2011-7 Remembrances Special EditionIt of Schertz — Remembrances Special Edition Article 2011-7
Provided by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee
(Article Research Materials supplied by Old Spanish Trails, Association flyers and St. Mary's University
Library Archives)
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The last issue of Remembrances published in 2010 (#6) introduced you to a National
Historic Trail that runs through our City called the Camino Real de los Tej as. But did you
know that our town has another historic trail that runs through it? It's called "Old Spanish
Trail" (OST) and it essentially runs along Old Highway 78 midway through our City
(rom west to east.
At the turn of the 20th century there was only one route of travel from east to west across
the territories from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and beyond to the
west coast of California. The route had different names at different junctions along its
path through the various states. Prior to 1927, the date the U.S. Highway Department
began assigning numbers to U.S. highways, the route was identifiable by pictorial
markers that bore the depiction shown in the above red, white and yellow banner with the
initials "ST" placed vertically in black letters against the white background. Once
numbers were assigned to U.S. highways, the route became known by its many names as
it passes through the hundreds of towns and cities across the Southern United States, such
as old U.S. 90, alternate U.S. K U. S. 80, various state Highways 89s, I.H. 10 and
various Main Streets throughout the south and southwestern United States. But the name
that originated with the road's development was "Old Spanish Trail" (OST).
The OT is a historical treasure not well publicized in modem times. However, in the
days of the Spanish colonial rule this trail was the path through which explorers, mission
priests and military units traveled as they opened the land to European immigration. From
Mexico the old trails carried the adventures into the South and Southwest
The trail was first marked by wagon trains moving adventurers and pioneer settlers across
wilderness territory marked only by an occasional fort built by the U.S. Government in
the late 19th century to assist settlers with safe passage across dangerous Indian
territories. Stagecoaches ran the rugged trail from east to west across the coastal states.
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The first convention for organizing the effort was held in Mobile, Alabama December 10-
11, 1915 with 429 delegates from Jacksonville to New Orleans. A July 1919, conference
in Houston, Texas proposed the OST be developed through South Texas via San Antonio.
Harral B. Ayres took charge of the San Antonio OST project direction and recruited
representatives from various towns and cities along the Houston to San Antonio route to
support the project. Among those recruited was Schertz resident S. G. Vordenbaumen
who is listed as an OST Councilor as of 1921 on the listing of Councilors posted to the
St. Mary's University Library Archives. The councilor's role was to advise travelers of
conditions and accommodations within the town or city being represented. The St.
Mary's archives reflect that as a member of the Old Spanish Trails Association Schertz
paid member dues in 1920 of $95.00 and remained a $95.00 contributor through 1921.
According to the OST Travelog published to, among other things, record cities and towns
that were a part of the project, Schertz was a town of only 315 residents and offered a
hotel where meals were served for travelers comfort. Other amenities listed for Schertz
were two service stations, one owned by the Ebert Brothers where a ladies restroom and
ice water was available and another Gulf service station opposite the railroad depot that
offered refreshments.
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Section of OST (now Hwy 78) Mav 28, 1921 OST at Schertz, Texas (now Hwy 78) at
just below the railroad bridge crossing Cibolo yet to be future site of highway bridge
Creek at Schertz, Texas crossing bolo Creek
After a good beginning, progress on the road stalled during the late teens due to the war
and the considerable expense of building bridges across the many waterways empting
into the Gulf of Mexico. Once Mr. Ayres took charge of the project the highway was
brought to completion in 1929. The lure of the OST continued to captivate travelers until
the early 1960s, when new interstates redirected traffic off the old S.
But in many of the cities and towns across the nation through which OST traversed
restoration projects are underway to revitalize OST monuments put in place as early as
the 1920s and to add additional signage, stone gateways and markers at town centers, city
limits and state/county boundary lines. In 2002 plans began being made (Planning
Director San Antonio resident Charlette Kahl) for a decade-long highly publicized OST
Centennial Celebration (called OST 100) with a 2015 Mobile organization reenactment
and annual conference reenactments in various cities in 2023, 20245 2029 to include a
2029 grand historic motorcade reenactment. The OST 100 group seeks to locate,
revitalize and preserve the OST roadway, businesses and historic sites along the roadway.
Hopefully, when Schertz planners begin discussions on how to best spend the million
dollar bond money voters approved last November for renovation and beautification of
FM 78 and Main Street consideration will be given to recognizing the historic nature of
FM 78. Monument identifier poles as used in earlier times might serve as recognizable
reminders of the road's history and importance.
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