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The bridge over
Cowhouse Creek.
It was moved a short distance when the new bridge was built in 1953.
Photo
by Jim Kinsey in 1952 |
| Dinosaur
tracks have been found in Cowhouse Creek,
although not much of a fuss has been made over them. Cowhouse Creek
flows into the Leon River which flows into the Little River
which flows into the Brazos River. In theory, if you lived
in Pottsville and had relatives in East
Columbia you could send them messages in a bottle. |
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"After
much research and driving we found the bridge that was moved from
Pottsville in 1953. The Bridge is over Bear Creek NW of Hamilton on
Hamilton County Road 103." - Jim and Lou Kinsey
More Texas Bridges
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History in
a Pecan Shell
The town was founded
by a Captain John Stephen Potts in 1877. There was a stipulation set
in place (you don't hear of people stipulating much anymore) that
alcohol would not be sold in Pottsville. His friend Thomas Jefferson
Burks built a store on the south side of the town square in
1877, which made him one of the major movers and shakers in Pottsville.
You're probably wondering if T.J. Burks sold alcohol, but we have
to tell you we don't know. |
Twice
a month, mail would be taken from Comanche
to Hamilton and then
from Hamilton to
Pottsville, Indian Gap
and Shive. The first part of the
trip was by mule team and the distribution to the smaller communities
was by a two-wheeled horse cart.
The postmaster of Pottsville (in 1981) was Dorothy E. Menzdorf who
supplied these details to our source,* She added that the mail was
protected from the weather by a piece of canvas painted with linseed
oil. Dorothy missed her calling as a historian, for she knows what
details to include.
Pottsville burned twice - once in 1914 and again in 1922
- both times it was the south side of the square. |
The Pottsville
School operated 113 years - From 1876 to 1989
Photo
c.1945 courtesy Jim Kinsey
More Texas
Schoolhouses |
Pottsville
falls into the category of towns you'd have to be looking for to find,
but the drive through Hamilton
and Mills Counties
is a relaxing trip full of quiet discoveries.
A Sunday drive
Website: http://www.pottsvilletexas.homestead.com/ |
Pottsville
Texas Forum
Concerning
Pottsville, Texas
Although named for John S. Potts, the town site was donated by my
great-great grandfather, Edmund T. Goggin. Grandfather Goggin was
the one who stipulated that if liquor was ever sold there, the property
would revert back to the family. Subsequent generations of the family
have gotten over his quirk, but I still check it out when I go through
Pottsville.
Note: Many generations of my family (Goggin & Bratton) are buried
in the Pottsville Cemetery. Thanks for a great website! - Steve
Bratton, Austin, Texas, January 20, 2005
I am the fifth
of seven generations of the Potts Family that has lived in Pottsville.
Thanks - Jim Kinsey, December 19, 2002
Reference:
*Little Towns of Texas, Jayroe Graphics, Jacksonville, Texas.
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| 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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