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History in
a Pecan Shell
Gay Hill is a historic
town with strong business and cultural ties to Independence,
Texas. Once known as Chriesman Settlement - the name was changed
when the Republic
of Texas established a post office in the town sometime before
1840.
Thomas Gay, a partner in the local store was the namesake of the town.
His brother James Gay had a town named after him - also called Gay
Hill - in neighboring Fayette
County near LaGrange.
Residents included Horatio Chriesman, R. E. B. Baylor, and John Sayles.
Glenblythe Plantation - owned by Horticulturist Thomas Affleck was
near Gay Hill and a historic marker on Thomas Affleck is found on
FM
390.
Oak Female Seminary was located in Gay Hill from 1853 to 1888 and
a Masonic lodge was established before the Civil War. In 1860 Gay
Hill had a population of about 300.
The town split into "Old" and "New" Gay Hill in 1881 when the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway laid tracks through Washington
County. "New" Gay Hill is two miles west of the original
site.
Gay Hill had a respectable population of 250 persons in 1936 with
ten businesses. Ranching
replaced cotton production and
Brenham siphoned
off Gay Hill population. By1958 there were only 200 people and in
the 1990s it was an estimated 145.
The last store in Gay Hill closed in 1971. A one-room school from
Gay Hill has been moved to Old Baylor Park in Independence.
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The older portion
of Gay Hill
TE Photo, 3-02 |
An old sign in
Gay Hill
TE Photo,
3-02
More Texas Signs |
Gay Hill
of Fayette County
is on State Highway 71 six miles southeast of La
Grange. This community grew around a plantation dating back to
the Republic of Texas.
A third Gay Hill once existed in Milam
County seven miles west of Rockdale
but has since disappeared without a trace. |
| 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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