While our family was vacationing in Kingsland, Karl and I took to excursions, first up to Llano to see what I might learn about the days when Franklin C. Wilkes lived in Llano. That trip was moderately successful. Then a couple days later we drove down to Marble Falls to see if we could find any information about the Methodist Church were Rev. Rex B. Wilkes held forth. He was Frankie Wilkes Pyle's younger brother.
20150720_162322.jpg: This is the cover to an interesting book we found in the Llano Visitor's Bureau. However, a quick scan did not find any information about any the Franklin Wilkes people. There was another Wilkes family mentioned that had something to do with the granite business.
20150720_162337.jpg: The inside cover page
20150720_162409.jpg: This was a very early Christmas tree in the visitor's bureau. It is located in the old train station.
IMG_8016.jpg: This is the old Southern Hotel in Llano. It was erected in 1881 and served as the stage stop between Mason and Burnet. It ceased operation in 1950. Currently used by the Buttery Company, a large hardware and lumber store.
IMG_8017.jpg: Some stores and businesses on the north side of Main Street across from the courthouse square.
IMG_8019.jpg: Llano County courthouse. It was originally built in 1893 and refurbished in 2002.
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IMG_8021.jpg: South entrance
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IMG_8023.jpg: Karl examining the plaque below the WWI monument on the courtyard grounds.
IMG_8024.jpg: More than one bird has rested on his knee.
IMG_8025.jpg: More stores across the street from the courthouse square.
IMG_8026.jpg: Monument to WWII veterans on the courthouse grounds.
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IMG_8029.jpg: Another monument on the southeast corner of the square.
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IMG_8031.jpg: The old LANTEX movie house still lights up at night.
IMG_8033.jpg: An abandon railroad bridge across a draw between Llano and Kingsland.
IMG_8035.jpg: One of the many granite domes in the distance.
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IMG_8037.jpg: The granite riverbed for the Llano River north of Kingsland.
IMG_8038.jpg: It was a hot day. People where camped out sitting in the holes eroded by the riverwater.
IMG_8039.jpg: Looking downstream from the low water crossing on FM Rd 3404.
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IMG_8041.jpg: Looking upriver from the bridge.
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IMG_8043.jpg: Karl and I drove down to Marble Falls to find the Methodist Church. Here he is reading about the Granite Mountain that is across the road from this monument.
IMG_8045.jpg: The quarry at Granite Mountain.
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20150723_130751.jpg: This is the first page of a reference book that contained information about the founding of the Methodist Church in Marble Falls.
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20150723_152548.jpg: This is a plaque hanging in the large foyer at the new Methodist Church in Marble Falls. Rev. Rex B. Wilkes is second from the top on the second column from the left.
20150723_152556.jpg: Close up photo.
20150723_154704.jpg: We met with some ladies at the Methodist Church. They were sorting through papers that were recovered from a fire that destroyed many of the church records. This one shows that R.B. Wilkes was the minister in Johnson City prior to coming to Marble Falls. These notes were probably made when preparing asset records for the conference reports.
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20150723_155053.jpg: This a record of ministers that suffered water damage. It shows the term of R.B. Wilkes at Marble Falls.
IMG_8048.jpg: This bank building on US 281 is the site of the original Methodist Church.
IMG_8049.jpg: This is the approximate location of the parsonage for the church.
IMG_8050.jpg: This is a small shopping area across the street from where the original Methodist Church was located. The ladies at the church said this oak was probably pretty small at the time.
IMG_8051.jpg: It is pretty big today.
img011.jpg: This is a post card the church mailed out some time back. It show the original Methodist Church in Marble Falls. This would have been the church where R. B. Wilkes preached.