FIRST -Catholic Church Building - White Deer, TX
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 35° 26.399 W 101° 10.593
14S E 302439 N 3924013
In front of Catholic Church made of native stone. Tall bell tower separate from the building. Very Nice.
Waymark Code: WM13AAA
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2020
Views: 2
County of Marker: Carson County
Location of Marker: N. Main St. (FM-294) Catholic Church grounds, 2 blks. N. of US-60, White Deer
Marker Erected by: State Historical Survey Committee
Date Marker Erected: 1966
Marker Text:
POLISH SETTLERS
of White Deer
In 1854, 100 Polish families (800 persons) came to America in one small sailing ship -- a voyage of 9 weeks. None spoke English. From Galveston they walked 200 miles to Panna Maria in South Texas, arriving for Christmas Eve Mass.
There they toiled at manual labor. In 1909, in response to White Deer Land Co. offers, they migrated here. Later the colony had additions from Washington State, Nebraska, Wisconsin. Their first Catholic Church, completed May 13, 1913, was on this site.
Today their descendants include some of the most outstanding citizens of Texas.
(1966)
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