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Historical
Marker:
Arbor Community
Colonists led by
Empressario Joseph Vehlein received Mexican land grants in this area
in the late 1820s and 1830s. Growth, however, did not begin in earnest
until after the Civil War when immigrants from the war torn states
moved here to take advantage of the expanding cattle and cotton industries.
Residents of nearby Pleasant Grove and Shady Grove erected a brush
arbor nearby in the 1880s which served as a church and school. A general
store, barber shop, blacksmith shop, grist mill, cotton gin, woodman
hall, and shingle mill were established, and in 1901 the rural community
was granted a post office named "Arbor" which continued until 1906.
Jobs created by the Four C Lumber Mill and logging operation spurred
a local economic boom from 1910 to 1925. The economy suffered during
the 1930s depression, but rebounded as projects of the Federal Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided
jobs for many residents in the late 1930s. The Arbor School (est.
1900) burned in 1940 and was discontinued. In 1941 Arbor had 89 residences
and the 155-member Rhodes Chapel Baptist Church (est. 1897).
Arbor began losing residents to nearby cities during World
War II. Later residents were engaged primarily in ranch and farm
activities. |
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Arbor Community
Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2010 |
| 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
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