OLDEST building in town -- Big Spring TX
N 32° 15.217 W 101° 28.638
14S E 266620 N 3571241
This building at 121 Main Street is downtown Big Spring is connected to this town's most famous larger than life figure and also is the first permanent building built in town.
Waymark Code: WMJKH6
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/29/2013
Views: 3
A Howard County Historical Commission marker preserves the history of this nondescript building at 121 Main Street in downtown Big Spring, the first permanent building constructed in what was then a rowdy frontier village of tents, shacks, and lean-tos by Big Spring's most legendary citizen: The Seventh Earl of Aylesford, who came to Big Spring from Warwickshire England.
The marker reads as follows:
"A HISTORICAL BIG SPRING MEAT MARKET
In 1884, a most unlikely fellow bought a lot and had built on it a structure of naïve limestone to house Big Spring’s first meat market. Joseph Heneage Finch, the Seventh Earl of Aylesford, Warwickshire, England (forced out of his country in the wake of a divorce scandal) went on a hunting and investment expedition in the West Texas area. He set up one of his headquarters in Big Spring, and, being very particular about the source and quality of his meat, had in his retinue his own butcher, Von Paussen, who performed this service for him and for the public in the stone structure at what is now called 121 Main Street, the first permanent masonry building in Big Spring.. An immense marble slab covered the counter.
The Earl’s preference in meat was mutton. While sheep outnumbered cattle in this western frontier village, the natives did not butcher them, so the earl had an unlimited supply for himself and his English brothers, friends, and servants.
The generous and amiable “Judge”, as he was locally known, died January 13, 1886, at the age of thirty-five from excessive drinking. His body was returned to England for burial. His brief two years in Big Spring were legendary, ad he is remembered with great esteem.
The inventory of the estate of the Earl of Aylesford included, among other properties, “One meat market, $1800.” In later years the storefront was faced with brick."
Type of documentation of superlative status: Howard County TX Historical Commission plaque
Location of coordinates: front of building
Web Site: [Web Link]
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