fe Railroad bought the line in 1899 and this structure remained in service until 1978. (1979)
Parnell
Marker Location: from Miami, take FM-283 northwest about 20.5 miles to marker
Year Marker Erected: 1973
Marker Text: Roberts County was created on August 21, 1876, by the Texas Legislature, but remained unorganized, as in that year it had only one settler. Its 1880 population was 32. After the Santa Fe Railroad was built across this area in 1887, settlement increased. A January 1889 election to organize the county was invalidated by fraudulent voting. However, the disqualified officers opened a courthouse in a vacant store in Miami (20 miles southeast), the county seat according to the contested election, and placed the records in a heavy safe. The legally elected authorities later obtained the records by hiring a gunman to impersonate a landowner and to capture the safe when it was opened. Hauled to the legal county seat near this site, the safe was set on blocks and a 2-story frame courthouse was built around it. First known as Bennett and then as Oran, the town was renamed Parnell when the U.S. Post Office opened in March 1890. Parnell had a few businesses, about 12 residences, a school, and a saloon. Guests rode 25 to 30 miles to attend dances in the courthouse. Those attending court in Parnell had to camp out, as the hotel was small. Miami became county seat in 1898, and Parnell was abandoned. (1973; 1986)
Roberts County
Marker Location: from Miami, go north on US 60, 3.5 miles to roadside park
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Text: Formed from Young and Bexar Territories: Created, August 21, 1876 Organized, January 10, 1889. Named in honor of John S. Roberts, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and Oran Milo Roberts, Governor of Texas, 1878-1882. County Seat, Miami, to October, 1889; Parnell, to August 1, 1898, Miami, since. (1936)
Roberts County Courthouse, Miami
Construction Date: 1913
Style: Classical Revival
Substantial Modifications: windows replaced, district courtroom ceiling dropped. Elevator and ramp installed in 1985.
Roberts County Museum, Miami
Mailing Address:
Roberts County Museum
Box 306
Miami, Texas 79059
Street Address:
Hwy 60 Commercial
Area Code: 806
Phone: 868-3291
Fax Number: 686-3381
Jane Bright, Curator
Types of Exhibits/Collections: Art, Natural History, Archeology, Photos, Historical, Local/Pioneer History
Educational Programs: Guided Tours, Self-guided tours, School Tours, Hands-on Activities for Children, Demonstrations
Museum Classification: General, History, Art, Non-Historic Structure, Museum Building Type: Historic Structure
Original Purpose: Depot
Wayside Community
Marker Location: from Pampa, travel 6 miles north on SH 70; marker is next to old school
Year Marker Erected: 1974
Marker Text: Settlers came to this locality in 1876. The county was organized in 1889. Pioneer school district no. 5 originated by court order in 1890 to serve this area with schools known as Tallahone, Poole, and Wayside, taught usually in homes. In 1914, Frederic Foster of New York gave this 2-acre school site to the county. The district bought materials, and patrons erected this 28 x 36-foot schoolhouse, painting it red. It soon became the focus for the community -site for elections, church services, and other activities, as well as housing the Wayside School. The trustees in 1914 were James A. Poole, J.M. Story, and Earl Talley. Despite enrolment fluctuations caused by drouths, oil booms, and other economic factors, Wayside prided itself on scholastic excellence. Beginning in 1929, high school students were transferred by bus into Pampa, Wayside District paying their tuition. In 1933-1934, all grades were transferred -an arrangement used until 1950, when Wayside consolidated with Pampa. White Deer Land Company, successor to original donor Frederic Foster, then deeded the red schoolhouse for continuing community use to trustees Paul Caylor, R.E. Montgomery, and J.T. Roberts. Current trustees are C.W. Osborne, J.T. Rogers, and Jack Sloan. (1974)
Texas Historical Commission
http://www.thc.state.tx.us/index.html