Summary
Doss is an unincorporated farming and ranching community at the crossroads juncture of FMs 648 and 783 in northwestern Gillespie County, Texas, United States. It is 19 miles northwest of Fredericksburg and 14 miles northeast of Harper. The zip code is 78618. The mean elevation is 1729 feet.
- The U.S. Census for year 2000 showed a total population of 225 [3]
- 1914 Lange's Mill community population was 150[4]
Doss, Texas | |
|---|---|
  Doss Location within the state of Texas  Doss Doss (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 30°26′41″N 99°07′50″W / 30.44472°N 99.13056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Gillespie |
| Elevation | 1,729 ft (527 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 225 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 78618 |
| Area code | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-20968[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379674[1] |
History edit
In 1849, the Doss brothers began operating a mill on Threadgill Creek, north of the current site of Doss.[5][6] The mill was acquired by William F. Lange in 1859, and was operated by him until 1878 when Julius Lange took over the business.. The Doss community originated at the mill. The first post office was at Lange's Mill in 1898, but by 1907 the community was renamed Doss and received its own post office.[7][8]
Lange's Mill Cemetery edit
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Founding families of Doss, Texas edit
Thomas C Doss edit
Sept 8, 1852 Thomas C. Doss was Postmaster of "Fredericksburgh"[7]
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The 1860 Gillespie Co Census-Cherry Spring
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LDS Family Research database:[9]
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Thomas C. Doss final resting place: Der Stadt Friedhof[10] (English translation: The City Cemetery) in Fredericksburg. |
John E Doss edit
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The 1860 Gillespie Co Census-South Grape Creek (Luckenbach):[11]
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LDS Family Research database:[12]
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Stonemason Philip Buchmeyer edit
Buchmeyer [13] was the second husband of the widowed Auguste Lehmann and stepfather to her sons Herman and Willie. Both children were kidnapped by Apaches. Willie was released after days, but Herman Lehmann didn't return for 9 years and became the area's most famous Apache captive and later adopted son of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker
Climate edit
Doss experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and a generally mild winter. Temperatures range from 81 °F (27.2 C) in the summer to 45 °F (7.2 C) during winter.
| Climate data for Doss, Texas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
105 (41) |
108 (42) |
107 (42) |
109 (43) |
108 (42) |
100 (38) |
92 (33) |
98 (37) |
109 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 60 (16) |
65 (18) |
73 (23) |
80 (27) |
85 (29) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
94 (34) |
89 (32) |
80 (27) |
70 (21) |
61 (16) |
79 (26) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 45 (7) |
50 (10) |
57 (14) |
65 (18) |
72 (22) |
79 (26) |
82 (28) |
81 (27) |
76 (24) |
66 (19) |
56 (13) |
47 (8) |
65 (18) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31 (−1) |
35 (2) |
42 (6) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
67 (19) |
69 (21) |
68 (20) |
63 (17) |
52 (11) |
42 (6) |
33 (1) |
51 (11) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 6 (−14) |
3 (−16) |
11 (−12) |
25 (−4) |
36 (2) |
46 (8) |
54 (12) |
51 (11) |
36 (2) |
26 (−3) |
14 (−10) |
3 (−16) |
3 (−16) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | .91 (23) |
1.97 (50) |
1.74 (44) |
2.05 (52) |
3.31 (84) |
4 (100) |
2 (51) |
2.52 (64) |
3 (76) |
3.01 (76) |
2.07 (53) |
1.37 (35) |
27.95 (708) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[14] | |||||||||||||
Demographics edit
As of the census of 2000[3] of 2000, there were 225 people
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Flora and fauna edit
Prickly pear cactus, pecan trees, a variety of oak and mesquite trees, and abundant wildflower varieties blanket the Doss area of Gillespie County.
Doss has farm livestock and the armadillo and Texas horned lizard. The nature lover will also find [15] whitetail deer and birds including spotted towhee, painted bunting, white-crowned sparrow, summer tanager, hummingbird, chickadee, kinglet, goldfinch, warbler, finch and lark sparrow.
Churches edit
- St. Peter Lutheran Church[16] founded 1896 under leadership of Rev. Hugo G.A. Krienke. 1989 dedicated historical marker by Texas Historical Commission.
- Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church[17] constituted 1901 in the Squaw Creek School and Community Building, Elder S. N. Redford, first pastor. 2002 dedicated historical marker by Texas Historical Commission.
Doss Consolidated Common School District edit
Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985.[18] from State of Texas states the school was begun in 1884 on Doss-Spring Creek Road. 1894 land for current site was donated by Tom Nixon, and a small frame structure was built. In 1905, a limestone schoolhouse was built, and in 1927 the present building was added.
Doss Elementary School[19] is across the street from St. Peter Lutheran Church. The K-8 grades have 18 students, 48% male and 52% female, and two teachers.
Every year the Doss Public school holds a play performed by the school children. The little room, grades Kindergarten through 4th grade, and the big room, 5th grade through 8th grade, hold plays. The presentation is accompanied by a bake sale and raffle held by the local residents and by the Doss 4H members.
Doss Volunteer Fire Department edit
Doss VFD Fish Fry annual fundraiser is held Labor Day Weekend.[20]
Almost 3,000 pounds[21] of catfish are fried and served up with homemade potato salad and coleslaw, plus all the trimmings. This benefits the Doss VFD. Entertainment is provided. The Doss Volunteer Fire Department moved into its new Fire Station Building in September 2015 after a year long Building project.
General store edit
- Doss General Store and Post Office were formerly run under one roof by Fred Itz (1914–2003) and Ruby Oehler Itz (1917–1990).
- Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine[22] has this to say:
Sadly, the Doss store has closed, but the new Doss Country Store, opened in 2001, has become a gathering place for hunters in the area. It has a rock front, and there is a metal roof over the wide, spacious front porch, which is populated with dogs as often as people. Patrons sit on split cedar benches on the porch and watch cattle graze in a field across the town’s main street. Inside, the counter and tables are covered with glass plate, under which old newspaper clippings chronicle local events spanning almost a hundred years.
In 2011 the Doss Country Store was purchased and expanded to include a new feed and hardware store. The new Store and Restaurant have been featured in Texas Monthly for its good food. This also closed in 2014.
Battle of Iwo Jima re-enactment edit
Welge Ranch in Doss was the site of a re-enactment of Battle of Iwo Jima, sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War for the 60th anniversary of the iconic battle. The event was held on February 19, 2005, ending with the famous raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi — which was re-enacted on top of Welge Point in Doss.[23]
See also edit
Footnotes edit
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Doss, Gillespie County, Texas
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b "Zip Code 78618 Tabulation". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Lange's Mill". Qualls, Wanda, Gillespie Co TxGenWeb. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ Smyrl, Vivian Elizabeth. "Lange's Mill, Tx". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
- ^ "Threadgill Creek". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "Doss Postmasters". Jim Wheat. Retrieved April 30, 2010.Jim Wheat
- ^ Kohout, Martin Donell. "Doss, Tx". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
- ^ "Doss, Thomas C". LDS Family Research. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Doss, Thomas C, Gravestone". Fredericksburg Genealogical Society. Retrieved April 30, 2010. Fredericksburg Genealogical Society
- ^ "Gillespie County Census-South Grape Creek 1860". Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Doss, John E". LDS Family Research. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Philip Buchmeyer". Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Doss, Texas". The Weather Channel.
- ^ "Flora and Fauna". Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "St. Peter Lutheran Church". Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Squaw Creek Baptist Church". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Doss School". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Doss Elementary School". Public School Review. Retrieved April 30, 2010. Public School Review LLC
- ^ "Doss VFD". Retrieved April 30, 2010.State of Texas
- ^ "Doss Fish Fry". EventLister. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Doss Store". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 30, 2010. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- ^ Mason, H.M. Jr. (February 21, 2006). "Museum Of The Pacific War ("Iwo: D+60")". Leatherneck. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
External links edit
- Texas Escapes, Doss
- Lange's Mill Cemetery
- Marshall-Meusebach Cemetery
- Sattler Cemetery
- Squaw Creek Cemetery
- St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery