Fort Hancock Mercantile
Fort Hancock, Hudspeth County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Established when the town of Fort Hancock was founded in 1883, this general store is the oldest in Hudspeth County. Started by a Mr. Ross, later the first area postmaster, it was sold in 1916 to Q. A. Hare and his wife. In 1960 they transferred the business to their daughter Mrs. Bob Sims and her husband. It has remained in continuous operation, serving the Mexican border area with modern supplies as well as items like horse collars and coffee mills. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When the town of Fort Hancock was founded in 1883, a general store opened alongside it, its founder soon becoming the area's first postmaster. Sold to the Hare family in 1916 and passed to their daughter in 1960, the mercantile stayed in continuous operation, stocking both modern goods and old-time staples like horse collars and coffee mills. It stands as the oldest store in Hudspeth County, serving the Mexican border country for generations.
Why it matters
The store embodies the frontier general merchant, the commercial anchor around which isolated border and Western communities took root and survived.
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Related people
- · Q. A. Hare
Themes & tags
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