TRACKING HISTORY — R. D. Jenkins (L) and

Gary Griesbach used Dr. Lucile Estell’s

2012 Rockdale history photo book in a

Thursday expedition to try and ‘re-

discover’ the actual rock for which

Rockdale was named.

The book re-printed this historic photo

(below) of Ruby Macmillan Petmecky from

the 1974 Rockdale Centennial book

published by The Reporter.

That book noted the town was named in

1874 by Mrs. B. F Ackerman, who saw a 10-

foot high rock from the road as she

traveled from Cameron to the new town.

Mrs. Ackerman was given the privilege of

naming the town as her husband sold, and

donated, land for the site.

Also present in the Thursday “expedition”

were City Manager Chris Whittaker,

historian Jack Brooks, Molly Graham

(Jenkins’ daughter) and Mike Brown,

Reporter editor.

Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas

TRACKING HISTORY — R. D. Jenkins (L) and Gary Griesbach used Dr. Lucile Estell’s 2012

Rockdale history photo book in a Thursday expedition to try and ‘re-discover’ the actual

rock for which Rockdale was named.

The book re-printed this historic photo of Ruby Macmillan Petmecky from the 1974 Rockdale

Centennial book published by The Reporter.

That book noted the town was named in 1874 by Mrs. B. F Ackerman, who saw a 10-foot high

rock from the road as she traveled from Cameron to the new town.

Mrs. Ackerman was given the privilege of naming the town as her husband sold, and

donated, land for the site.

Also present in the Thursday “expedition” were City Manager Chris Whittaker, historian

Jack Brooks, Molly Graham (Jenkins’ daughter) and Mike Brown, Reporter editor.

All credit for this article goes to
Mike Brown
and the
Rockdale Reporter

Photos by Mike Brown - Rockdale Reporter

(Above - Left)

R. D. Jenkins (L) and Rockdale City Manager Chris

Whittaker led a Thursday expedition to ‘re-

discover’ the rock for which Rockdale was named.

It’s believed to be this one, an outcropping

adjacent to Jenkins’ land north of town off FM

1712.

It’s believed the town was named in 1874 when Mrs.

B. F. Ackerman observed a 10-foot high rock on the

prairie a short distance north of town.

**************************************************

She owns ‘The Rock’

Rockdale Reporter - 2016-02-18

Dear editor,

I read with interest the article on The (original Rockdale) Rock which is located on

our farm and on what we call our “mountain”. It brought back many memories.

The children loved playing on the mountain, having friends and Scouts over to play

Cowboys and Indians, build forts, and play hide-and-seek.

As a family we enjoyed having picnics on the mountain and used The Rock as our table,

referred to it as our Table Rock. On a clear day we could see the Alcoa smokestacks

with ease. And these more recent years have seen all 12 of our grandchildren do the

same.

Considering the location, the elevation and the outcropping of the rocks, I think you

can safely say you have rediscovered THE ROCK for which our town of Rockdale was

named. Thank you for the memories.

Sincerely,

Jeanie Menke

jamenke@earthlink.net