Johnston, Joseph E., Confederate Reunion Grounds
Also known as: Jacks Creek Reunion Grounds; Camp No. 94 United Confederate V
Why it's listed
Seventy acres at the meeting point of Jacks Creek and the Navasota River, west of Mexia, make up a reunion ground bought in 1892 by Joseph E. Johnston Camp No. 94 of the United Confederate Veterans. Local veterans had begun holding annual encampments in 1889, with speeches, memorial activities, concerts, dancing, swimming and fishing. Families stayed in tents or summer houses, and special trains brought visitors from Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston. The camp sold lots to shareholders and laid out roads, which was unusual. The grounds include an octagonal dance pavilion with an unusual tiered central support, entry arches with Victorian ironwork, two houses from about 1900, and the Val Verde cannon captured early in the Civil War. During the 1920s oil boom, a dam, bathhouse and clubhouse were added; only ruins remain. Reunions ended in the early 1940s, and a permanent state charter in 1965 revived the grounds as a park for Limestone County.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the grounds as a reminder of the period when Confederate commemoration reinforced the South's regional consciousness, and as a site of annual veterans' encampments into the 1930s. It also notes the camp was unusual for selling lots to individual owners and laying out a street plan. The octagonal dance pavilion is described as architecturally significant.
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 76002048, listed April 2, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4 mi. W of Mexia on SR 1633, Mexia |
|---|---|
| County | Limestone County |
| Listed | April 2, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002048 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Johansen, a Norwegian immigrant (pavilion builder) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a park since restoration in 1965; the pavilion still stands, while the 1920s clubhouse, bathhouse and gardens survive only as ruins or foundations. |
| Acreage | 70 |
| Coordinates | 31.63315, -96.56027 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 76002048.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5159725
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.