|
|
 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Ridge at first
had been known as Holly Springs. In the late 1850s the town
materialized to furnish the areas cotton
farmers with their supplies and equipment.
When cotton prices took a nosedive,
Holly Springers were forced to diversify. Sadder, but wiser, they
desided to grow things they could eat or build with. They started
making bricks, sawing lumber and raising watermelons and turkeys.
The railroad installed a switch
in 1916. For reasons known only to the railroad - the switch was
named Ridge. In 1926 the town got their first post office
and the submitted name was Ridge.
The town has
been a pretty quiet place over the years with no disasters or calamities
to report. The population has never broken 100. The closest it came
was in the 40s when eighty people called Ridge home.
|
 |
Ridge, Texas
Forum
Subject:
Ridge
I lived in Ridge in the 1940's and 50's. I attended the old school
from the second grade through the sixth grade. Mrs. Bridges was
the teacher when I started there and was replaced by Mrs. Lanier.
They taught all six grades.
I attended church services in the pictured church which was a Baptist
church and at the church at Holly which was Church of Christ. My
mother and stepfather are buried in the Holly Cemetery.
The gas station pictured , as I remember, belonged to a man whos
first name was Hagar. There was also a wooden store building which
was run by Mr. Eric Hurley. This building also contained the post
office. - P. Schuster, May 8, 2020
Subject:
Ridge, Texas
I was up at the cemetery today. Could you please pass on to the
2 contributors that I would like to be able to ask about the school
house he spoke of as my father-in-law went there also. This cemetery
has many many of my husband's family there. I would appreciate if
I could contact them. Thanks - Belinda Carr, pinqlady57@hotmail.com,
March 05, 2012
Subject:
Ridge, Texas
My family also helped settle Ridge. There are a lot of Johnstons
in Holly Cemetery. Like Jason, I remember spending weeks there during
the summer, walking down that red dusty road to Mr. Hagar's store
to get a root beer out of the coke box to the right of the front
door. We also used to go "explore" the old school which was right
behind my grandparents house. Back in the early 70's, my grandmother
still had no running water, so my grandfather used to go to the
"good well" for drinking water every day. The outhouse was always
full of daddy long legs and taking a bath in a wash tub was an experience.
Up until right before his death, my grandfather Henry E. Johnston
was the caretaker at Holly Cemetery. - Mike Johnston, Lake Charles,
Louisiana, September 21, 2007
Subject:
Ridge, Texas
My family helped settle Ridge, Texas in the mid 1800's. My great
grandparents, great uncle and other members of my family are buried
at the Holly cemetery just down the road from Ridge. If you go there
you will also find graves of Confederate soldiers. We still have
lots of land there. The gas station you have pictured was owned
by a man with the last name of Hagar. Me and my grandfather used
to go there quite often. The church you have pictured and the old
school is where my grandpa went when he was young. If you go inside,
there is still, or used to be, a chalkboard on the wall. I pretty
much grew up there on the weekends all my life. - Jason Elledge,
Pearland, Texas, February 14, 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. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
