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 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Settlement began in the 1840s. The original name had been Mudtown
but when a more dignified name was needed, they came up with Aquilla
after early resident Aquilla Jones.
A post office was opened in 1859 and in the late 1870s the Texas Central
Railroad came close to Aquilla - close enough for businesses and residents
to move to the rails. Aquilla had 175 residents in 1886 and by 1892
it was down to just 100. In the late 1890s the town drilled a well
to replace the creek water that they had been using. By 1910 the population
was up to 200 and four years later there were over 500 people with
all essential businesses. By the late 1950s the population was back
to only 250 and it has since declined to 109.
See
Prairie
Grove Cemetery
Copperhead Cemetery |
Prairie Grove
Cemetery in Aquilla
Photo
courtesy Jen
Basham, March 2018 |
Copperhead
Cemetery
31.815826, -97.260617 |
Copperhead Cemetery
sign
Photo
courtesy Jen
Basham, March 2018 |
Copperhaed Cemetery
- Walter Clark tombstone
Photo
courtesy Jen
Basham, March 2018 |
Copperhead Cemetery
- J.C. Latham tombstone
Photo
courtesy Jen
Basham, March 2018 |
Copperhead Cemetery
tombstone
Photo
courtesy Jen
Basham, March 2018 |
1907 Hill
County postal map showing Aquilla, SW of Hillsboro,
and The Texas Central Railroad
From Texas
state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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