Old Springfield

Duane's take

The official marker for Old Springfield, Limestone County, tells it like this — and it's a story worth telling slow. Now picture a spring. A big one.

The kind that bubbles up cold and clear and makes a man think, yes, right here, this is where something ought to grow. On January 6th, 1838, a fellow named Moses Herrin donated the townsite, and to sweeten the deal he threw in four lots — free — to any person willing to settle there. That's not a land deal, that's an invitation.

And folks accepted it. Twelve families came. But by later that same year of 1838, those families were forced out by Indian hostility.

Just like that, the town's first chapter ended before it could really begin. Some stories don't wait around to be comfortable. But Springfield wasn't done.

By 1846 a post office was established, and on April 11th of that same year, Limestone County was created. Springfield was the only town of any size in the whole county — so naturally, it became the county seat. The seat of something official now, something that mattered.

The first courthouse went up in 1848, built near the Navasota River. Then in 1856 they raised a new one — two stories, brick, planted up on the hill like the town was announcing itself to the horizon. And Springfield had soul, not just government.

It was home to the Springfield District of the Methodist Church, from which stemmed the Northwest Texas Conference. Baptist and Disciples of Christ congregations were active there too. Springfield College was established.

They were building something real. Then the Civil War came, and the college closed during it. That's the kind of quiet detail that carries weight if you let it sit a moment.

The Navasota Stock Raisers Association organized right there in Springfield. Commerce, faith, education, county government — this town had the full hand. But here's where the story turns, and it turns hard.

In 1870, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was built — some miles to the east. Not through Springfield. Around it.

And when a railroad passes you by in 1870, the population doesn't hold on long. It dwindled. Then came 1873.

Two great fires swept through the town that year. Two. One of them burned the courthouse — that proud two-story brick building on the hill.

The surviving buildings were moved away. Not left to ruin, just... moved. Like the town itself picked up and relocated, piece by piece.

Groesbeck became the county seat. And Springfield? The once important town — those are the marker's own words, once important — faded from the map but not entirely from memory.

The old cemetery and Springfield Lake, both now within Fort Parker State Park, still carry the name. Lake Springfield provides recreation, irrigation, and municipal water to this day. Moses Herrin offered four lots to anyone willing to stay.

In the end, what stayed was a lake, a cemetery, and a name — which might be the most Springfield thing of all.

What the marker says

Named for the large spring on townsite donated Jan. 6, 1838, by Moses Herrin, who gave 4 lots to any person agreeing to settle in the town. 12 families later in 1838 were forced out by Indian hostility. Post office was established in 1846. When Limestone County was created April 11, 1846, Springfield-- its only town of any size-- became county seat. First courthouse was built 1848 near Navasota River; new 2-story brick courthouse in 1856 on the hill. Home of Springfield District of Methodist Church from which stemmed the Northwest Texas Conference. Also had active Baptist and Disciples of Christ churches. Springfield College was established, but closed during the Civil War. The Navasota Stock Raisers Association was organized here. When Houston & Texas Central Railroad was built some miles to the East in 1870, population dwindled. In 1873 there were 2 great fires in the town-- one burning the courthouse. Surviving buildings were moved away. Groesbeck became the county seat. The old cemetery and Springfield Lake, both in Fort Parker State Park, retain the historic name of the once important town. Lake Springfield provides recreation, irrigation and municipal water. (1966)