Historical marker tour of Hutto

Historical marker tour of Hutto

By Chris Dyer Friday, 12 March 2010

HUTTO — Most people driving through Hutto for the first time may not realize the vast amount of history that can be found just by getting off Hwy. 79. There is a cluster of Official Texas Historical Commission markers in the vicinity that reveal a wealth of information about Hutto’s unique past, most of which can be visited in a single afternoon.

Starting at the intersection of Hwy. 79 and FM 1660 in Hutto, a historical marker stands dedicated to the founding of the community, which has roots predating the establishment of Williamson County. This marker provides a good background as to why and when the community was founded as well as some additional information on who settled in the area. From that point, head up East Street, circling the block to Main Street, to see the historic downtown section of Hutto and the row of colorful commercial buildings lining its streets. It is important to note that a fire in 1902 devastated many structures on East Street along with some business on Main Street, but resilient citizens joined together to rebuild.

Just to the north on Main and Farley streets, you will see a marker noting the history of Hutto Baptist Church, which was organized in the early 1880s. The current church structure, constructed in 1922, still stands, but the congregation has since relocated. Heading north from downtown on East Street, you will find a marker on the topic of the Hutto United Methodist Church, which was dedicated in 1911 at its current location at 605 E. Main St. Continuing on a tour of historic Hutto churches, make sure to head east on Live Oak Street, crossing back over FM 1660, and follow it to Church Street. This is the location of Hutto Evangelical Lutheran Church. This site traces its origins to Hutto’s earliest Swedish immigrants, who began holding Lutheran church services in the community in the 1890s. Services were held in Swedish until 1940. An estimated 11,000 Swedes settled here in Central Texas. Hutto’s history was shaped by this influx of new residents.

The history of any community is best told by its graveyards. Just south of downtown off FM 1660 you will find Hutto Lutheran Cemetery, Hutto Cemetery, Shiloh-McCutcheon Cemetery, and Saul Cemetery, all with their own historical designations and colorful histories. Hutto (originally known as Elmwood) and Hutto Lutheran Cemeteries can be found a mile south of Hwy. 79 on FM 1660 and CR 135, and are the final resting place of Swedish immigrants and some of the area’s early settlers.

For the more adventurous, Saul and Shiloh-McCutcheon cemeteries are worth the visit. Travel east from Hutto Cemetery on FM 1660 to CR 163. Follow CR 163 south until it abruptly ends at the Shiloh-McCutcheon Cemetery. The Shiloh community was in existence as early as 1848, with the first known burials in Shiloh-McCutcheon in 1853. Graves of veterans of the Texas Revolution and the Civil War can be found when at this site.

By jumping back on FM 1660 and heading a little farther east, you will find the Saul Cemetery. The Saul family arrived in the area around 1850.