Shady Grove

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Shady Grove sits at a former crossroads where the Austin-Lampasas road and Burnet-Belton road crossed the Middle Fork of the San Gabriel River.

The community was first known as Russell Gabriel (1850s), then Middle Fork (of the Gabriel). The name Shady Grove was later chosen and named for a grove of live oak trees (still there) where they started a cemetery and built a school.

In 1896 J. H. Kleen moved his family from Williamson County and built a cotton gin. Kleen also helped build the town's two church buildings. A Masonic Lodge was chartered in 1875 and met until 1920. The post office for the community went under the name Tamega.

In 1877 A. M. Barton deeded land for a school, church, and cemetery. The Strickling Baptist Church changed their name in 1907 to the Shady Grove Baptist Church but closed their doors in 1958. The Presbyterian Church (formed in 1878) transferred to the Bertram Presbyterian Church in 1966. The Shady Grove School merged with Bertram's school in 1942. In 1958 a cemetery association was formed and ten years later they secured title to the land and community center, which is still used for annual homecomings.

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