Town of Abernathy

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. The town of Abernathy, out in Hale County, got its start in 1909, when the Santa Fe Railroad stretched itself from Plainview down to Lubbock. That extension opened up the South Plains, and where the rails went, towns had a way of following.

This one was named for Monroe G. Abernathy, born in 1868, who served as treasurer of the South Plains Investment Company, the firm that promoted the townsite itself. So right from the beginning, there was money behind it, and intention, and a name to go with both.

Monroe G. Abernathy, by the way, lived all the way to 1962. Some roots run deep.

The community prospered, as the marker puts it, becoming a major railhead for the shipping of cattle. That's not a small thing out on the South Plains. Cattle moving through a town has a way of moving money through it too.

Now, Abernathy didn't build itself entirely from scratch. Several buildings from a defunct town called Bartonsite were moved right on over, set down on new ground, given a second life. New ones went up alongside them.

And at the center of civic activities stood what folks called the Old Tabernacle, which held court on the city square from 1918 all the way to 1947. That's a long run for a gathering place. In the early days, before roads were built, broad plowed furrows marked the way to the house of the town doctor.

Think about that a moment. No paved road, no painted line, just a furrow cut through the earth pointing you toward help when you needed it. That's a kind of community care that doesn't require a sign.

Today the economy is agriculture-based, same land, same purpose, different century. Abernathy took what the railroad brought, added what Bartonsite left behind, and planted itself in Hale County soil for the long haul.

What the marker says

Founded when Santa Fe Railroad was extended from Plainview to Lubbock, 1909. Named for Monroe G. Abernathy (1868-1962), treasurer of South Plains Investment Company, firm which promoted townsite. Community prospered, becoming a major railhead for shipping of cattle. Several buildings from the defunct town of Bartonsite were moved here and new ones built. Center of civic activities was the "Old Tabernacle" (1918-1947), located on city square. In early days, before roads were built, broad plowed furrows marked way to house of town doctor. Economy is agriculture-based. 1973