Military Plaza

Duane's take

The way the marker at Military Plaza tells it, here's what Duane's got for you. Back in 1825, when plans were being drawn up for Gonzales, nobody was freelancing. The governor of Coahuila and Texas had wishes, and those wishes were going to be followed.

The plans for Gonzales fell in line with the usual plans for Spanish towns, the kind of layout that had been repeated across the region, ordered and deliberate. Out in the field doing the actual work was James Kerr, serving as agent for the colony's contractor, a man named Green DeWitt. Kerr didn't work alone.

His assistant, Byrd Lockhart, was right there alongside him as they surveyed the ground. And this particular spot, the one you might be standing near right now, this was named Military Plaza.

What the marker says

To comply with wishes of governor of Coahuila and Texas, the 1825 plans for Gonzales followed usual plans for Spanish towns. Surveyed by James Kerr, agent for colony's contractor, Green DeWitt, and Kerr's assistant, Byrd Lockhart. This was named Military Plaza.