‘Hidden History of Burnet County’ unveiled
The Picayune Magazine Editor Suzanne Freeman with copies of her book, ‘Hidden History of Burnet County,’ in the reading room at The Falls on the Colorado Museum in Marble Falls, where she often can be found digging through the archives. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissey
For longtime readers of The Picayune Magazine, Suzanne Freeman’s name is synonymous with compelling storytelling and deep historical dives into the heart of Burnet County. Those stories, along with a few new ones, have been collected into the book “Hidden History of Burnet County,” which was released April 1 by History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing.
The official book launch is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at The Falls on the Colorado Museum, 2001 Broadway St. in Marble Falls, where Freeman will give a reading and sign copies. She will also sign books at the Burnet County Historical Commission booth in front of the Herman Brown Free Library during the Bluebonnet Festival on April 12.
Freeman sees the book as a tribute to the institutions and individuals dedicated to preserving Burnet County’s history. To give back to those who helped make “Hidden History” possible, a portion of the proceeds from sales at The Falls on the Colorado Museum and the Burnet County Historical Commission will go to those organizations. The BCHC will have books for purchase at the Old Burnet County Jail and Visitors Center, 109 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.
“I wanted to make sure this book contributes to the places that helped me write it,” Freeman said. “If you buy a copy from the museum or jail, part of the profits go right back into preserving Burnet County’s history.”
LISTEN to Freeman talk about her book with KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune
The book also will be sold at bookstores and online. Other signing events will be set up throughout the summer and fall.
“Hidden History of Burnet County” is part of a series published by History Press that explores lesser-known stories from communities across America. Freeman’s addition to the oeuvre is a meticulously researched collection of articles, expanded and updated to weave a narrative that spans from prehistoric granite formations to milestones that changed Texas history.
“I think it’s important for any community to understand their roots, to know where they come from,” she said. “It strengthens a community to know how rich and important their history is.”
Freeman grew up in San Antonio, where her parents moved after they were married. Her mother, a Clark, grew up on Broadway in Marble Falls; her father, a Warwick, grew up on Pierce Street in Burnet. She spent her summers and every weekend during hunting season in the Highland Lakes and lived in Marble Falls for several years between high school and college, coming back after college as editor of The Highlander in the 1980s.
While the book has a touch of her own family history, it is not a memoir or a genealogy—far from it. In this kaleidoscope of stories, readers will find towering granite landmarks, Texas Revolution heroes, new information on a Civil War execution site, and a tale of outlaw Johnny Ringo’s time in Burnet.
“It covers about a hundred years of Burnet County history, from the 1850s to the 1950s,” Freeman said. “Being close to Austin, a lot of the key figures in Texas history passed through here and left their mark.”
The book kicks off with the land itself—Enchanted Rock and Granite Mountain, two geological giants that also shaped the area’s economy.
“Granite Mountain has been cut to pieces since it was quarried for the state Capitol building, while Enchanted Rock has been preserved as a major tourist attraction,” Freeman said. “They both had—and still have—powerful economic impacts on the region. My favorite line in the whole book is: ‘And while the largest of the pair is called a rock and the smallest a mountain, technically, they are neither.’”
Featured historic figures include Ophelia Harwood, the first female mayor in Texas, who was elected before women had the right to vote.
“She was this incredible, strong-willed woman,” Freeman said. “She ran for office, and she won—without being able to vote herself.”
Another standout story is about German settler Adolph Hoppe and Dead Man’s Hole, a cave near Marble Falls made infamous as a dumping ground for men who were killed because they supported the Union during the Civil War.
“I think it’s the most definitive piece written about Dead Man’s Hole so far,” Freeman said. “There’s been a lot written, but I found new information about different law enforcement groups that went down there to investigate the bodies. It’s a chilling part of history.”
Researching these stories meant digging through archives, old newspapers, and, most importantly, talking to the people whose families have lived in Burnet County for generations.
“I relied on so many people for this,” Freeman said. “The Falls on the Colorado Museum, the Burnet County Historical Commission, the Burnet library archives, and folks who still live on the ranches their families settled.”
Freeman didn’t originally set out to write a book. The idea came from local writer and historian Rachel Bryson, who approached her with an opportunity from History Press. Bryson had been contracted to write a book for the publisher, but life got in the way, so she suggested Freeman take on the project.
“Before I signed the contract last year, I made an agreement with the publisher that I could use stories I had already written and had been published in The Picayune,” Freeman said.
With approval from Picayune owner Amber Weems, Freeman got to work.
“None of this would be possible without The Picayune,” she said. “The magazine offers an amazing platform for telling the stories of the people who make up this community. Including in-depth local history pieces adds to the magazine’s contribution to the strength and identity of the community as a whole.”
While some stories remained as originally published, many were combined or rewritten with new information.
“Even history has breaking news,” Freeman said.
The result is a book that balances historical depth with engaging storytelling, something Freeman has perfected over her decades-long career in journalism, which began as a reporter for her high school weekly.
After graduation, she moved to Marble Falls and was hired to develop and print film in the darkroom in The Highlander newspaper’s back shop. She eventually worked her way up to editor, serving from 1984-88, after first leaving to get her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin (’84).
She later freelanced for The New York Times and New York Newsday while earning her master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism (’97).
Her career took a national turn when she became editor of Scholastic News and founded the award-winning Scholastic News Kids Press Corps, which gave young reporters the opportunity to cover national events and interview important figures like presidents and other notable people. She worked at Scholastic Publishing Co. for 14 years before moving back to Texas.
Freeman had been executive editor at Victory Media since 2012. She took over The Picayune in 2019 when it changed from a weekly newspaper to a monthly magazine. She recently stepped down from the “executive” part of the job to work solely as editor of The Picayune, with plans to continue researching and writing about the area’s past.
“Some say journalism is the first draft of history, so taking a new look at old stories was a natural segue for me as a writer,” she said. “And Burnet County is full of incredible people whose stories deserve to be remembered. I plan to continue telling those stories.”