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History in
a Pecan Shell
Colfax
began as a church community named Cold Water. A combination
church / school sponsored by Elisha Tunnell necessitated a change
of name in the late 1870s. Known as Tunnell’s Chapel, various
private homes served as an area post office until the early 1880s
when a proper post office opened. Named after Schuyler Colfax, the
U.S. Vice President, the name has remained Colfax ever since.
Colfax remained a “church community” with little or no commercial
growth due to its prximity to Canton.
The post office closed its doors in 1905.
Between 1885 and 1895 the communiuty reported 30 residents, slowly
growing to 100 at the onset of the Great Depression. The town peaked
in the 30s with several businesses, a school, and three separate churches.
When the nearby Van oilfield was discovered in 1929, a new school
district was organized, absorbing Colfax’s school. The brick building
was demolished and the population slowly declined – reaching a mere
28 residents by the late 1960s. A count in 1974 showed 35 residents
– the same number used for the 2000 census. |
| 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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