Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
Double Mountain Salt Works | Old Kent County Jail | Putoff Canyon
Double Mountain Salt Works
Marker Title: Double Mountain Salt Works (on Brazos River)
City: Jayton
County: Kent
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: SH 70, at courthouse, Jayton
Marker Text: On Indian-infested frontier 125 miles beyond Fort Belknap and outer settlements. Northernmost business in Confederate Texas. Established at great risk, to obtain salt, scarce during Civil War and vitally needed to cure meat, season food, cure hides for leather, feed work horses, army draft mules and cavalry horses. Texas Legislature appropriated funds for the explorations on the Brazos by a civil engineer. Double Mountain spring water proved to be 98% salt, a nearby lake 45%. Reduction of brine was under control of Texas Military Board. Troops guarded the work. (1965)
Old Kent County Jail
Marker Title: Old Kent County Jail
City: Clairemont
County: Kent
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: junction of US 380 and SH 208, Clairemont
Marker Text: Built, 1894, of red sandstone quarried nearby. Horse and cattle thieves, murderers, moonshiners most common prisoners. One of most difficult West Texas jails from which to escape. No attempted break successful. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965
Putoff Canyon
Marker Title: Putoff Canyon
City: Jayton
County: Kent
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: from Jayton, take SH 70 3 miles N to roadside park.
Marker Text: Named for a Mr. Putoff, early settler. In region of Salt Water, canyon was noted for its freshwater spring "strong enough to swim a horse". Area was a resort, 1900-1914, for many artists. Western writer Zane Grey used region as setting for his novel "The Thundering Herd". (1969)