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History in
a Pecan Shell
The town was born
with the arrival of the Rock Island railroad in 1892 although people
had been living in the vicinity since the 1870s. When the Katy (Missouri,
Kansas and Texas) Railroad entered Texas
from the north, the two sets of tracks intersected here. This good
fortune did not go unnoticed by landowner Joe Harris who quickly laid
out a townsite. Named Harrisonia, the name was rejected by postal
authorities when a post office was applied for. The reasoning was
possible confusion with Harrison.
Mr. Harrison had the choice of resubmitting an invented name or using
his wife's family name. His wife's maiden name was Ringgold. The Ringgold
post office opened in 1892 when the town had an estimated population
of 300. Growth was swift due to the railroad juncture and Ringgold
became a shipping point for the area.
The population passed 400 by the mid 1920s. The population remained
at 350 after WWII
through the mid-1960s but it declined drastically in the 70s. It had
been reported at 100 people from the 70s through 2005.
The 2006 Fire ›
The Ringgold Store ›
Ringgold Churches › |
T.F. Wright,
Staple and Fany Groceries
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The closed
store in Ringgold
"I wanted to let you know some information about a photo you
took in Ringgold, TX. The caption reads "A Closed Store". That was
my grandfather's grocery store. T.F. Wright had a staple & fancy
grocery store there.
My father grew up in Ringgold and lived there with his family. I
was told that he delivered groceries on his bicycle. When the railroad
bypassed Ringgold, my grandfather could no longer make a living
there and moved to Bowie, TX.
Our family
went to cemeteries last year to visit our family members who are
buried in Ringgold, Belcherville
and Bowie. I stood outside the ruins
of the grocery store trying to imagine my father riding his bike
down the street. He and my mother died when I was a teenager. They
are buried in Ringgold next to his parents and two siblings.
This is a decorative plate that I received in the 1970's that I
assume he gave to his customers. There are four remaining plates
that each of the grandchildren were given.
Thank you for taking that photo. I appreciate your work."
- S. L. February 04, 2017
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| Decorative plate
of T.F. Wright, Staple and Fany Groceries in Ringgold |
| T.F. Wright,
Staple and Fany Groceries decorative
plate |
Ringgold Christian
Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2007 |
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A
disastrous grass fire on January 1, 2006 destroyed about half the
buildings in Ringgold.
Photographer's Note:
"The only business lost was the Post Office. The town did not have
any open grocery stores, gas stations, or cafes to burn. All had been
closed during the past 20 years. The "businesses" that were reported
as burned were actually closed and vacant. The town will rebuild over
time. Ringgold is a pretty tough place and the folks are strong, true
Texans. Not a single church burned. The school is fine and the fire
department building is OK. Big "thanks" to the hard work of all the
volunteer fire fighters from neighboring communities. Without their
brave and fast response, it would have been a total loss." -
Kelly Campbell, January 6, 2006
Photographer's Note:
Your article on Ringgold was very helpful to see where the fire was.
It may have been my imagination but I think I could still smell the
odor of it. Most of the destruction was on the western and southern
edges of town. - Barclay
Gibson, February 19, 2007 |
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The Ringgold
Cemetery after the fire.
Photo
courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006 |
A burned house
foundation
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February, 2007 |
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Hay
bales smoldering
Photo
courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006 |
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A
former store - vacant at the time of the fire.
Photo
courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006 |
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The
fires brought the curious out in droves.
Photo
courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006 |
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"Aerial
view of the Ringgold fire - Looking east,
showing close up of the Campbell House, Baptist and Methodist Churches."
Photo courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006
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"Aerial
view of the Ringgold fire -
From north Ringgold looking south, showing the two churches."
Photo courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006
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"Aerial
view of the Ringgold fire -
Looking south from the north end of Ringgold towards the school."
Photo courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006
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"Aerial
view of the Ringgold fire -
CW Chandler Ranch looking east over all of Ringgold."
Photo courtesy Kelly Campbell, January 2006
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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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