FORT STOCKTON, Texas — Fort Stockton had some researchers and students from Texas Tech on Oct. 21, but they weren't there just to visit. They were there to conduct research.
This was all in an effort to help the community solve a particular mystery of the famed, Oldest House.
“The town lore is that this is the oldest building in Fort Stockton, but that has never been confirmed," Dr. Tamra Walter, associate professor of Archaeology at Texas Tech University, said. "Unfortunately, historical records don’t tell us all we need to know. So, the idea here is that we can use archeology to help tell us the story of this building and hopefully tell us how old it is.”
After having the idea brought to them by Historic Fort Stockton Director Ross Harper, the team couldn’t wait to come out and not only do research, but also use it as a teaching moment for students.
Dr. Walter also felt this project would be a great opportunity for one grad student.
“She thought it would be a really good fit for my thesis," Texas Tech Anthropology Graduate Student Alexander Hernandez said. "My undergrad was a bachelor’s in history, but I’ve had a focus in military history and given the historical affiliations of this sight with the Camp Stockton and then post-civil war Fort Stockton, we agreed this would be a very relevant application of my thesis.”
And as much as Hernandez enjoys the work of archeology, he also enjoys what it can provide for the members of the Fort Stockton community, more insight into their past.
“To be contributing, even in a small way, towards a better understanding of the site is very rewarding and very important to me.” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said if anyone in the Fort Stockton area has any stories, historical pictures or historic documents related to the oldest house maybe passed down by relatives, let Harper know so he could pass the info along to the team.
Any little bit of information can go a long way in helping to determine the true age of the oldest house.