O'Donnell

Named for Tom J. O'Donnell, promoter of South Plains railroads, including 60 miles of Santa Fe Line from Slaton to Lamesa. On this new railroad (important as freight hauler) town of O'Donnell was founded in 1909 by H. E. Baldridge and Charles H. Doak-- two of the organizers and first officials of Lynn County. Doak built a hotel in projected town of O'Donnell in 1909. L. G. Phillips established the first store. On July 4, 1910, a big picnic was held to celebrate arrival of first Santa Fe train. Old "Central" post office (previously on Dee W. Harris Ranch, 5.5 mi. NW) was moved to new town in 1910 and was officially renamed O'Donnell on Feb. 7, 1911. W. R. Standefer was employed to survey townsite in 1911. H. E. Baldridge offered free building lots to churches. A Methodist church was organized in 1911; Church of Christ and Presbyterian churches in 1912; First Baptist in 1914. Town was incorporated in 1923, with W. R. Sanderson as first mayor. School, improved dramatically since its early wooden building, serves a large area. A graduate is actor Dan Blocker ("Hoss" Cartwright). Now a dryland farming center, O'Donnell in 1961 had what was then the largest cotton gin in the world, ginning 21,000 bales of cotton during that year. (1969)

O'Donnell is a historical marker in O'Donnell, Lynn County, dedicated in 1969. It is one of 8 historical markers documented in Lynn County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 11 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.9647, -101.8325 near O'Donnell. The nearest cataloged historic site is Warren, A. J., Building (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Draw Cemetery, Lynn County Courthouse, and Lynn County.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5305003630. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.