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History in
a Pecan Shell
First known as
Liberty Hill when it was formed in the 1830s, a water-driven
mill was built there by Enoch Hays and Willis Calloway. The community
(whose one-year old post office had been called Walling's Mill)
changed its name in 1848. Ten years later a "Male and Female Academy"
was opened.
The first telegraph line in Texas ran from Jefferson
to (what later) became Henderson
and this line (still called "the Wire Road" today) ran through Millville.
The importance of the town strengthened when it became a stop on the
Marshall to San
Antonio stage line. Industries at Millville included sheep-raising,
funiture production and a tanning yard.
Millville's post office closed in 1873, reopened in 1877, closed again
and reopened in 1894 and finally closed for good in 1897. In the 1880s
Millville suffered the fate of many Texas
towns when it was bypassed by the railroad.
The last chance it had at remaining a viable town was taken from it
when it was bypassed again - this time by the highway.
The school (as well as Millville's few remaining businesses) moved
to Oak Hill and today only a church and cemetery remain of a town
that once had a bright future.
[Related Story: Town
of Chickenfeather by Bob Bowman] |
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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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