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Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Application Briggs State Bank Building Briggs, Burnet County, Texas The Briggs State Bank was named after the community it served and was chartered on May 27, 1909. (See Figure-1) The limestone and brick building facing east onto Main Street was the first of only two buildings not of frame construction in this central Texas town. Exhibiting architecture similar to the other financial institutions of the period and region, the building offered a sense of security and strength to the community and signified it's flourishing economy. The bank's demise in 1928 foreshadowed the economic woes ahead regionally as well as globally. In the latter half of the 19th century, farmers and ranchers settled much of the area in northeastern Burnet County. Fresh water springs in the area provided a constant supply of water and attracted many to the area known as Gum Springs. To the north and west, rolling hill country and plentiful timber attracted ranchers while to the south and east, fertile blackland prairie enticed farmers to the area. Much of the land in that area is a part of the 1280 acre A.F. Boyce Survey, the patent for which was granted to the A. F. Boyce heirs September 30, 1850. Stephen Taylor purchased the land, after his arrival from Tennessee, on which the town of Briggs stands today. Taylor built a cotton gin, which was sold and moved in 1882, then he constructed the first general store in the area. Hence the community that sprang up around this area became known as "Taylor's Store" or " Taylor's Gin". He sold the store, which eventually became the site of the first post office for "Taylor's Gin".1