THE TEXAS YOU EXPECTpages 30-39

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The 1883 Generation:
Settlement, Law, and Order
T
he village’s interpretive story begins well before the
beginning of recorded history. For ten millennia,
humans lived in and among the hills that surround
the facility. Evidence of their passing can be seen in the
stone artifacts on display. These projectile points and tools,
most of which were gathered in Taylor and surrounding
counties, tell the story of people living on the edge in a
sometimes unforgiving environment as they struggled to
provide homes and security for their families.
For most visitors, though, the most compelling story
begins to unfold by returning to the year 1883, the same year
that the county seat was moved from Buffalo Gap to
Abilene. In this restored historic village, modeled on countless others that dot the West Texas landscape, the original
courthouse continues to serve as the center of local politics.
The inhabitants of this community built their town to take
advantage of the waters of Elm Creek (called the “Elm Fork
of the Brazos River” by earlier visitors to the region) and
took shelter under the big oaks that grew in the gap. As the
town grew, the establishment of law, government, and
organized religion provided the cornerstones and building
blocks for the community. Over time, these institutions
helped instill some sense of order on what was otherwise a
chaotic frontier landscape.
With the passing of the formative, and often wildest,
stage of settlement, citizens of West Texas focused on making their lives more stable in a variety of ways. One of the
most important means for accomplishing this peace was the
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The Texas You Expect
The 1883 Generation
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1925
1880s
Base Ball
Field
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1904
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CHAPEL
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1883
ENTRANCE
Key
9. Gallery/Meeting Room
1. Texas History Store
10. Village garden
2. Hill House
11. Wagon barn
3. Taylor County Courthouse and Jail
12. Doc’s Cook Shack
4. Knight-Sayles Cabin
13. Cottonwood Flat School
5. Doctor’s office
14. Filling station
6. Barbershop
15. Bank
7. Railroad depot
16. Post office
8. Blacksmith shop
17. Print shop
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The 1883 Generation
construction of a comfortable home. Visitors to the historic
village witness this transformation with their entrance into
the Hill House. The simple wood-frame building illustrates
a significant step forward from dugouts along the creek.
Lumber for such buildings had to be transported from back
east, as the West Texas landscape supported few large trees.
The Marshal Tom Hill House. Built in 1881, this was the home of Abilene’s first marshal. The
house was built the same year Abilene was founded and remained in the Hill family until
1960. It is the only remaining structure of box construction left in Taylor County. It contains
some unique period furnishings such as a Western Cottage Organ.
The lifestyles of those early citizens reflected many
of the changing aspects of American culture in the 1880s.
People enjoyed socializing with neighbors. Front porches
became the gathering places for friends and acquaintances.
The height of luxury for a modest town dweller was to have
a sitting parlor in one’s house. Friends and family could
gather to discuss the latest news of national politics
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The Texas You Expect
The Taylor County Courthouse and Jail. Built in 1879 by public subscription, this hewn rock
structure includes an intact courtroom downstairs and jail cells upstairs and, important to
note, was one of the first structures in the region.
or gather ‘round the organ to sing favorite hymns
(“Amazing Grace” and “Rock of Ages” were two of the
favorites of this period).
The stability that allowed people to build permanent
houses and gather in safety came from the underpinning of
American civilization—the rule of law. The sturdy courthouse stood firmly in the center of town, a secular temple, a
monument to principle and order. Entering this robust structure gives visitors, both past and present, a sense of the
importance of law in a community. The courtroom, though
modest by modern standards, stands with a quiet dignity and
resonates with justice proclaimed in its past. The clerk’s
office, just outside of the courtroom, still echoes with the
sounds of the teeming crowds who gathered to file land
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The 1883 Generation
claims, register to vote, report for jury duty, or file a complaint. Upstairs in the courthouse is the jail. The dingy solitary confinement cell stands lonely watch at the head of the
stairs. Criminals accused of serious crimes had to stay in this
cell, while most others did their time in the larger, dormitory-style “drunk tank.” The days of the wild frontier, with
shootouts in saloons and reckless behavior in the streets,
came to an end because of this courthouse/jail and the cultural beliefs it represents.
Jail cell in the Taylor County Courthouse
Visitors in the courthouse will see in the “drunk
tank” cell the bulk of what remains of the original Ernie
Wilson Museum artifact collection. With an impressive
array of nineteenth-century rifles, shotguns, and pistols, the
collection evokes images of the “Old West” mystique that
Wilson loved so much. Also included in the collection is a
large variety of Indian artifacts.
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The Texas You Expect
Courthouse drunk tank cell now contains artifacts from the
Ernie Wilson Museum
After leaving the courthouse, visitors are treated to
one last glimpse of the frontier before it disappears forever.
To the south of the courthouse stands the Knight-Sayles
cabin. Built in 1875 by a buffalo hunter, this cabin hearkens
back to the previous decade when life was much less comfortable. Although many residents in 1883 aspired to live in
frame houses, like the Hill House, others still had to be content with more simple abodes, at least until they made
enough money to “upgrade.” They often chose to build simple log cabins like the ones that dominated the American
South, from which most of these settlers had come.
For those still working toward better accommodations, a log cabin at least kept the rain and animals out.
Cabin dwellers in 1883 were part of the community. They
lived frugally, often with children, in the small buildings that
they called home. The hard lifestyles they lived, however, often
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The Knight-Sayles Cabin
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The Texas You Expect
gave them the courage and fortitude to stay put, work hard,
and become successful as early citizens of the region. This
form of temporary or low-income and upkeep shelter is still
with us today, although not in the form of our idyllic and
glorified log cabin visions. Instead, trailer homes and manufactured housing fill this role in the modern world.
Before leaving the last of 1883, visitors to the village
should contemplate the message of this section: for settlement to occur, economic opportunity needs to exist, but it
will only thrive in the shadow of effective laws. Simply stated, people will not risk their lives and property without
some guarantees of protection, either from judges or divine
intervention.
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The 1883 Generation
Farm equipment
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