|
History in
a Pecan Shell
The
region was first settled in the mid-1850s. Benjamin B. Haney is generally
believed to be the first settler. Originally the community was known
as Caddo Village for the residual population of Caddo Indian
that remained along the West Fork of the Trinity River.
It also went by the name of Odessa and indeed, a post office
opened under that name, closing by 1866. Other (informal) In 1893
the names ranged from Huff Valley and Sueville (after the surname
of the family Huff and the Christian name of Sue Gary).
Finally, with the arrival of the Rock Island Railroad in 1893, Newark
was platted and a post office reapplied for. G. K. Foster, the railroad
civil engineer is thought to have named it after his hometown in New
Jersey.
Newark prospered until the decline in cotton
farming in the 1920s. It survived the Great Depression and regained
its status briefly after WWII.
The 1951 population was just under 300. It took the next four decades
to reach 651 residents. |
|
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
|
|