Doss, Gillespie County, Texas

Doss, Gillespie County, Texas
Doss is an unincorporated farming and ranching community at the crossroads juncture of FM 783 and FM 648 in northwestern Gillespie County, Texas, United States. It is 19 miles NW of Fredericksburg and 14 miles NE of Harper. Postal zip code is 78618. Elevation is 1729 feet.
The U.S. Census for year 2000 shows a total population of 225
1914 Lange's Mill community population was 150
History
In 1849, the Doss brothers began operating a mill on Threadgill Creek, north of the current site of Doss. The mill was acquired by William F. Lange in 1859, and was operated by him until 1878 when Julius Lange took over the business.. The Doss community originated at the mill. The first post office was at Lange's Mill in 1898, but by 1907 the community was renamed Doss and received its own post office.
Lange's Mill Cemetery
Founding families of Doss, Texas
Thomas C Doss
Sept 8, 1852 Thomas C. Doss was Postmaster of "Fredericksburgh"
John E Doss
Stonemason Philip Buchmeyer
Buchmeyer
was the second husband of the widowed Auguste Lehmann and stepfather to her sons Herman and Willie. Both children were kidnapped by Apaches. Willie was released after days, but Herman Lehmann didn't return for 9 years and became the area's most famous Apache captive and later adopted son of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker
Climate
Doss experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and a generally mild winter. Temperatures range from 81 °F (27.2 C) in the summer to 45 °F (7.2 C) during winter.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000 of 2000, there were 225 people
Flora and fauna
Prickly pear cactus, pecan trees, a variety of oak and mesquite trees, and abundant wildflower varieties blanket the Doss area of Gillespie County.
Doss has farm livestock and the armadillo and Texas horned lizard. The nature lover will also find
whitetail deer and birds including spotted towhee, painted bunting, white-crowned sparrow, summer tanager, hummingbird, chickadee, kinglet, goldfinch, warbler, finch and lark sparrow.
Churches
St. Peter Lutheran Church founded 1896 under leadership of Rev. Hugo G.A. Krienke. 1989 dedicated historical marker by Texas Historical Commission.
Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church constituted 1901 in the Squaw Creek School and Community Building, Elder S. N. Redford, first pastor. 2002 dedicated historical marker by Texas Historical Commission.
Doss Consolidated Common School District
Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985. from State of Texas states the school was begun in 1884 on Doss-Spring Creek Road. 1894 land for current site was donated by Tom Nixon, and a small frame structure was built. In 1905, a limestone schoolhouse was built, and in 1927 the present building was added.
Doss Elementary School is across the street from St. Peter Lutheran Church. The K-8 grades have 18 students, 48% male and 52% female, and two teachers.
Every year the Doss Public school holds a play performed by the school children. The little room, grades Kindergarten through 4th grade, and the big room, 5th grade through 8th grade, hold plays. The presentation is accompanied by a bake sale and raffle held by the local residents and by the Doss 4H members.
Doss Volunteer Fire Department
Doss VFD Fish Fry annual fundraiser is held Labor Day Weekend.
Almost 3,000 pounds of catfish are fried and served up with homemade potato salad and coleslaw, plus all the trimmings. This benefits the Doss VFD. Entertainment is provided. The Doss Volunteer Fire Department moved into its new Fire Station Building in September 2015 after a year long Building project.
Dining, entertainment, accommodations
Doss General Store and Post Office were formerly run under one roof by Fred Itz (1914–2003) and Ruby Oehler Itz (1917–1990).
Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine has this to say:
Sadly, the Doss store has closed, but the new Doss Country Store, opened in 2001, has become a gathering place for hunters in the area. It has a rock front, and there is a metal roof over the wide, spacious front porch, which is populated with dogs as often as people. Patrons sit on split cedar benches on the porch and watch cattle graze in a field across the town’s main street. Inside, the counter and tables are covered with glass plate, under which old newspaper clippings chronicle local events spanning almost a hundred years.
In 2011 the Doss Country Store was purchased and expanded to include a new feed and hardware store. The new Store and Restaurant have been featured in Texas Monthly for its good food. This also closed in 2014.
Hill Top Cafe fashioned out of an old gas station, and boasting of Texas comfort foods, as well as Cajun and Greek cuisine, this little spot on Highway 87 between Fredericksburg and Doss also offers bed and breakfast accommodations and the "Old Garage" meeting room. Proprietor Johnny Nicholas is a blues musician who opened the establishment shortly after marrying Brenda. Live music features "Songwriters in the Round".
Quiet Hill Ranch bed and breakfast is a combination spa and dude ranch, with a bird watching observatory catering to wildlife enthusiasts.
Battle of Iwo Jima re-enactment
Welge Ranch in Doss was the site of a re-enactment of Battle of Iwo Jima, sponsored by the National Museum of the Pacific War for the 60th anniversary of the iconic battle. The event was held on February 19, 2005, ending with the famous raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi — which was re-enacted on top of Welge Point in Doss.
See also
Adelsverein
Cherry Spring
Cherry Springs Dance Hall
Easter Fire
Enchanted Rock
German Texan
Loyal Valley, Texas
Sisterdale, Texas
Texas Hill Country
Footnotes
External links
Texas Escapes, Doss
Lange's Mill Cemetery
Marshall-Meusebach Cemetery
Sattler Cemetery
Squaw Creek Cemetery
St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
Populated places established in 1849
Unincorporated communities in Texas
Unincorporated communities in Gillespie County, Texas
German-American history
1849 establishments in Texas