Texas' Historical Milestones On This Day July 16th

On July 16, various significant events took place in the history of Texas. One of the notable events occurred in 1921 when Stephen F. Austin arrived in Texas. Austin is often referred to as the "Father of Texas" for his role in the colonization of the region. His arrival marked a crucial moment in the state's history and played a vital role in shaping Texas as we know it today.

Another historical event that took place on July 16 was the end of the Battle of Neches in 1839. The two-day battle between Texas troops and Cherokee Indians marked a turning point in Indian issues in the settled parts of Texas. Though the battle concluded on this day, the pursuit of the Cherokee Indians continued until July 24, further consolidating Texan control over the region.

Jumping ahead to 1870, an army officer named John Porter Hatch began an experiment at Fort Concho to manufacture and use adobe bricks as construction material. However, the experiment, which lasted until September 2, was ultimately deemed a failure. Despite the efforts of Hatch and 20 enlisted men, they were only able to produce 10,000 usable bricks, significantly fewer than anticipated.

In 1931, Oklahoma Governor William "Alfalfa Bill" Murray made headlines by opening a bridge across the Red River via executive order. This act, however, was met with opposition from Texas Governor Ross S. Sterling, who had ordered barricades across the Texas approaches to the bridge due to a legal injunction filed by the builder of a nearby toll bridge. The issue remained unresolved until August 16 when a resolution was reached.