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Cistern
TE photo, June 2004 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The
Houston and Great Northern Railroad built a station here in the 1870s
and the town grew up around it. The contractor for the railroad construction
was the Phelps-Dodge Corporation from whence the name came.
In 1874 a post office was granted and the railroad added a spur at
Phelps, connecting Huntsville to
the main line. Phelps became the nucleus of a cluster of sawmills
– and the mill workers resided in the hub town. It was estimated that
the population included residents of 100 separate families. From a
mere 25 people in 1890, the town reached 300 by 1914. As the forest
played out and the sawmills moved on, Phelps declined to a single
business. The 1950 population was estimated to be 100 and the post
office closed in the mid-1960s. |
Walker
County 1907 postal map showing Phelps (E of Huntsville)
From Texas state map #2090
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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