THE ROCK HOUSE

The Rock House was built in 1958 as part of the original structure of the museum and community center. It is a replica of the Hank Smith Rock House in Blanco Canyon. The Rock House contains the history and memorabilia of Hank and Elizabeth Smith.

HANK AND ELIZABETH SMITH

In 1876 Uncle Hank and Judge John Schimerhorn followed the Mackenzie Trail in search of a ranch location for Charles Penick Tasker and Lord Jamison of Ireland, who were staying at the Smith's hotel at Fort Griffin. After weeks of prospecting land they chose the site of the Rock House in Blanco Canyon. Smith contracted for the construction of the two story house which was to built of native stone. Irishman, McGuire by name, obtained the lime mortar by burning the limestone in a nearby quarry. John Wylie Allen was the stone cutter. Lumber was hauled from Ft. Worth and delivered to Mt. Blanco at a cost of $130 per thousand feet. Total cost of the house was $3,300.

Tasker became indebted to Smith for about $11,000 before he fled Texas in 1877. As partial payment of the debt, Smtih took possession of the Rock House and 600 head of cattle.

In 1878, Hank and Elizabeth and the two oldest living children, George and Leila, moved to Mt. Blanco. Nearest neighbors T. S. Pepper, 50 miles southeast on Duck Creek, and Jim Reed, 100 miles southeast in Stonewall County, and a few buffalo hunters which were in transient to be called neighbors.

The Smith's Rock House "Hacienda Glorieta" was the first out-post on the South Plains. It was noted far and wide for hospitality.