Heart Of
Texas
Historical
Museum
Brady, TX
March 11th, 2000
While
traveling through the largest state in the Continental United
States, I had to ask myself, "So where is the heart of
Texas?" Well, for some 6000 people, it's Brady, the sleepy
little town that is at the geological center of Texas. We found
ourselves spending a few days in a simple, quiet campground on
the outskirts of town. With time on our hands, we wandered down
to the town square for a peaceful Saturday afternoon. About the
tallest building in town, is the three story old county jail. The
plaque on the front of
this historic structure stated it
was built between 1909 and 1910 in the Romanesque style. The
first floor was once a residence for the jailer and his family,
with the second and third floors filled with iron plate cells
capable of housing a couple of dozen prisoners. The first sheriff
to move in as jailer was T. L. Sansome. The building served the
community until a new facility was built in 1974. A few years
later the newly formed Historical Museum Society bought the
building 
from the county for $5. It stands
today as a depository for the names and faces of the people who
lived and died here over the years. As we wandered the first
floor we found out that sometime around the middle of the 1800s,
Peter Brady was riding through the area, perhaps on one of his
many hunting trips when he came across a small river, now known
as the Brady River. The deer must have been plentiful as they are
now. (There was a large whitetail buck grazing on the roadside as
we approached the town.) 
Well, I guess Peter liked the area so
much he settled down here and the rest is history. The contents
of this building is an eclectic mixture of collectibles with
strong emphasis on the residents who served during the various
wars. A few old guns, some period clothing and lots and lots of
old photos. The second and third floor is open to the public. Of
interest, considering the date the building was constructed, is
the second floor drop-door
designed for hangings. A hangman's
knotted rope is draped in the proper position for esthetic value.
We were told that it was never used in an actual hanging. The
cells were constructed of a cross work of iron bars constructed
in the middle of the rooms, leaving sufficient space to get to
the windows which were opened for ventilation. In place of the
grizzly collection 
of prison rabble, now stands an odd assortment
of unrelated items. On a table in one cell is displayed the
58,000 kitchen match stick model of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in
Brady, built by WWII veteran Sam Smith during the hours he
couldn't sleep. Another cell held a collection of very 
old
typewriters. The type that had the keys coming from the side of
the machine instead of the front. Nothing is labeled or described on
the upper floors. They just sit there as if abandoned by some
caretaker long ago in a forgotten time, gathering dust and
waiting. Millions of people visit this great state every year.
Most of them will never know of old Pete Brady, or the jail or
the people who's lives are recorded inside. I for one, was happy
to be here and be part of it.
*** THE END ***
