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"The old
courthouse square where the 1891
courthouse used to stand, has been turned into a park. Notice
the old jail on the right. The raised walls to the right of the garzebo
mark the foundation of the burned courthouse."
- Terry
Jeanson, December 2006 photo |
History in
a Pecan Shell
First
there was Boston, Texas – but this wasn’t it. The original town of
Boston is now called Old Boston
and is about 2.5 miles S of this Boston. The original town was the
county seat until around 1890 when Texarkana
became the seat of government for Bowie
County.
Since it had been decided by the Texas State Legislature that county
seats should be centrally located, a new courthouse was begun here
in 1890.
The postal application had been submitted under the name of Center,
but that was nixed by the postal authorities. Other names were submitted
and rejected – usually for the reason that other post offices were
operating under those names.
The post office was moved from the original town of Boston, making
the new county seat officially Boston and making Boston “Old”
Boston in the same act.
In the mid 1890s Boston had a growing population of 175. That seems
to be a level that comfortable with, since it hasn’t changed all that
much in 115 years.
New Boston, has had more businesses
growth and has eclipsed the smaller town, leaving it to tend to the
county business without distractions.
The towns of Boston and New Boston
now join one another but are as separate as the Texas side of Texarkana
is from the Arkansas side of Texarkana.
To further confuse things, a new
courthouse was built in 1985 – but in New
Boston, even though Boston is the official county seat.
See Bowie
County Courthouse › |
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The 1891 Bowie
County Jail
On the old courthouse square
FM 1840 and S. Merrill St.
In use until 1984 |
| 1939
photo courtesy TXDoT |
The 1891 Bowie
County Courthouse in Boston
Burned in 1989 |
1920s Bowie
County map showing Boston and New
Boston
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| 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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