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Hope United
Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2006 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The community came
into being prior to the Texas Revolution and took it’s name from the
trading post. The population peaked just prior to the Civil War and
although figures aren’t available, it is said that out of one hundred
Confederate Volunteers from Hope, only seven made it home at the end
of the war.
Most residents were German immigrants and church services and schooling
were conducted in that language. A post office was opened in 1857,
closing in 1906, the first community school was built that same time.
It’s not known what effect the Great Depression had on Hope, but after
WWII the population
had decreased to just 50.
In the mid 1980s the community still had two churches and two stores,
although the population had shrunk to only ten residents. Many members
of the congregations of the two churches lived in Yoakum.
The few remaining residents of Hope collected the money to buy the
closed school – which was restored as a community center. The present
population has been used since 1990. |
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United Methodist
Church of Hope historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2006 |
Historical Marker:
on CR 414 to CR 413A
The United
Methodist Church of Hope
German pioneers
founded this church before 1845. It met in a log hut on Scarborough's
Branch, had 23 members in 1850s, used German language in worship,
and was in German missions circuit. Christoph and Christina Hornburg
gave a 2-acre site on Clark's Creek in 1855, and the second log meeting
house was erected. The present church was built in 1889 on newly-purchased
site in hope. By 1890, the membership reached about 100. The Sunday
School was organized in 1892, and remains active. Up to 1894 this
was the only church in hope community.
1976 |
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Historical Marker:
1228 CR 413 (c. 12 miles SE of Yoakum
on SH 111 to CR 413)
Hope Baptist
Church
Hope Baptist Church
Originally called Shiloh Baptist Church, this congregation
was constituted in 1885 with eight charter members, who first met
in the Riggs Schoolhouse. The exact location of the schoolhouse is
unknown, except that it was in Lavaca
County. The original members were: M. L. and M. Newsom, Daniel
and Moneroy Fitch, J. L. and A. A. Moore, Adie Riggs and R. A. Anderson.
They held worship services once a month, and baptisms took place in
Clark's Creek.
Church minutes record the formation of a building committee in 1896.
The first worship service in the new sanctuary occurred in December
1896. Over the years, the congregation enlarged their space with additional
facilities as they grew. A new building eventually replaced the 1896
structure.
In 1920, the members of Shiloh Baptist Church agreed to change their
name to Hope Baptist Church to reflect the name of the community in
which they worshipped. Seven years later the congregation hosted the
annual meeting of the Guadalupe Baptist Association.
Throughout its history, Hope Baptist Church has focused on outreach
to the community and has been involved in both local and worldwide
mission activities. It continues to uphold the ideals and traditions
of the founders in its worship and Sunday school programs.
(2001) |
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Hope, Texas
1962 USGS map
Click on image to enlarge
Courtesy
Gregory Phillips |
| 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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