Our City Park: Both Historic and Modern
With Kyle Schiller Barrett, Milam County Historical Museum Director
A combination of Milam County history and the call to modernization clearly culminates in our city park.
This past weekend ushered in a new era for sports enthusiasts and, really, all citizens of Cameron. In our city park, a dedication ceremony was held for the “Rickey Williams Memorial Tennis and Pickleball Courts” on Saturday, April 27. This gift of refurbished tennis court and newly added pickleball courts is credited to the generosity of various community donors and the Cameron Lions Club. These courts remain on the northern end of the Cameron City Park, which is now known as Lions’ Centennial City Park in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Cameron Lions Club, 1923-2023. Much appreciation for the many years of service to our community is due this organization. As far as recent memory serves this park has never had a pickleball court. Thus, it is an exciting new era for our community.
However, as a historian, I am compelled to remind everyone of the history of the Cameron Lions Centennial City Park. And I know for a fact, Rickey Williams would agree. He was a great friend, community leader, one of the best Cameronites ever, and a great historian in central Texas in his own right. Rest assured, Williams would have encouraged us to tell them the history and then let them play pickleball and tennis…
Within the Cameron City Park, located at the corner of 4th (Highway 77/36) and Milam Streets, there is a state-issued Texas Historical Marker. This marker gives details of the property’s significance in Cameron and Milam County history.
The title of this marker reads: “Site of First Home in Cameron.” The metal marker is the typical black and silver Texas marker placed in the park in 1969. If you are searching for it, the marker actually sits on the Lamar Street side of the park and faces west. You can’t miss it.
Ascending from the marker’s title are two paragraphs. The first paragraph tells about a native of Kentucky, Shapley P. Ross, who moved his family to Milam County in 1841. Ross was an Indian agent and early Texas Ranger. He and his wife Catherine built their house on the site of the Cameron City Park because at the time a flowing spring fed needed water to the area. This was an excellent choice for Ross and his wife and their children. Ranger Captain Ross was also influential in Milam County history. He was one of the five committee members selected to name a new permanent county seat for Milam. Of course, that state-appointed committee selected Cameron as the county seat in 1846.
But as important a Shapley and Catherine Ross’ contributions are to history, they pale in comparison to the accomplishments of their second son, Lawrence Sullivan Ross.
Yes, the ninth governor of Texas once called our city park home. L.S. “Sul” Ross was actually born in Iowa, bur the Ross family moved around a lot… Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Texas.
Sul Ross’ boyhood home is clearly the main focus of the aforementioned historical marker. Sul Ross was governor of Texas from 1887 to 1891. Before that he served as a southern general in the American Civil War. He was a Texas Ranger, and he attended Baylor University. However, every good Aggie knows that Sul Ross, or “Sully,” resigned from the office of governor, left Austin and in 1891 became the fourth president of Texas A&M. He served as the Agricultural and Mechanical College’s president until his death in 1898. Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas bears this Texan hero’s name.
So, the park’s old historical marker about the Ross family is proof. Clearly local history and sports activities; picnics and farmers’ markets; birthday parties and historical markers can all claim a space in the old-modern Cameron Lions Centennial City Park.
Just remember when you are out playing on the new pickleball and tennis courts, if you pass that old historical marker… give it a glance. Remind yourself of the pioneers who once called Milam County and Cameron their home. Maybe “Sully” (aka Governor Ross) would have enjoyed a game of pickleball himself. Who knows?
To learn more about the history of our county, visit the Milam County Historical Museum at 112 West First Street in Cameron – open 10AM-3PM Wednesday-Saturday. The Old 1895 Jail Museum and Transportation Exhibit are open Saturdays from 10AM-3PM or by appointment on weekdays. Also, visit the Milam County Railroad and Old Town Cameron Museum Wednesday Saturday 10AM-4PM. There is a lot of history to see in downtown Cameron, Texas.
