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so period of 1894 to 1936. Four Winchester .44 caliber cartridges stamped 44 wcf, w.r.a.co were
found scattered. This cartridge was first offered by the Winchester Company beginning 1886.
These particular cartridges in this area during the early ranching period.
Window glass was found throughout the area in close proximity to building location.
Window glass would most likely be put in for a permanent occupant in the late 1800s or early
1900s.
Experts at Texas Wagon Works (Gonzalez, TX), Witmer Coach Shop (New Holland, PA)
and Bar E Ranch Wagon Restoration (Clinton, AK) all identified a 14-inch threaded bolt found
at this site as a bolt for a box buggy/buckboard. Four of these bolts held the passenger seat board
to the body of the buggy box by extending vertically thru the seat board and continuing thru the
floor frame of the box body.
Non-specific Period Artifacts
-9 Many artifacts were found that could not be absolutely tied to period or specific group.
Many of the artifacts found at this site were very similar to those found and reported in the
'Archeological Investigations Fort Chadbourne (41CK129) Butterfield Overland Stage Station
Coke County, Texas'. Artifacts included eleven unstamped .44-40 cartridges, probably from the
1873 to 1885 timeframe. All of these cartridges could have come from personal rifles of various
cattle drive or trade/freight outfits passing through the area and using the opportunity of a roof
over their head.
Other artifacts collected included bottle glass of many types, bolts and latches, pieces of
buckets, a door hinge pin, supply can lids, harmonica reeds, cooking utensils, cast iron cooking
pieces, crockery, whiteware pieces, a bisque (porcelain) doll foot, axe heads, broken pieces of
construction tools, horseshoes, wagon parts and saddle tack.
Summary
Hopefully, this investigation will clarify some of the inaccuracies attributed to this site
over the years. In addition to the location, it is important to delineate the difference in the first
and second Johnson's Station and their general purposes. The first Johnson's Station was the
only station used by the Butterfield Overland Mail and the second Johnson's Station was the
only station used by the Ben Ficklin San Antonio to El Paso mail and stage line. Although
occupation for this, the original Johnson's Station, was not constant, it was obviously a popular
location for a variety of occupants from 1857 until after the turn of the century. There are
several fairly obvious reasons for this. First, it was approximately one day's ride at a slow pace
from Fort Concho and San Angelo. Second it was near water, wood and good grazing. Third, it
had a log cabin that could be used to get out of the weather and provided a certain amount of
protection against Indian raiding parties.
The second building inside the Pecan grove nearby is difficult to determine exactly when
and who built it. However, a process of elimination can be used to help make an assessment.
First, only one building was ever mentioned for the Butterfield Overland Mail period. Second,
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