Steiner Baptist Church
Lakeside Village, Bosque County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Steiner Baptist Church Steiner Baptist Church began in 1891 in the town of Fowler as Fowler Baptist Church. The church’s first structure was built in 1906 on property donated by Joe Yates, but a fire destroyed the building in 1907 and it was rebuilt the following year. When the name of the town was changed to Steiner in 1916, the church took the name Steiner Baptist Church, and it merged with Cedron Creek Baptist Church of Christ in 1940. The town of Steiner was compelled to evacuate in 1950 because of the creation of Lake Whitney and the church was moved at that time with mule teams and wagons. However, because it was unable to cross a nearby bridge, it was decided that the church would remain at the roadside, at its present location.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in 1891 as Fowler Baptist Church, this Bosque County congregation rebuilt after a 1907 fire and took the name Steiner when its town was renamed in 1916. Its most dramatic chapter came in 1950, when the creation of Lake Whitney forced the town of Steiner to evacuate and the church was hauled off on mule teams and wagons. Unable to clear a nearby bridge, the building simply stopped where it stood — and there it has remained at the roadside ever since.
Why it matters
The stranded church is a tangible monument to the mid-century dam-building that reshaped rural Texas, reminding travelers how many communities were literally moved to make way for a reservoir.
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Themes & tags
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