Copperas Cove Stagestop and Post Office
Also known as: Martin I. Walker Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1878 by settler Marsden Ogletree, this two-room limestone building southwest of Copperas Cove, Texas, began as a store, dwelling and stage stop for travelers between Georgetown and Fort Gates. Ogletree was named postmaster in 1879, though the post office moved to the new townsite about a year later. Walls of roughly dressed local limestone, some nineteen inches thick, are laid in an ashlar pattern, with a fireplace at each end and doors on both sides for cross ventilation. Later owners used it as ranch headquarters and a family home, and a frame rear addition has since been removed. The building was vacated in 1950 and deteriorated before being donated to the city in 1974 and restored during the Bicentennial. A restored cistern and settlement basin and a vaulted storm cellar remain nearby. As the only surviving structure of the original town, it now operates as a museum of local pioneer history.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of the vernacular stone structures that dotted the nineteenth-century Texas landscape. It is the only structure remaining from the original town of Copperas Cove, then known as The Cove. It served several functions, including stage relay station, post office, home and grocery.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002928, listed September 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1.6 mi. SW of Copperas Cove off U.S. 190, Copperas Cove |
|---|---|
| County | Coryell County |
| Listed | September 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002928 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Marsden Ogletree |
| Architectural style | Vernacular stone structure |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacated in 1950 and vandalized, then donated to the city in 1974 and restored during the Bicentennial; in excellent condition and used as a museum. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 31.10408, -97.92877 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002928.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q54871518
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.