Mason County Historical Commission

The Mason County Historical Commission assists the county government and the Texas Historical Commission in preserving, protecting and promoting local historical resources. It identifies and researches historic sites and buildings in the county. The commission also seeks to educate and inform the public about Mason County history through publications, programs, markers and monuments.

All the state and county historic markers in Mason County.

The Archives Room at the M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library contains both published and unpublished materials on local history topics.

Vertical Files. The folders are organized under the topics Families, Hispanics, Indians, African-Americans, Cemeteries, THC Markers, Businesses, Clubs and Associations, Fort Mason, Hoo Doo War, Schools, County of Mason, City of Mason, and Courthouse Preservation.

Genealogy Books. A collection of books about specific families that settled in Mason County. Also some local histories from surrounding counties and general Texas genealogy books.

The Branding Iron. A complete collection of Mason High School annuals starting in 1924.

Hunter’s Frontier Times. Published from 1923 until 1954, this magazine contains many articles about Mason County history.

Mason County News. PDF files of all issues of the newspaper from May 1886 through the present.

Photographs. Twelve red binders of prints organized under the topics Agriculture/Stock Shows, Events (Parades, Rodeos, Fairs, Picnics, Organizations), Fishing, Hunting, Bands, Weddings, Rangers, Jobs, Homes, People, Schools, Churches, Smaller Communities, Hilda Community, and Sesquicentennial.

LINKS TO ONLINE MASON COUNTY HISTORY RESOURCES:

National Register Historic District Application, 1974: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40972936

National Register Historic District Extension Application, 1991: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40972942

Grinstead’s Graphics Aug. 1923 issue on Mason: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth498503

Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. 1936 map of Mason:

Sheet 1: https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/m-o/txu-sanborn-mason-1936-1.jpg

Sheet 2: https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/m-o/txu-sanborn-mason-1936-2.jpg

Sheet 3: https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/m-o/txu-sanborn-mason-1936-3.jpg

Sheet 4: https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/m-o/txu-sanborn-mason-1936-4.jpg

Sheet 5: https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/m-o/txu-sanborn-mason-1936-5.jpg

Kathryn Eilers’ M.A. thesis on Mason, 1939: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/78195

Click the links below to download PDF files of all volumes of the newspaper from 1886 through 2004.

Articles from the Mason County News from 2004 forward can be found here – https://www.hillcountrypassport.com/mason/

Located at the northeast corner of the courthouse lawn, the Veterans’ Memorial honors all Mason County residents who served in the armed forces. The Melvin Eckert Mason VFW Post 8554 periodically adds names to the monument. If you would like to have yourself or a family member included, please contact Bill Hight at (325) 265-4226 or hcha1@hctc.net.