From Thorp Spring to TCU: The Visionary Journey of Addison and Randolph Clark

From Thorp Spring to TCU: The Visionary Journey of Addison and Randolph Clark

Two brothers. One grand vision.

In 1869, Addison and Randolph Clark set out to create a college that would provide both a classical education and a strong moral foundation for young men and women. Their dream led to the founding of one of the first co-ed institutions west of the Mississippi River—Add-Ran Male and Female College.

Both ministers and educators based in Fort Worth, the Clarks sought to distance their school from the distractions of “Hell’s Half Acre,” a rowdy district fueled by the booming cattle industry and the arrival of the railroad. They found their ideal location in Thorp Spring, a serene community on the Texas prairie, and opened the college doors in 1873 with just 13 students.

The Clarks’ vision quickly gained traction. Within five years, enrollment swelled to 450 students, and the brothers and their spouses sold everything they owned to invest in a larger building to accommodate the growing demand. But to ensure the long-term survival of the school, an endowment was essential.

In 1895, the college relocated to Waco and was renamed Add-Ran Christian University. Then, in 1902, the institution officially adopted the name Texas Christian University (TCU). Unfortunately, the Waco campus was destroyed by fire in 1910, leading TCU to move to its current home in Fort Worth.

Though TCU has grown into a world-renowned university, its roots in Thorp Spring remain an integral part of its history. The original name of the school, Add-Ran Male and Female College, lives on through TCU’s Add-Ran College of Liberal Arts, keeping the spirit of the Clarks’ vision alive.

Addison and Randolph Clark’s dream of a college where character and education go hand in hand continues to shape the future of generations at TCU, a legacy that began on the open prairie of Thorp Springs in Hood County Texas.

Add-Ran College, the predecessor to Texas Christian University (TCU), was named in memory of Addison Clark’s deceased son, AddRan, who died at age three.

1873
Add-Ran Male and Female College opens with 13 students in Thorp Spring, Hood County, Texas. Source: History of Texas Chrstian University, Colby D. Hall (TCU Press, 1947)

 

1874
In the charter, the new college’s goal is “for the support and promotion of literary and scientific education.” The first course catalog lists offerings in six departments: ancient languages, English, mathematics, physical science, mental and moral science, and social and civil history. Source: History of Texas Christian University, Colby D. Hall (TCU Press, 1947)

 

The Clark Family – 1884

 

Beside the frame of one building in Thorp Spring there are commemorative stones marking the establishment of Add-Ran Christian College in 1873. The old campus is located across from the Thorp Springs Church of Christ.

Directions To Thorp Spring College

Heading East From Dallas, Texas on I-20 enter Fort Worth and go to Exit 429A, Hwy 377 S. toward Granbury. Continue on Hwy. 377 into Granbury and head toward the city square. In the square you will turn right on N. Travis. When you cross the RR tracks it will become Thorpe Springs Rd.; About 3 or 4 miles you will enter Thorp Spring. In Thorp Spring you will turn left on Lipan. Turn left on Caraway or the next block, Calhoun. Thorp Spring College was located in this block. The ruins face Thorp. Note the old campus is just across from the Thorp Springs Church of Christ.

 

 

John Graves and Goodbye to a River: A Conversation on History and Legacy

Historians Dr. Steven Woodworth and Dr. Donald Frazier explore the legacy and historical significance of GOOD BYE TO A RIVER by John Graves.
This timeless memoir and travelogue beautifully captures the history, folklore, and natural splendor of the Brazos River and its impact on Texas literature, history, and conservation.
Thursday April 24, 2025
6:30pm at Granbury Live on the historic Granbury Square
Tickets $20.00.
Reception and book sale to follow.

BUY TICKETS

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This video captures a lively oral history interview at the Bridge Street History Center with Dee Gormley, longtime Granbury shop owner, and Mary Saltarelli, the town’s first Visitor Center director. They share personal stories about the revival of Granbury’s town square in the late 1970s and ’80s — from Dee’s beloved bookstore, Books on the Square, to the community spirit that brought merchants and locals together. Their memories remind us why history matters: it keeps the spirit of a place alive and shows how everyday people shape the future. ... See MoreSee Less

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Thank you for making our Spring Speaker Series a sold-out success! We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped create such a memorable event. Dr. Frazier and Dr. Woodworth delighted us all with their engaging stories and historical insights.

Stay tuned for details about the upcoming Ramay~Macatee Speaker Series this fall, we look forward to welcoming you again. ... See MoreSee Less

Thank you for making our Spring Speaker Series a sold-out success! We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped create such a memorable event. Dr. Frazier and Dr. Woodworth delighted us all with their engaging stories and historical insights. 

Stay tuned for details about the upcoming Ramay~Macatee Speaker Series this fall, we look forward to welcoming you again.Image attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment

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Great event!

Wonderful!!!

We pass it every day, a historic marker directing us to a granite marker on the side of busy southside Hwy 377 near junc FM 167. You can’t read this unless you pull over (and good luck doing that safely). Yet there it stands, with quiet dignity since 1936 saying:

"𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐭, 𝗛𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐, 𝟏𝟖𝟔𝟎 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝟕𝟒" ... See MoreSee Less

We pass it every day, a historic marker directing us to a granite marker on the side of busy southside Hwy 377 near junc FM 167. You can’t read this unless you pull over (and good luck doing that safely). Yet there it stands, with quiet dignity since 1936 saying:

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐭, 𝗛𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐, 𝟏𝟖𝟔𝟎 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝟕𝟒

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

I’ve always been curious about this marker! 🙂

I've been to the grave. I would like to know where the site of her farm is.

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳?

And not just any woman, Celia Campbell was a force of nature.In 1948, after the sudden death of her husband, Sheriff Oscar Campbell, the Hood County Commissioners Court made a bold and unanimous move: they appointed Mrs. Celia Campbell as sheriff. At age 57, with no law enforcement experience but a lifetime of grit, she pinned on the badge and made history, becoming Hood County’s first and only female sheriff!A farm wife from Lipan who raised 10 kids plus nieces and nephews, Celia had no outside income when her husband passed. So she stepped up, not just to serve, but to survive. She even appointed a husband-and-wife team as her deputies, breaking new ground in more ways than one.Sadly, her time in office was short, just two months. A new set of commissioners replaced her with Dick Umphress in a controversial vote that cost County Judge R.S. Long his next election, thanks in part to Lipan’s fierce loyalty to Celia.But Celia didn’t stop serving. She became the county jail matron, preventing at least one jailbreak, and eventually returned to her family farm, where she lived to the age of 89.A trailblazer. A survivor. A legend.Celia Campbell left her mark, and Hood County hasn’t seen another like her since. ... See MoreSee Less

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳?
And not just any woman, Celia Campbell was a force of nature.

In 1948, after the sudden death of her husband, Sheriff Oscar Campbell, the Hood County Commissioners Court made a bold and unanimous move: they appointed Mrs. Celia Campbell as sheriff. At age 57, with no law enforcement experience but a lifetime of grit, she pinned on the badge and made history, becoming Hood County’s first and only female sheriff!

A farm wife from Lipan who raised 10 kids plus nieces and nephews, Celia had no outside income when her husband passed. So she stepped up, not just to serve, but to survive. She even appointed a husband-and-wife team as her deputies, breaking new ground in more ways than one.

Sadly, her time in office was short,  just two months. A new set of commissioners replaced her with Dick Umphress in a controversial vote that cost County Judge R.S. Long his next election, thanks in part to Lipan’s fierce loyalty to Celia.

But Celia didn’t stop serving. She became the county jail matron, preventing at least one jailbreak, and eventually returned to her family farm, where she lived to the age of 89.

A trailblazer. A survivor. A legend.
Celia Campbell left her mark, and Hood County hasn’t seen another like her since.

Why care about a book written in 1960? Because 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚 𝙏𝙤 𝘼 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 is our story, deeply connected to the Brazos River we live beside.

Join us for “John Graves and ‘Goodbye to a River’: A Conversation on History and Legacy”, a roundtable discussion with Texas historians and authors as they explore why this book still resonates today.Not sure what a roundtable is? Think of it as a lively, thoughtful conversation, where great minds share stories, history, and insights about Texas and the river that shaped it.Thursday April 24 6:30pmPresented by The Bridge Street History Center $20 buy.ticketstothecity.com/purchase.php?date_id=62432&section_id=15224 ... See MoreSee Less

𝙊𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙅𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮

The Bridge Street History Center's board member Jake Caraway shares his personal memories of growing up in 1950s Granbury - from family life and school days to stories of local legends like Vera Parker and Sheriff Oran Baker. This engaging interview offers a firsthand look at the people, places, and moments that shaped Hood County’s history. Thank you Jake! ... See MoreSee Less

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𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧.

Some of our best memories are made outside, casting lines, skipping rocks, and wading in water that has seen it all.For generations, the Brazos River has been more than just water. It’s a storyteller. A memory-maker. Where the next generation adds their own chapter. granburylive.com/acts/john-graves-and-goodbye-to-a-river-a-conversation-on-history-and-legacy/@followers ... See MoreSee Less

𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧. 
Some of our best memories are made outside, casting lines, skipping rocks, and wading in water that has seen it all.
For generations, the Brazos River has been more than just water. It’s a storyteller. A memory-maker. Where the next generation adds their own chapter.  
https://granburylive.com/acts/john-graves-and-goodbye-to-a-river-a-conversation-on-history-and-legacy/
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👖Did Early Granbury Folks Wear Levi’s?

While Granbury was bustling in the late 1800s, Levi’s jeans were still making their way east from California, where they were originally created for gold miners in 1873.By the time Levi’s caught on in Texas, local ranch hands and laborers may have started wearing them 1890s–1910s, but you wouldn’t find early townsfolk strolling the Square in denim just yet. Most wore wool trousers, long skirts, and high collars.💰 Fun Fact: This pair of Levi’s from the 1880s, found in an abandoned New Mexico mine, recently sold at auction for $87,000!@followers ... See MoreSee Less

👖Did Early Granbury Folks Wear Levi’s?
While Granbury was bustling in the late 1800s, Levi’s jeans were still making their way east from California, where they were originally created for gold miners in 1873.

By the time Levi’s caught on in Texas, local ranch hands and laborers may have started wearing them 1890s–1910s, but you wouldn’t find early townsfolk strolling the Square in denim just yet. Most wore wool trousers, long skirts, and high collars.

💰 Fun Fact: This pair of Levi’s from the 1880s, found in an abandoned New Mexico mine, recently sold at auction for $87,000!
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Who has the buyer’s contact? I have a pair of jeans from the 1980’s! 😂

WOW!!!!!!!!!

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