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The
sign for the former post office now sits in the closed building.
Photo courtesy John
J. Germann, September 2015 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Once known as Prairie
Point, Oakland was on the stage line between Gonzales
and Columbus
in the 1840s.
The town was platted in the late 1850s and an existing post office
in Lavaca County
relocated here on the condition that the post office continue under
its name of Oakland – named after the estate of Texas President David
G. Burnet.
In 1861 a Masonic lodge was built and a two story building was added
in the 1870s – doubling as a school / lodge.
In 1882 Oakland Normal School was organized to train Black school
teachers. By 1884 Oakland had a population of 200 with most essential
businesses.
At the turn of the (20th) century, the population had risen to 264,
declining back to 200 through the Great Depression. The population
declined by half through the 50s and remained at 95 for the 1970 census.
From the mid 70s the population estimate of 80 has been in used on
the state map.
See Oakland Historical Marker
|
Oakland
Post Office in operation in 2006
Zip Cod 78951
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2006 |
Photographer's
Note:
".. Talking about Colorado
County and "abandonment, I'm attaching 2 photos of the post office
in the very historic town of Oakland. It was one of the offices and
towns that I REALLY wanted to visit. Although the USPS still lists
it as active and you have a nice photo of it on TE, we were surprised
to find the building shut down and a notice posted that it had closed
in 2014! After I peered through the doorway I got a good photo which
I think you'll enjoy. Quite sad, actually - another post office gone
and another Texas town in decline." - John
J. Germann, September 05, 2015 |
Oakland Academy
1906 Vintage
photo courtesy of Nesbitt Memorial Library
See Texas
Schoolhouses |
John McIntosh
Store
Vintage
Photo courtesy of Nesbitt Memorial Library
More Texas Stores |
Oakland Historical
Marker on FM 532
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2006 |
Historical Marker
Text
OAKLAND
Originally known
as Prairie Point, a town was platted at this site in 1856 by A. C.
Hereford. A native of Virginia, Hereford was a veteran of the Mexican
War who had arrived in this area in the early 1850s.
Located on part of the original James Bowie Survey, the community
is the second oldest in Colorado
County. When Hereford applied for a post office for Prairie
Point in 1861, his request was denied because of the settlement's
close proximity to an existing post office on the plantation of Amasa
Turner (1800-1877). Turner agreed to relocate his post office to Prairie
Point upon the condition that its name, Oakland, be retained. The
town was thereafter known as Oakland.
Oakland was a stop on the Old Gonzales Road, an important early route
from San
Felipe to Gonzales.
As settlement in the town increased, a school was established in 1859.
Soon churches, stores, business, and fraternal organizations were
also in operation. The town became a major trading and social center
for the farm families of western Colorado
County. The population of Oakland began to decline in the 1870s
when the railroad bypassed the community in favor of Weimar. |
 |
Oakland, Texas
Chronicles
Wild
Navidad by Mike Cox
"The Navidad River is only 74 miles long but it is as tangled
in history and folklore as the vines and trees along its banks. The
tales range from a belief by some that Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna ordered a cash of gold buried near the river to the story of
the Wild Woman of the Navidad..." |
| 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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