DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm going to do it justice. Now, these columns you're looking at in Washington County — they don't just mark a spot on the ground. They mark something that goes all the way back to the Republic of Texas itself.
Judge R. E. B.
Baylor and others pushed and worked until February 1, 1845, when the Republic of Texas granted a charter. The university opened in 1846, and Baylor has been operating under that original name ever since — making it the oldest university in Texas still going by the name it was born with. Think about that for a moment.
The Republic. Not the state. The Republic.
That's how far back this thing runs. For forty years, Baylor stood right here, before eventually moving in 1886 to Belton and to Waco. Forty years of students and presidents and Texas sun baking these grounds.
And what a string of presidents it was — H. L. Graves, R.
C. Burleson, G. W.
Baines, and W. C. Crane.
Now, you might let that name Baines drift past you, but hold on just a second. G. W.
Baines had a great-grandson. That great-grandson was Lyndon Baines Johnson — the 36th President of the United States. A line running straight from these columns to the Oval Office.
Now these columns specifically mark the site of Baylor Female College. The men, they attended Baylor University on a hill to the south — across what folks called the River Jordan. A little creek, a whole lot of name.
In 1952, ex-students and friends, working under the leadership of the Baylor Historical Society, came back and restored these columns. They decided this place deserved to stand. And standing it is.
What the marker says
Outgrowth of efforts of Judge R. E. B. Baylor and others; chartered by Republic of Texas on Feb. 1, 1845; opened 1846--Baylor is the oldest university in Texas operating under original name. Until moving (1886) to Belton and Waco, Baylor was located here for 40 years, under Presidents H. L. Graves, R. C. Burleson, G. W. Baines (whose great grandson, Lyndon Baines Johnson, became 36th U.S. president), and W. C. Crane. These columns mark site of Baylor Female College; men attended Baylor University, on hill to the south, across the "River Jordan". Restored 1952 by ex-students and friends under leadership of Baylor Historical Society.