Belle Plain
Posted by: 
vanhoose74
N 32° 18.500 W 099° 21.800
14S E 465796 N 3574670
Ghost town and former county seat of Callahan County, Texas.
Waymark Code: WM4K0H
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/01/2008
Views: 70
One of the most promising towns in West Texas during the 1870s was Belle Plain. The town experienced slow growth with only three businesses operating during its first year, which was 1876. By 1880, however, the population had increased to around three hundred and supported a hotel, several mercantile stores and a newspaper among a number of other businesses. Doctors and lawyers were among the town's professionals. One of the first institutions of higher learning in West Texas was the Belle Plain College. The school offered the full classical course of studies as well as the sciences and liberal arts. However, the reputation of Belle Plain College rested with its music department and its twelve grand pianos. The college flourished as well as the town for a few years until the severe drought of 1886-1887 from which neither could recover. The school closed its doors in 1892. By 1897, only four families inhabited the town. Today, Belle Plain is a true ghost town. It leaves the remains of the college building and a residence or two, both of which have suffered greatly from the elements. Belle Plain is located only about a mile east of U.S. Highway 283 about six and a half miles south of Baird, but reaching the site requires a circuitous route on graded country roads. Visitors will pass near the nicely maintained Belle Plain cemetery. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenoweth
WARNING: This site is on private property. Do not go up to the building. You can see it from the road. The building closest to the road is the former home of the Dean of College. The historical markers are at the end of the road just to the east of the site.
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