Texas Bob Travels

San Angelo - Ozona Mail line

One of Texas Last Commercial Stage Lines -- Crockett, Irion, Tom Green County, Texas

High Lonesome Stage Stand
Location near the High Lonesome stage stand
Location near the High Lonesome stage stand

This stage line ran the 86 miles from Ozona to San Angelo until about 1910. It ran from Ozona to the High Lonesome stand, then up to the

stage stand in Sherwood, Texas, on to Knickerbocker, Texas stage stand, Then into San Angelo. The "Hacks" as they were called did not resemble what Hollywood usually uses as a "Stage Coach" They were more utilitarian vehicles that carried as much mail and freight as passengers.

Stage stop locations were chosen for the proper distance a team of Horses could go before being change out and the availability of water.

Each stage stand had 10 horses and facilities for shoeing the horses. The teams were changed at each stop and the horses shoed every 6 weeks.

Passenger included whiskey drummers (peddlers), preacher, and lighting rod salesman. Passengers often found themselves riding on top of freight and getting out of the Hack to lighten the load and push through muddy roads during wet weather.

The introduction of motor vehicles and trains put these regional stages out of business. This line was one of the last running in Texas when it went out of business in about 1910.

Probable Route of the Ozona - San Angelo Mail Route Superimposed on a modern 
highway map
Probable Route of the Ozona - San Angelo Mail Route Superimposed on a modern highway map

Update: 10 April 2020