A tale of two markers
A list of markers and other information about the present location for Trammel’s Trace can be found in “Finding Trammel’s Trace,” a digital download available at https://garylpinkerton.com/orders/p/finding-trammels-trace.
There are eleven historical markers in Texas that mention Trammel’s Trace. Most of them are state historical markers by the Texas Historical Commission but others were erected by different sponsoring groups. The U.S. Bicentennial marker in Tatum harkens back to 1976. A Texas Centennial marker in Rusk County was erected in 1936. The one of which I am most proud is an incredibly impressive marker in Nacogdoches placed by the Stone Fort Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT).
Two of those eleven have been damaged, both by vehicle accidents, and are no longer in their designated locations. Here are the stories of their recovery.
BOWIE COUNTY: The Trammel’s Trace marker in Bowie County erected in 1965 (THC #50379009511) shared a non-descript roadside turnout with three other historic plaques. The chosen spot had no interesting features other than a location on the map that was pretty spot-on to where Trammel’s Trace crossed present day Highway 71 north of Texarkana. The Texas Historical Commission’s data sheet says it was reported as damaged in November 2011, although I’m reasonably certain the actual incident was some time before that. In one fell swoop, all four markers were taken out by a large vehicle of some kind.
Despite the THC listing saying it was under repair, it was not. All four markers were moved to storage at the Texas Department of Transportation office in Atlanta where they remained. Thanks to the efforts of two forward-looking people, this lost Trammel’s Trace marker has been recovered and will soon be replaced by a marker with text updated by new research.
Damage to Trammel’s Trace marker on Hwy 71 in Bowie County. (Photo by Matt Soloman)
Bob Vernon, a Texas Archaeological Steward for several northeast Texas counties, recognized the loss of the marker some years back. He visited with the TxDOT staff and asked. . . pretty bluntly. . . that they preserve the marker until some steps could be taken to replace it. They did so dutifully, to the extent that as the years passed its presence and significance was forgotten until another visionary historian picked it up.
In January 2024, Matt Solomon was appointed as the Historic Preservation Officer for Texarkana, Texas. After a 20-year leadership career in the military, this Texarkana native began his new assignment with a fresh energy to fully research his community. Inspired by plans to celebrate the centennial of the Texarkana (TX) City Hall, Matt’s research led him to discover the story of Trammel’s Trace. Matt is not one content to stop short of finding all the facts so he reached out to me in March 2024 to talk about the marker. To make a long story short, with Bob Vernon’s help, Matt found and recovered the old marker, and I have sent him a much improved inscription for a new marker to be cast soon. You can hear more about Matt’s plans for this marker in a recent podcast by the Texarkana Gazette. He has Texarkana on a track to reinvigorate this history and re-energize public knowledge of Trammel’s Trace. Matt’s plans to locate more remaining ruts across the city are exciting.
Thanks to Bob and Matt and their incredible determination and foresight, this Trammel’s Trace marker is on the road to recovery.
RUSK/PANOLA COUNTY: Another damaged marker is still looking for a champion. The Trammel’s Trace marker at the intersection of Highway 79 and FM 1798/3231 east of Henderson (THC #5401011076) was one of many granite markers erected for the Texas Centennial in 1936. Again, the location is key to its placement. The Farm-to-Market road that crosses Hwy 79 north/south was known as County Line Road, and Trammel’s Trace defined the boundary of the Rusk/Panola county line. Chiseled from three-foot cube of solid granite and clad with a bronze medallion, these markers were built to last much longer than the cast aluminum ones by the THC. This marker is different too, in that it is mentions Nicholas Trammell himself.
Damaged 1936 Trammel’s Trace Centennial marker in Rusk County still rests in the ditch. (Photo by Gary L. Pinkerton)
It is also different in that it lies in the ditch behind its former placement. I first heard about the marker getting hit by a large vehicle back in February 2024. A couple of “rut nuts” reported the damage on the Trammel’s Trace Facebook group, but I have not seen or heard any update from someone directly involved in the hoped for discussion about getting it reset.
The difficulties with getting this marker upright are much more challenging and formidable than the cast THC markers. The first obstacle is its sheer weight. According to one granite weight calculator, a 3-foot cube will weigh 4,725 pounds. To move that amount of weight uphill will be a feat I’d like to watch. The other impediment is that since it was not installed by the Texas Historical Commission, its maintenance is the responsibility of the Texas Facilities Commission. Yeah, I’ve never heard of them either, but we all know their work. The Texas Facilities Commission is responsible for the Capitol Complex, which is currently in complete rebuild, state surplus property, management of 28 million square feet of office space, and just because they have so little to do, Greg Abbott’s construction of a border wall. Based on that, I’d have to guess that dragging a chunk of granite out of the ditch in East Texas is not way up their priority list.
I’ll look into this further and let you know what I learn. Right now . . . I’d say this marker ain’t going anywhere. Sorry, Nick.
