Monday, May 13, 2024
A small portion of spurs in the Mitchell Collection are on display on the second floor of the museum in the Spur Workroom where spurs and other artifacts are cleaned, labeled, numbered, and prepared for exhibit by museum volunteers.
Often labeled as the nation’s largest collection of spurs, and possibly the world’s largest, Gatesville is known as the home of the vast collection.
The Gatesville Spurfest began several decades ago, following the donation of over 6,000 spurs to the Coryell Museum and Historical Center.
In 1995, the Lloyd and Madge Mitchell Spur Collection was donated to the Coryell Museum and became a focal point in the museum.
In his teens, Lloyd Mitchell began collecting spurs, which escalated as time progressed. As his collection grew, Mitchell housed the spurs in buildings on his property for years, which entertained spur and western history buffs from locations far and near.
His interest in spurs became a well-known fact across the United States and points beyond across the world. Often, friends and former students would send Mitchell spurs they had located during their travels thus helping to increase his diverse collection.
One of the oldest spurs presented to Mitchell came from Morocco - known as a prick spur that dates to the 13th century. This particular prick spur was in use throughout Europe and Africa until the 1300s, eventually being replaced by the rowel spur. The prick spur is described as having a single straight and pointed tine extending 3-4 inches beyond the heel.
It has been reported that spurs have been in use since mankind first started riding horses. It has been written that the earliest pair of spurs ever located date back to the second century B.C. and were used by the Etruscans.
The Romans were reported as designing a spur to steer their mounts so that their hands could be freed to fight on horseback.
A centerpiece on the first floor of the museum includes spurs that belonged to a few more notable and recognizable individuals, such as the English riding spurs once worn by former First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy – later known as Jackie Onassis. She wore the riding spurs when she was a young lady.
Another pair of spurs in the Mitchell Collection belonged to Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa along with a display of period clothing that depicts what he would have worn during his early days during the formation of Texas.
A favorite and most memorable exhibit at the museum is a set of ladies’ “dancing spurs,” which were created with a small ball rowel to keep the hem of a woman’s long dress from catching on the heel of her boots while she was dancing backwards.
The vast collection of spurs amassed by Mitchell was officially recognized in the state capitol in Austin in 2001.
House District 59 Representative, Sid Miller, submitted a resolution to the Texas Legislature that designated Gatesville, Texas, as the Spur Capital of Texas. The resolution was passed in May 2001 and five months later, on Oct. 6, Representative Miller read the proclamation during “Spurfest” in downtown Gatesville. After the reading, he presented to the Coryell Museum and Historical Center his own boots and spurs.
The Spurfest celebration, held each year at the Coryell Museum, can trace its roots back to an avid collector of spurs, Lloyd Mitchell, who was also locally known as a teacher and coach at Gatesville High School.
Spurfest will be held at the Coryell Museum on Saturday, Sept. 16. The public is welcome to attend and to view the spurs housed at the museum.
