Historic Resources of Tehuacana
Trinity University and Westminster College’s “Texas Hall”
The small community of Tehuacana has a rich history, with its rolling hills and the presence of an important natural spring serving as an anchor for the native Tawakoni tribe that inhabited the area until the late 1840s. By the mid-19th century, Anglo settlement began to transform the area, with a post office in operation as early as 1847. In 1869, Trinity University was founded here by Cumberland Presbyterians, later moving to Waxahachie in 1902. The campus was later used by Westminster College until 1972.
While many historic resources have been lost, important buildings and features remain from the site’s use by both Trinity University and Westminster College. The massive Texas Hall, which is individually listed on the National Register, was built in stages from 1871-1892 and is currently at imminent risk of loss as a result of a roof collapse in 2021. Other historic resources are in need of preservation, including 1930s Gymnasium.
The immediate priority is to secure funding for the stabilization of Texas Hall. This can be undertaken in conjunction with a cultural landscape inventory encompassing the entirety of the former Trinity University/Westminster College campus. As part of this project, the development of a comprehensive site history, pulling together information about the campus from its origins in 1869 through the present day, will underpin the plan. This information will guide long-term plans for rehabilitation of other campus structures, including the Gymnasium, while identifying locations of former buildings for potential future archaeological work as well as the overall interpretation of the site.
LOCATION: Tehuacana (Limestone County)
STATUS: Endangered
RESOURCE TYPE: District
YEAR LISTED: 2022
