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History in
a Pecan Shell
Settled in the
early 1870s, one L.W. Lee platted his land for development and named
it after the view of the Spring Creek Valley.
In 1872 an estimated 18 families moved in and a post office opened.
The following year a school (sharing space with the town’s blacksmith)
opened.
The population was a respectable 250 people by 1884 and the town could
boast most essential businesses, including multiple stores, cotton
gins and gristmills.
Two years later the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway arrived and
a hotel was added. After 1902, Valley View created a “fireproof” downtown
consisting of brick buildings and proudly built a brick two-story
schoolhouse. Shortly thereafter the town received telephone service
and a newspaper started publication.
By 1914 the town had a population estimated at 600 and the town’s
future seemed secure. Things were going well until late 1924 when
Valley View was struck by two fires. The first destroyed the town’s
east side and the second (started by bank robbers) burned an additional
two blocks.
Valley View's population reached 700 and remained there for the next
four decades. It briefly broke 800 in 1970. In 1980, it was estimated
at around 500 and it has increased slowly but steadily to the present
737. |
Historical Marker:
(Town Square)
Valley View
In 1870, Captain
L.W. Lee and his wife Mary Ann (Fryer) came from Missouri to a tall
grass prairie overlooking a valley. Several friends from Missouri
soon arrived, and by 1872 the settlers founded the town of Valley
View, platting streets and securing a post office. A mill, gin and
school were all quickly established. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa
Fe Railway arrived in 1886, and by 1890 the community also boasted
a hotel, four churches and a newspaper. Valley View schools incorporated
in 1902, and by the following year there was a brick schoolhouse,
a bank and telephone service. Native son J. Marvin Jones (1882-1976)
served 59 years as U.S. Congressman and Federal Judge. The city of
Valley View incorporated in 1979.
(2007) |
Valley View,
Texas Landmarks
Photo Gallery
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First Baptist
Church
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, 2008 |
The now closed
Nichols Motor Company
Photo circa 1979 courtesy Bill Maughan |
Valley View
Forum
Subject: Valley
View, Texas 76272
[Here is] a photo of the now closed Nichols Motor Company that once
sold Chevrolet Automobiles, gas, oil, tires, batteries, TVs, refrigerators
and several other hardware items. It was about 1979 or 1980 before
the Chevrolet Dealership closed and I still own a 1975 Chevrolet Nova
purchased there. I’m also attaching a few aerial photos of the town,
one taken in August 31, 2008 that shows the subject Chevrolet Dealership
to the left of the water tower. The other aerial photo was taken Nov.
16, 2007. The building’s tenant now is Riley Performance Motors, a
company that restores the older/antique autos, specializing in restoration
of the Ford Mustang Cobra’s. They have a website that more fully describes
their services http://www.rileyrpm.com - Bill Maughan, December 20,
2012 |
Valley View aerial
photo showing the Chevrolet Dealership to the left of the water tower
Photo courtesy Bill Maughan, August 2008 |
Valley View aerial
photo
Photo courtesy Bill Maughan, November 2007 |
| 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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