ReviewsSalado, Texas- Frontier College Town"The town of Salado, Texas, located midway between Austin and Waco, is currently one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central Texas. It is also one of the most historic towns in the region. With a population of 5,000, this Bell County community is located in a peaceful and picturesque setting along a spring-fed creek. Salado boasts upscale restaurants, and bed and breakfasts situated in stately nineteenth-century homes. The town's history dates back to 1848, when the first permanent settlement was established at Salado Springs. Local author Charles Turnbo ably chronicles the story from 1848-1924 of what was once called "The Athens of Texas". Turnbo, a former federal prison warden enchanted with his chosen place of retirement, decided to write a book chronicling the community's formative period. After four years of research on the project, he realized that any authoritative study of the community would have to prominently feature Salado College, as the story of both are closely intertwined. Indeed, some of the town's current cachet may be rooted in the cultured and refined citizenry who were drawn to Salado because of its private college. Salado College was one of the first in the state "to recognize 'the right of women to a higher education and to an intellectual companionship and equality with a man'" (p.xiv). Never a financial success, the college folded and later became a high school. Over the years, the campus's main building burned on three occasions. Although arson was suspected in all three cases, no on was ever arrested. Visitors can still see the ruins of Salado College, where the crumbling walls and natural scenery make for an atmospheric setting. Turnbo wisely frames his story of Salado within the broader context of the Lone Star State, avoiding the common pitfall of writing a narrowly focused history with limited appeal. Texas's empresario period, along with the founding of Salado and its college by E.S.C. Robertson, son of Empresario Sterling Clark Robertson, is featured in a chapter on Robertson's Colony. In crafting this section of Salado, Texas, Turnbo relied upon the Robertson Colony historian Malcolm McLean. Texas politics and political figures are well represented in Salado's history. James "Pa" Ferguson was born in Salado in 1871, and later earned notoriety as one of Texas's most controversial governors. Ferguson's wife, Miriam or "Ma", was also born in Bell County and attended Salado College. Ma Ferguson succeeded her husband as governor after he was impeached for financial improprieties. She later won re-election to two additional terms. Reverend George Washington Baines, Lyndon Baines Johnson's great-grandfather, moved to Salado in 1867 so that his daughter could attend college there. In addition, the first chapter of the Texas Grange, or farmers' political party, was organized in Salado in 1873. The Salado branch of the Grange lasted until the 1890s, eventually dissolving as the farmers' political forays into third-party politics and the Populist Movement fell apart.
Salado, Texas will appeal to both the general public and genealogists. The first half of the book contains the history of Salado and the college. The second half features an extensive bibliography and footnotes, along with a variety of appendices that area researchers will find useful. These appendices include student rosters, cemetery listings, and a compilation of area historical markers. The book has solid production values, featuring quality paper stock, sturdy binding, and an attractive cover design. In crafting what is obviously a labor of love, Turnbo has produced an engaging work, one that is full of interesting vignettes and snapshots of Central Texas life in the second half of the nineteenth century and first quarter of the twentieth century". "For all of us in the Salado area, Charlie Turnbo has modeled the divine instruction to teach the children of the next generation. Too few of us attempt to pass on inspiring and challenging records of achievement to future citizens.
Salado, Texas - Frontier College Town is a book worthy to be shared with young and old alike - both near and afar." "Your wonderful book, Salado Texas - Frontier College Town, arrived yesterday. It was actually a double treat for my wife, Carroll, and I. Carroll's parents, William C. and Edith Stephens were early settlers in Salado. Joseph Carson Stephens, William's brother, taught at Salado College (page 147) and went on to teach mathematics at the University of Texas. I have found a number of references, in the book, to my ancestors, the Caskey's and Love's, as well as the Chapman's. I was delighted with the story by my great grandfather, William Jefferson Caskey (page 9). My mother, Mary Corinne Love Coleman, and my grandparents, John and Lucy Love, would have loved the book, since they could have identified on a personal basis, with so many of the folks mentioned in your fine book.
This will be a treasured addition to my library. My very best wishes to you on your literary pursuits in the future." "I finished reading your book last week and was really impressed with how well you communicated the emotional attachment and commitment of people to the community and the effort to maintain an institution. Your book is and will be a standard for comparison. And, hopefully it will encourage others to pull together the stories of institutions with which they are familiar." "I thought I knew EVERYTHING about Salado, the village where I was born, visit often, write about frequently and have loved for 85 years of life. But Charles Turnbo's delightful and thorough book gave me my come-uppance." "In this book, Charlie Turnbo has captured the heart and soul of Salado history." |
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