Davy Crockett Memorial Park

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna give it to you straight. Now, you might think a town named Crockett, sitting in a county named Houston, in the great state of Texas, well, that's just about the most Texas thing you could possibly stumble across on a road trip. And you'd be right.

The Republic of Texas, back when it was still its own republic and making all kinds of decisions, created Houston County by act on June 12, 1837. Named for General Sam Houston himself. That same bold republic turned around and incorporated the City of Crockett, named for Davy Crockett, on December 29 of that same year, 1837.

Six months apart. Two legends, one county. Like I said.

Most Texas thing you could imagine. Now fast forward exactly one hundred years from that June 12 founding, and the City of Crockett did something worth noting. On June 12, 1937, they dedicated Davy Crockett Memorial Park.

A hundred years to the day from when the county was created. Whether that timing was deliberate or just the kind of thing that happens when a place has history in its bones, well, the marker doesn't say, so I won't speculate. What it does give us are the names of the city officials who made it happen.

Mayor J.B. Beasley, and Councilmen R.L. Shivers, H.O.

McCarty, C.L. Edminsten, W.E. Keland, and B.O.

Perdue. Ordinary names on a list, maybe, but they're the ones who put a park on the ground and let the story keep going. Some places carry their history in monuments.

Crockett, Texas carries it in the very name on the sign when you roll into town.

What the marker says

Davy Crockett Memorial Park dedicated June 12, 1937 City of Crockett, Texas named for Davis Crockett and incorporated by the Republic of Texas Dec. 29, 1837 ------- Houston County named for General Sam Houston created by act of the Republic of Texas June 12, 1837 ------- City officials Mayor J.B. Beasley; Councilmen R.L. Shivers, H.O. McCarty, C.L.. Edminsten, W.E. Keland, B.O. Perdue